Honors

**​** **HONORS READING CLASS** = = toc =Summer Reading Program=

Congratulations on your enrollment in the 8th grade English Gifted and Talented course. As a gifted student, every task is designed to sharpen your critical thinking and communication skills. All year long, you will have one consistent homework assignment: read a book a month and complete the accompanying journal entries. All other tasks can be completed in class with the occasional need to take home any uncompleted work. For your homework, you will need a 2-subject notebook that you use as a response journal and bell work notebook only.

To jumpstart this process, I have asked that you complete a summer reading assignment. This task serves three functions: (1) to keep you active as a reader, (2) to prepare you for the upcoming year, and (3) to learn to think and write about what you have read.

You will read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain and Gone by Michael Grant; and, then, complete the accompanying assignments. You also have the option of participating in the online discussions about these books. To access the discussion, follow the directions found on my website: www.crazenglish.wikispaces.com/Join+Goodreads

I look forward to working with you,

Ms. Madsen - Instructions: Complete each task in your response journal. Please date each entry and label the entry the name of the task.

** Gone Assignments **
 * Pre-Reading Task || Connecting to Sam: Answer two questions connecting your experiences/feelings to Sam’s.


 * 1. Have you ever had to make an important decision that would affect other people? **
 * How did you make the decision?
 * What did you do when some were not happy with your decision?


 * 2. What would you do if there were no adults? How would you contribute to the society to make it function? **
 * What skills/talents do you have?
 * What rules would you change since there are no adults to enforce the current rules of society? ||
 * During Reading || 4,3,2, 1: Summarize what you read, make connections to the text, discover powerful quotes, and answer questions about the literary elements.

Complete a “4,3,2,1” **6 different times** throughout the reading. Date each entry and write down the chapters (see 4, 3, 2, 1 sheet) ||


 * Post Reading || Hero Short Essay: Answer the following questions in 2-3 paragraphs in your response journal.

What makes someone a hero? In the novel, who do you think is most deserving of the title hero? Sam? Mary? Astrid? In what ways do these characters differ, and in what ways are they similar in their heroism? ||

** Adventures of Tom Sawyer Assignments **


 * Pre-Reading Task || Connecting to Tom: Answer three questions connecting your experiences/feelings to Tom Sawyer’s.


 * 1.- Have you ever felt like showing off in order to impress someone? **
 * • What are some things you might do?
 * • How would you feel if the person you were trying to impress wasn’t impressed?
 * 2.- Have you ever become lost in an unfamiliar place? **
 * • Where were you?
 * • What were you trying to do?
 * • How did you feel when you couldn’t find your way?
 * 3.- Have you ever seen someone do something that you found dangerous or frightening? **
 * • What did you do when you saw the incident?
 * • Did you tell anyone what you saw? Why or why not? ||
 * During Reading || Reading Log: As you read, quote significant short passages and explain their importance.

Complete one entry for each section: Chapter 1-5, 6-12, 13-18, 20-22, 23-28, and 29-35. Date and list the chapters for each entry.

Copy a short passage from the reading that contains language that surprised, amused, angered, or confused you, or that seemed to hold significance to understanding a character or a point. Include the page number, and then explain its importance. (see example reading log ) ||
 * Post-Reading || Character Change Short Essay: Answer the following question in a 2-3 paragraph response in your response journal.

Throughout the course of the novel, several of the characters change a great deal. Which character do you think changed the most? Choose one of the main characters in the novel and explain how he/she changed throughout the story and what effect it had on the outcome of the novel. Make sure you use at least 2 quotes for support. ||

= BEYOND BASIC READING=

Every quarter you are required to create at least 1 contribution to each section of the beyond basic reading. > > Therefore as you read, you need to look for inspirational quotes, examples of great writing, sentences containing grammar concepts you are learning about, and look up the definition of unfamiliar vocabulary. Since you only need one a quarter, you do not need to constantly look for these things, but just keep them in mind.
 * **Reading as a learner:** post a significant quote that taught you a lesson or touched you in any way. view document]
 * **Reading as a writer:** post a passage that displays great writing, especially ones that highlight writing skills taught in class. view document]
 * **Reading as a grammarian: **post a passage that showcases great mechanics and usage, especially concepts taught in class. view document]
 * **Reading as a communicator:** post a sentence containing a new vocab word that you learned while reading. view document]
 * **Reading as a Literarian: ** post a passage containing figurative language and explain its meaning. view document]

__Forms to Post Contributions__

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=**Reading Log: Classical Novel Slip**=

This paragraph example is just analzying conflict in one chapter. You need to analyze the entire novel using 3 literary elements. To analyze using a literary element, discuss what role that element plays in the novel. Here in my pargraph, you see that conflict in this chaper engages the reader and helps you create a connection to the characters. The conflict is so tense in this chapter you can feel it oozing off the page.Scott Westerfield has chosen to escalate the internal conflict inside Tally for several reasons.One reason is to engage the reader’s attention, so he or she will keep reading.But, another, deeper reason, is to propel the story into a highly emotional charged warfare.One of Westerfield’s main points is that allowing our insecurities and the need to be beautiful to override our logic can prevent true happiness.By escalating the turmoil, Westerfield brings to light the dangers of desiring beauty no matter the cost. With this theme a deeper connection with Tally is created.Previously, I was more willing to side with Shay and more in tune with Shay’s ideals.But now witnessing the conflict inside Tally,I feel eager to understand and hear her story.There is more to Tally than I had first suspected.There is a goodness in her that perhaps even Shay lacks.Sure it seemed Shay was more willing to be an individual, but now in light of this conflict, I feel Shay is just more willing to please David than she is to be true to herself.It seems Tally genuinely wants to discover who she is and what she truly wants without being persuaded by others. Because of this connection to Tally,I care more about what happens to Tally and this conflict acts as the springing board for the next stage in Tally’s life:will she become a pretty; will she turn in the Smoke; will she confess to Shay.All these questions are derived from this conflict. Masterfully, Scott Westerfield has created a series of conflicts to engage the reader, give his message, create a connection to the characters, and propel the plot further.
 * Example Analysis Paragraph:**