Victoria ISD 7 th Grade Pre-AP English 2017 Summer Reading Assignment

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1 Victoria ISD 7 th Grade Pre-AP English 2017 Summer Reading Assignment Welcome to Pre-AP 7 th Grade English Language Arts and Reading! Victoria ISD requires Pre-AP students to complete summer reading in preparation for the upcoming academic year. This reading is mandatory; students will be supplied with the required texts and are encouraged to start reading early in the summer. Course Objective: The 7 th Grade Pre-AP English course engages students in the careful reading and critical analyses of literature. This course includes intensive study of representative works of literary merit from various genres and time periods. The purpose of the Pre-AP course is to prepare students for college work and or future AP English courses that give students the opportunity to receive college credit. The course will be intellectually intense, demanding of your time, and rigorous in nature. Summer Reading: You have three texts to read over the summer: one required short story and two myths. The texts and their corresponding assignments are to be completed by August 25, The work completed for the summer reading will be connected and applied to the first unit of study. Required Short Story: All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury Required Myths: Pandora s Box a Greek myth and Kaang s People an African myth Summer Assignments: The following assignments must be completed and turned in by August 25, Required Short Story. Complete one assignment from the required reading options. See the Required Reading Assignment Choices for instructions. Required Myths. Complete a plot diagram for one myth and write a summary of the other myth. Grading: Grades for the summer reading assignments will be included in the first nine week grading period. The All Summer in a Day assignment will be entered as a summative grade. The assignments for the myths will count as two formative grades. Rubric and scoring guidelines are included in this handout. Students who have assignments complete and turned in by August 21, 2017 will be awarded 10 bonus points added to the summative grade. Eleven points will be deducted from each assignment s grade turned in after August 25, Novels for all summer reading assignments can be purchased at the following locations or online retailers. Redbird Books, 2210 N. Navarro, Victoria, TX, Amazon.com Copies of some novels may be checked out or downloaded at the Victoria Public Library.

2 Victoria ISD 7 th Grade Pre-AP English Required Reading Assignment Choices All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury Read the short story, "All Summer in a Day", then choose one of the three following options. Alternate Ending Rewrite and expand upon the ending of the story. Include dialogue and description of actions. Your ending must be at least 300 words in length. If typed, it must be doublespaced, using Times New Roman; 12 point size. Character Letter to Margot Imagine if one of the characters wrote a letter to Margot on the day after the story ends. Choose a character from the story and assume his/her point of view. Write a letter to Margot expressing his/her emotions and reactions to the events in the story. The letter will be at least 300 words in length. If typed, it must be double-spaced, using Times New Roman; 12 point size. Scientific Connections Research information about Venus. Determine whether or not, based on current scientific evidence, the story is realistic. Present your findings in a poster, tri-fold board, PowerPoint, Prezi or report. Include a works cited section in your presentation. Slide show (PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.) with at least 7 slides, not including the title slide. Poster/tri-fold board with information clearly presented, labeled Report (300 words. If typed, use Times New Roman, 12 point size)

3 7 h Grade Pre-AP Summer Reading Rubric for All Summer in a Day Name: Assignment (circle one): Alternate Ending/Letter to Margot/Scientific Connections Performance Element Exemplary pts Proficient pts Limited 4-9 pts Not Proficient 0-3 pts Content C Connections to the Text 7.6 F19D Topic is addressed with understanding beyond the literal level. Connections to text reflect a deep understanding of the text. Topic is addressed with a clear understanding of the text. Connections to text reflect a literal understanding of the text. Topic is addressed with limited understanding of the text. Connections to text reflect a limited understanding of the text. Understanding of the text is minimal or not evident. Connections to texts are minimal or unrelated and do not reflect understanding of the text. Originality 7.25A Final product is creative, innovative and shows significant amount of original thought. Final product shows original thought with some new ideas and insights. Final product shows paraphrased thoughts of others, giving credit only when necessary. Final product lacks originality, shows thoughts of others with or without credit. Presentation 7.25C Written Conventions 7.14D Addresses all aspects of the task clearly, consistently, and thoroughly. Product is error-free. Addresses most aspects of the task clearly, consistently, and thoroughly. Product contains minimal errors (5 or fewer) that do not detract from the overall presentation. Addresses some aspects of the task clearly, and consistently, Product contains frequent errors (6-10) that somewhat interfere with the presentation s overall effectiveness. Final product fails to address prompt, lacks clarity. Product contains consistent errors that detract from the effectiveness of the overall presentation. Comments: Points earned from All Summer in a Day assignment (100 points possible)

4 Victoria ISD 7 th Grade Pre-AP English Required Reading Myth Assignment Read both myths. For one, you will write a summary addressing the question below. For the other, complete an illustrated plot diagram. Summary Instructions What does the myth reveal about the culture or land? Write a summary paragraph (3-5 sentences) to answer the question and accurately retell the main points of the myth. Summary Scoring Guide (100 points) Accomplished ( points): The student s work is written in paragraph form and is constructed with complete sentences. Sentences are organized in a logical and sequential order and contain correct spelling, punctuation, grammar and capitalization. The prompt is addressed completely and the paragraph reflects a deep understanding of the myth. Satisfactory (80-89 points): The student s work is written in paragraph form and is constructed with complete sentences. Sentences are organized in a somewhat logical and sequential order and contain mostly correct spelling, punctuation, grammar and capitalization. The prompt is addressed completely and paragraph reflects a clear understanding of the myth. Basic (70-79 points): The student s work is written in paragraph form and is constructed with mostly complete sentences. Organization of the sentences is weak and the work contains some spelling, punctuation, grammar and capitalization errors. The prompt is partially addressed and reflects some understanding of the myth. Limited (Less than 70 points): The student s work is written in paragraph form and is constructed with complete sentences. Sentences lack organization and contain many spelling, punctuation, grammar and capitalization errors. The prompt is not addressed and understanding of the myth is not evident. Plot Diagram Instructions Look over the elements of plot structure that are evident in most stories. Summarize each of the plot elements on the plot diagram and illustrate the exposition, climax and resolution. Exposition: background information necessary to understand a story-including the time and place in which the story is set and introduction to the characters Rising Action: the conflicts and complications that develop a story Conflict: the struggle or clash between internal or external forces Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment Falling Action: the action after the climax Resolution: the conclusion; the wrapping up of any loose ends Plot Diagram Scoring Guide (100 points) Exposition (20 points) The time and place of the myth are clearly stated and depicted. Characters are introduced and described. Rising Action (10 points) Events that relay the complications and/or conflict in the story are stated in complete sentences. The most important action that takes place in the story is included on the diagram. Student must choose the most important events to include. Climax (20 points) The decisive moment or turning point is clearly stated and depicted to reveal the most intense point in the plot. Conflict (20 points) The opposing forces are clearly identified and depicted. The conflict is identified as external or internal. Falling Action (10 points) Event(s) that immediately follow the climax are clearly stated and lead directly to the resolution of the story. Resolution (20 points) The conclusion of the story is clearly stated and depicted and relays how the story comes to an end.

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6 Pandora s Box- A Greek Myth Has your curiosity ever got you into trouble? Have you ever been so desperate to know a secret that you took no notice of a warning? All through history there are stories of people being told not to open doors, caskets, cupboards, gates and all sorts of other things and, in so many of the stories, the people just did not listen. One person who did not listen was Pandora. Her story comes from Ancient Greece and her curiosity brought a whole heap of trouble! In ancient Greece there were two brothers named Epimetheus and Prometheus. They upset the gods and annoyed the most powerful of all Gods, Zeus, in particular. This was not the first time humans had upset Zeus, and once before, as punishment, he had taken from humans the ability to make fire. This meant they could no longer cook their meat and could not keep themselves warm. However, Prometheus was clever and he knew that, on the Isle of Lemnos, lived Hephaestos, the blacksmith. He had a fire burning to keep his forge hot. Prometheus travelled to Lemnos and stole fire from the blacksmith. Zeus was furious and decided that humans had to be punished once and for all for their lack of respect. Zeus came up with a very cunning plan to punish the two brothers. With the help of Hephaestos, he created a woman from clay. The goddess Athene then breathed life into the clay, the goddess Aphrodite made her very beautiful, the goddess and Hermes taught her how to be both charming and deceitful. Zeus called her Pandora and sent her as a gift to Epimetheus. His brother Prometheus had warned him not to accept any gifts from the gods, but Epimetheus was completely charmed by the woman and thought Pandora was so beautiful that she could never cause any harm, so he agreed to marry her. Zeus, pleased that his trap was working, gave Pandora a wedding gift of a beautiful box. However, there was one very, very important condition: that she must never opened the box. Pandora was very curious about the contents of the box, but she had promised that she would never open it. send her a box if she could not see what was in it. It seemed to make no sense at all to her, and she could think of nothing else but of opening the box and unlocking its secrets. This was just what Zeus had planned. Finally, Pandora could stand it no longer. When she knew Epimetheus was out of sight, she crept up to the box, took the huge key off the high shelf, fitted it carefully into the lock and turned it. But, at the last moment, she felt a pang of guilt, imagined how angry her husband would be and quickly locked the box again without opening the lid. She put the key back where she had found it. Three more times she did this until, at last, she knew she had to look inside or she would go completely mad! She took the key, slid it into the lock and turned it. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and slowly lifted the lid of the box. She opened her eyes and looked into the box, expecting to see fine silks, gowns or gold bracelets and necklaces or even piles of gold coins. But there was no gleam of gold or treasure. There were no shining bracelets and not one beautiful dress! The look of excitement on her face quickly turned to one of disappointment and then horror. For Zeus had packed the box full of all the terrible evils he could think of. Out of the box poured disease and poverty. Out came misery, out came death, out came sadness - all shaped like tiny buzzing moths. The creatures stung Pandora over and over again and she slammed the lid shut. Epimetheus ran into the room to see why she was crying in pain. Pandora could still hear a voice calling to her from the box, pleading with her to be let out. Epimetheus agreed that nothing inside the box could be worse than the horrors that had already been released, so they opened the lid once more. All that remained in the box was Hope. It fluttered from the box like a beautiful dragonfly, touching the wounds created by the evil creatures, and healing them. Even though Pandora had released pain and suffering upon the world, she had also allowed Hope to follow them. All she could think about was; what could be in the box? She could not understand why someone would

7 Kaang's People- An African Myth Long, long, long ago all the animals and all the human beings lived together beneath the surface of the world in peace with the great god Kaang, the creator of all things. Every creature understood every other and no creature wanted for anything. Although there was no sun, it was light and warm and all lived in comfort and harmony. During this blissful time, Kaang began to plan the world above where all creatures would eventually live. First, he created a wondrous, magnificent tree, the branches of which spread over the entire surface of the country. He then created all the wonders within it. When he was satisfied that all was good, he dug a hole deep down to where the humans and animals were living. He took a man by the hand and led him up through the long passageway to the world above. He sat the first man down by the hole and they waited. Soon a woman wandered up through the hole and the couple explored their new world with all the wonders in it. Delighted with everything, they called down the passageway and soon the other people and all the animals, led by the inquisitive, long-necked giraffe, were streaming out of the hole. What wonders they found: the excited birds flew up high into the tree, twittering their delight at all they could see and many animals jumped and scrambled into the branches wanting to see further for themselves. Amidst the excitement and noise, the great god Kaang, pleased at their delight with his creation, called all people and animals together under the tree. I will tell you the laws of this new world, he said. You are to live together in peace and harmony. You will talk together and listen to each other. But this is a new world, and very fragile. Turning to the humans, he went on. Under no circumstances must you make fire; to do such a thing would be to bring great evil upon this beautiful world. They promised solemnly that they would never do this. Satisfied, Kaang left them to enjoy their new world and went away to watch in secret. For a while, all went well. But then the sun started to slowly sink beneath the horizon. All the people and animals gathered together to watch this strange phenomenon. But once the sun had gone, the world became dark and cold. The humans could not see as they lacked the eyesight of the other creatures. The humans became cold as they lacked the fur and feathers of the other creatures. The humans began to be afraid. They huddled together in an effort to keep warm and shared their worries with each other. What is happening? Will the sun ever return? The fear spread fast amongst them. The animals too began to be afraid as they saw the people change and heard what the people were saying. As the dark time continued, the fear began to turn to panic. We are going to freeze to death. How can we live if we cannot see? And soon one man shouted, We must start a fire, then we will have light and warmth and we can survive. Yes, yes! all the people agreed, forgetting the words of Kaang and their promise to him. The fire was lit and the humans gathered around and could see each other in its light and could feel the warmth of the flames on their chilled bodies. They started to relax and smile at each other. They turned to their friends, the animals, only to find that they had started to run away, terrified of the fire. Come back, there is nothing to fear. The people stood and shouted, but the animals could no longer understand them and only heard shouts and yells which terrified them further. In no time at all, every creature had run away and hidden. Sadly, the people now remembered their promise to Kaang and realized that by breaking it, they had also broken the understanding between humans and animals forever.

8 Student and Parent Acknowledgment Form By signing below, I am agreeing that I have read and understand the 2016 Summer Reading assignment for 7 th Grade Pre-AP English and I agree to abide by assignment requirements. Student Name: Student Signature: Date: Parent Name: Parent Signature: Date: Parent Contact Information: