Summer Reading Assignments

May 24, 2016 Dear Seton Catholic Parents, The summer months are a wonderful opportunity for students to grow in their love for reading. With this in m...
Author: Laurence Booker
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May 24, 2016 Dear Seton Catholic Parents, The summer months are a wonderful opportunity for students to grow in their love for reading. With this in mind, the Seton Catholic English department has developed a summer reading list for all students. All of these books are high-interest, enjoyable reads, and we look forward to discussing them with your children in the fall. The books can be found at various libraries, purchased from any major bookstore or ereader, and may be available at local stores, such as Target and The Corner-Stone Bookshop. Please ensure that your child has thoroughly read the entire novel assigned to his/her grade. Each grade level also has an assignment that must be completed in conjunction with the novel. Your child received a copy of the assignment in class, and all of the assignments are attached. Additionally, each student must bring a copy of the assigned novel to English class on the first day of school. If you have any questions, please feel free to Eric Gregory ([email protected]). We sincerely appreciate your help and support. Enjoy the summer! Sincerely, The English Department

Summer Reading Assignments Incoming English 6 students: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Incoming English 7 students: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Incoming English 8 students: Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech Incoming English 9 students: American Students: The Five People You Meet in Heaven Mitch Albom International Students: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom or Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli Incoming English 10 students: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Incoming English 11 students: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd and nonfiction story excerpts (PDF provided) Incoming English 12 students: The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. Incoming AP English students: The Help by Kathryn Stockett and The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.

English 6 Due: Thursday, September 8 Hello, and welcome to 6th grade English! Summer is a great time to relax and read some great books. That being said, here is your summer reading assignment. Please read Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief by Rick Riordan and complete the two assignments below.

WHAT IS THE SUMMER ASSIGNMENT? 1. Create an outline describing what happened in the book. Your outline should identify the following parts of the novel:

-Introduction -Body - Rising Action -Climax -Falling Action -Resolution -Conclusion 2. Choose one character from the book who you identify with. In several paragraphs, describe that character’s -appearance - actions -motivations for their actions . PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE WEEK BEFORE SCHOOL TO BEGIN THIS ASSIGNMENT.

Have a great summer vacation; see you in September!

English 7 Due: Thursday, September 8 Hello, and welcome to 7th grade English! Summer is a great time to relax and read some great books. That being said, here is your summer reading assignment. Please read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and complete the two assignments below. I realize many may have seen the movie, but there are fine differences between the book and the movie. And I know what the differences are between the two. I also realize that many may already have read the book, but I have also read the book twice and each time more knowledge was acquired. Thus, you also can benefit from a second reading. WHAT IS THE SUMMER ASSIGNMENT? 1. Write three journal entries. You must have a journal entry as Katniss. You must have a journal entry as Peeta. And the last journal entry is a character of choice. Remember to think as the characters. The book has such great characters that choosing the third character should be easy. The journal entries should be six to eight sentences long. 2. Create a postcard from one of the characters in a particular district (include the picture side of the postcard, as well as the written part). The postcard needs to be at least four sentences in length. The picture is an original…you create the picture from your imagination. 3. Yes, you must complete both assignments. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE WEEK BEFORE SCHOOL TO BEGIN THIS ASSIGNMENT.

I realize parts of the book are violent, but it also teaches us about loyalty, friendship and bravery…character traits we all wish we had. Have a great summer vacation; see you in September!

English 8 Due: Thursday, September 8 Hello, and welcome to 8th grade English! Summer is a great time to relax and read some great books. That being said, here is your summer reading assignment. This summer you are to read the novel Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech. Some may already have the book, but if you do not have a copy, this book can be purchased at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or on a Kindle or Nook. There is also the library! You will enjoy the book very much and you will have an assignment to go along with the reading. WHAT IS THE SUMMER ASSIGNMENT? 1. Write a journal/diary/blog entry as if you are Sal. 2. Create a postcard from one of the characters (include the picture side of the postcard, as well as the written part). The postcard needs to be at least four sentences. The picture is an original…you create the picture from your imagination. 3. Yes, you must complete both assignments. WHAT IS THE BOOK ABOUT? On a long car trip from Ohio to Idaho, 13-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle tells her grandparents about her friend Phoebe, who is coping with the disappearance of her mother. Beneath Phoebe's story is Sal's search for her own mother, who left one sunny morning and never returned. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE WEEK BEFORE SCHOOL TO BEGIN THIS ASSIGNMENT.

Have a good summer; see you in September!

English 9 Due: September 8 at the beginning of English class I am greatly looking forward to working with you in English 9 in the fall! To prepare for this course, you must complete the following tasks over summer vacation: 1. Read. American students must read The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. International students must read The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom OR Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. 2. Respond in a Reader’s Reaction Journal. While reading, you must complete a reader’s response journal consisting of the following at least 12 times throughout each book:  Write the page number  Write a direct quote from the novel Respond to that quote by making a SPECIFIC response. This could be asking a question, making a prediction, making a connection to your life/something else you have read, or commenting in some other way. The response should be at least 3 sentences long. Your response should be specific and detailed. Avoid vague responses, such as, “He’s brave” or “It’s like that thing we read in History.” HOW is he brave? WHAT did you read in History and HOW is it similar? 3. Complete 2 of the activities listed below (the activities can be completed at any point while you are reading or after you have finished reading): -Write a journal/diary/blog entry as if you are one of the characters. -Write a letter/email as if you are one of the characters to another character. -Write an alternative ending/epilogue -Write a description of how you would turn the book into a movie. Think about details such as what actors you would cast, the soundtrack, setting, props, costumes, etc. and explain why you would include each of these. *The above activities must be at least one well-developed (5-7 sophisticated sentences) paragraph long. -Create a postcard from one of the characters (include the picture side of the postcard, as well as the written part). *The postcard may be slightly shorter (3-4 well-written sentences), but must include a drawing/picture on the reverse side.

Make sure you bring a copy of your novel to school on September 8. Have a wonderful summer!

English 10 Due: September 8 at the beginning of English class I am greatly looking forward to working with you in English 10 in the fall! To prepare for this course, you must complete the following tasks over summer vacation: 1. Read The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. While this book might look like a children’s book, it has many complex themes and ideas that we will be discussing in the fall. 2. Respond in a Reader’s Reaction Journal. While reading The Little Prince, you must complete a reader’s response journal consisting of the following at least 8 times throughout the book:  Write the page number  Write a direct quote from the novel Respond to that quote by making a SPECIFIC response. This could be asking a question, making a prediction, making a connection to your life/something else you have read, or commenting in some other way. The response should be at least 4 sentences long. Your response should be specific and detailed. Avoid vague responses, such as, “He’s brave” or “It’s like that thing we read in Global.” HOW is he brave? WHAT did you read in Global and HOW is it similar? 3. Complete 2 of the activities listed below (the activities can be completed at any point while you are reading or after you have finished reading): -Write a journal/diary/blog entry as if you are one of the characters. -Write a letter/email as if you are one of the characters to another character. -Write an alternative ending/epilogue -Write a description of how you would turn the book into a movie. Think about details such as what actors you would cast, the soundtrack, setting, props, costumes, etc. and explain why you would include each of these. *The above activities must be at least one well-developed (5-7 sophisticated sentences) paragraph long. -Create a postcard from one of the characters (include the picture side of the postcard, as well as the written part). 4. During the summer, please choose another book to read. It can be any book that you have not read before. You do not need to complete any written work while reading the book, but you should be ready to write about it and discuss it in class.

Make sure you bring a copy of your novel to school on September 8. Have a wonderful summer!

English 11 Due: September 8 at the beginning of English class I am greatly looking forward to working with you in English 11 in the fall! To prepare for this course, you must complete the following tasks over summer vacation: 1. Read. You must read The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd and at least five stories in the attached PDF. 2. Respond in a Reader’s Reaction Journal. While reading, you must complete a reader’s response journal consisting of the following at least 8 times throughout each book (twice for each story in the PDF):  Write the page number  Write a direct quote from the novel Respond to that quote by making a SPECIFIC response. This could be asking a question, making a prediction, making a connection to your life/something else you have read, or commenting in some other way. The response should be at least 4 sentences long. Your response should be specific and detailed. Avoid vague responses, such as, “He’s brave” or “It’s like that thing we read in Global.” HOW is he brave? WHAT did you read in Global and HOW is it similar? 3. Complete 2 of the activities listed below - - 1 for each book (the activities can be completed at any point while you are reading or after you have finished reading): -Write a journal/diary/blog entry as if you are one of the characters. -Write a letter/email as if you are one of the characters to another character. -Write an alternative ending/epilogue -Write a description of how you would turn the book into a movie. Think about details such as what actors you would cast, the soundtrack, setting, props, costumes, etc. and explain why you would include each of these. *The above activities must be at least one well-developed (5-7 sophisticated sentences) paragraph long. -Create a postcard from one of the characters (include the picture side of the postcard, as well as the written part). *The postcard may be slightly shorter (3-4 well-written sentences), but must include a drawing/picture on the reverse side. Your reader’s response journal may be handwritten or typed. 4. During the summer, please choose another book to read. It can be any book that you have not read before. You do not need to complete any written work while reading the book, but you should be ready to write about it and discuss it in class. Make sure you bring a copy of your books to school on September 8. Have a wonderful summer!

English 12 Due: September 8 Seniors - - this is your last year, so make it interesting, work hard, and look forward… This summer you will have a novel to read and TWO writing assignments. First: The novel! You are to read The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. You may already own the book, but if you do not have a copy, this book can be purchased at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or on a Kindle or Nook. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO FOR THE NOVEL? Keep a journal of at least four (4) pages. Journals should include quotes from the book and reactions/reflections about those quotes. They SHOULD NOT include summaries. Instead, select quotes that are engaging and meaningful to not only the plot, but the author’s purpose. In reflecting, students need to analyze the quote they have selected and explain how it relates to theme/character development/author’s purpose. If done correctly, the journal highlights the significance of the quote and how it relates to the novel as a whole. EXAMPLE: Quote (include page number) “I’d come to this war a quiet, thoughtful sort of person, a college grad, Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude, all the credentials, but after seven months in the bush I realized that those high, civilized trappings had somehow been crushed under the weight of the simple daily realities. I’d turned mean inside.” (pg. 200) Reaction/Reflection The things that these men saw changed them forever. It hardened them and killed their spirits. How could they even stand being at war? It must have been hard for them to return to their families and their everyday lives after the war. If they returned at all… (Make YOUR reaction/reflections longer.)

SECOND TASK!!!!!! Next year you will begin the college application process. Please use your time during summer vacation to construct a well written essay that can be used for the college applications you will begin submitting during the upcoming school year. DIRECTIONS: Listed below are the topics that are often used on the Common Application. Choose one of the topics, and construct a well written essay. *REMEMBER: Colleges receive thousands of essays daily, and the admissions representatives are looking for interesting essays that make students stand out.

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Your essay MUST:  Be 1,000 words (choose your words wisely) *Your name and heading DOES NOT count toward your word count  Typed (double-spaced, 1 inch margins, 12pt. font, Times New Roman)  In proper essay format (introduction, body paragraph(s), conclusion)  Contain correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar

AP English Literature & Composition Due: September 7 at the beginning of AP English class I am greatly looking forward to working with you in AP English Literature & Composition in the fall! To prepare for this rigorous course, you must complete the following tasks over summer vacation: 1. Read. You must read The Help by Kathryn Stockett and The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. 2. Respond in a Reader’s Reaction Journal. While reading, you must complete a reader’s response journal consisting of the following at least 12 times throughout each book:  Write the page number  Write a direct quote from the novel Respond to that quote by making a SPECIFIC response. This could be asking a question, making a prediction, making a connection to your life/something else you have read, or commenting in some other way. The response should be at least 4 sentences long. Your response should be specific and detailed. Avoid vague responses, such as, “He’s brave” or “It’s like that thing we read in Global.” HOW is he brave? WHAT did you read in Global and HOW is it similar? 3. Write a College Application Essay. Please write a college application essay that either fulfills the requirements for the Common App essay (printed on reverse) or a college application essay for a college you plan on applying to. Your reader’s response journal may be handwritten or typed. Your critical lens essay and college application essay must be typed in Times New Roman 12.pt font, double-spaced, with 1” margins.

Make sure you bring a copy of your novels to school on September 7. Have a wonderful summer!

Common App Essay Please write an essay of 500 – 600 words on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below, and attach it to your application before submission. Please indicate your topic by indicating it on your essay. 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.