Summer and Fall Reading Assignment
Reader’s Journal 2017 For Sophomores - English II
For all English and English Honors classes, you must complete a Reader’s Journal about the book you read. Advanced Placement classes have separate assignments, found on the SLHS website under Parents & Students.
WHAT IS A READER’S JOURNAL?
A reader’s journal is a log of your reading that helps you reflect personally and thoughtfully as you read. From this log, your teacher will evaluate your writing, critical thinking skills, and quality of work.
REQUIREMENTS FOR READING JOURNAL- You may choose your own book from the list provided.
· Your journal/log should have two columns. (see sample)
· Typing is encouraged; legible handwriting is allowed.
· Each entry will contain all of the following items.
A. Heading
o Place Heading in top left corner
§ Your Name
Title of book
Entry # Date
Pages read for this entry
B. Summary
· LEFT Side:
§ Write the word “Summary.”
· RIGHT Side:
§ Write a summary of your reading in complete sentences.
· This is a literal interpretation of these pages.
· Include just the highlights: the who, what, when, where, why and how of the action.
· 7-10 sentences
C. Quote/Passage Analysis
· LEFT Side:
§ Copy a meaningful passage and its page number citation.
· This passage should show something important to a theme, a character’s
development, plot line, or your personal experience.
· RIGHT Side:
§ Write your response to the quote’s significance.
· Analyze how this passage is important or meaningful. How it connects to other ideas of the book and / or connections to the real world.
· 5-7 sentence analysis
D. Reflections (3)
· Each entry should have three reflections on that section. 2-3 sentences.
· Choose from the suggested prompts below. Do not repeat a prompt.
· LEFT Side:
§ Copy down the prompt.
· RIGHT Side:
§ Answer the prompt.
WRITING PROMPTS TO CHOOSE FROM . . .
Make sure your answer consists of a minimum of 2-3 sentences.
What would be your prediction of the next chapter or ending of the story.
Several (HOT) questions that I have are …..
Find an imagery – explain what the imagery demonstrates and explain its purpose…
Write down words you don’t know . Include definitions and synonyms for each.
Try arguing with the author, come up with a counter argument that you would express to him/her.
If I were (name of character) at this point, I would . . .
If I could change anything in this story, I would change because ….
The author is creating conflict between and by . . .
I think the setting is important because . . .
I think the relationship between and is interesting because . . .
This scene reminds me of . . . (my own life, movie, TV show, another character in another novel) because. . .
Something I noticed (appreciate, don’t appreciate, wonder about) is . . . because. . .
Give your opinion about the central character’s motive at this time.
Explain how the central character has changed so far in the story?
The most important event in this story so far is . . . because. . .
HOW SHOULD I DIVIDE MY READING INTO ENTRIES?
Divide the number of pages in your book by 5 (the number of entries required). This is the number of pages you should read before stopping to write in your reader’s journal. Ideally, for an approximately 250 page book, you will read 15 pages before you stop to record your thoughts. If you are in the middle of a chapter, feel free to finish the chapter then record your thoughts. The length of each journal entry will vary.
Submission requirements: Please turn your reading assignment into your 2016-2017 ELA (English) Instructor. August’s pre-writing will connect to your summer reading.
Readings:
Moby Dick Herman Melvin
Abridged version Count of Monte Cristo Alexandre Dumas
Chocolate War – Robert Cormier
Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebee
Annilation – Jeff Vandermeer
The Naming – Allison Croggon
A Child Called It – Dave Pelzer
Like Water for Chocolate – Laura Esquirrel
Chasing Lincoln’s Killer – James L. Swanson
The Last Bastion of the Living – Rhiannon Frater
And I Darken – Kiersten White
Don Quijote- Miguel De Cervantes
Tess of the D’Uberville – Thomas Hardy
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austin
*Verify book content with parents and get their approval!
Sample Entry
Sample Entry
Joe Eagle
To Kill a Mockingbird
Entry # 2
July 14, 2012
Pages 57-112
Sample Entry
Summary
September arrives, and Dill leaves Maycomb to return to the town of Meridian. Scout, meanwhile, prepares to go to school for the first time, an event that she has been eagerly anticipating. Once she is finally at school, however, she finds that her teacher, Miss Caroline Fisher, deals poorly with children. When Miss Caroline concludes that Atticus must have taught Scout to read, she becomes very displeased and makes Scout feel guilty for being educated. At recess, Scout complains to Jem, but Jem says that Miss Caroline is just trying out a new method of teaching.
Miss Caroline and Scout get along badly in the afternoon as well. Walter Cunningham, a boy in Scout’s class, has not brought a lunch. Miss Caroline offers him a quarter to buy lunch, telling him that he can pay her back tomorrow. Walter’s family is large and poor—so poor that they pay Atticus with hickory nuts, turnip greens, or other goods when they need legal help—and Walter will never be able to pay the teacher back or bring a lunch to school. When Scout attempts to explain these circumstances, however, Miss Caroline fails to understand and grows so frustrated that she slaps Scout’s hand with a ruler.
Sample Entry
Quote/Passage
Sample Entry
“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing
but make music for us to enjoy… but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Harper Lee 90).
This is where the book’s title comes from. It
also seems important to theme. Tom Robinson
is like a mockingbird- innocent and yet is on trial for something he didn’t do. That’s why Atticus has to defend him- it would be a sin not to.
Sample Entry
Reflections
Sample Entry
1. I think the setting is important . . .
2. I really like Atticus . . .
3. I wonder about . . .
1. because it shows the way people acted in
South during the 30’s and . . .
2. because he seems like he would be a really cool dad to have due to . . .
3. Why Atticus calls Mrs. Dubose brave? Is it brave to overcome an addiction? Maybe since everybody makes mistakes, the important thing is how we react after we mess up . . .