7th Grade Summer Reading Project
Nothing But Truth
Name:
Mr. Rinkevich / Ms. Bolesta
Write the letter of the correct answer on the line provided to the left. (2 Points Each)
________
1
Margaret Narwin
a
Handles discipline matters at the school
________
2
Ted Griffen
b
Cares about the budget above all else
________
3
Joseph Palleni
c
Reporter for the Manchester Record
________
4
Albert Seymour
d
Teaching is like a religion to this person
________
5
Jennifer Stewart
e
Running for the board of education
________
6
Mr. Lunser
f
Miss Narwin’s best student
________
7
Dr. Doane
g
Attempts to report the truth
________
8
Robert Duval
h
Loud-mouthed radio show host
________
9
Jake Barlow
I
Feels that Phil let him down
________
10
Coach Jamison
j
Harrison High’s best sense of humor
_______11. Phil Malloy cares most about _____________________.
a. passing math
b. running track
c. skipping his English class
_______12. Phil’s father advises him to ________.
a. take a different class
b. take better notes
_______13. Miss Narwin wants to share her ________.
a. creativity and imagination
b. knowledge of Shakespeare
_______14. Coach Jamison urges Philip to __________.
a. run more
b. ask for make-up work
_______15. Dr. Palleni offers Phillip the chance to __________?
a. raise his grade in English
b. apologize to Miss Narwin
c. stand up for himself
c. love of literature
c. transfer to a teacher who likes sports
c. speak with reporters
_______16. When Jennifer Stewart interviews Dr. Palleni, he _____________________.
a. tells her everything
b. refuses to comment because her facts are wrong
c. refers her to Dr. Seymour
_______17. Stewart’s article reports that Phillip was suspended for ____________________ .
a. refusing to sing
b. causing a disturbance
c. singing
_______18 On Election Day, the school budget is ______________.
a. defeated
b. passed
c. revised
_______19. Phillip’s new principle offers him the chance to ___________.
a. be on the track team
b. sing the national anthem
c. tell his story at a school assembly
_______20. What are Phillip’s parents always arguing about?
a. Financial issues
b. Ben Malloy’s refusal to work
c. Sue Malloy’s favoring of Phil
Answer the following short answer questions in complete sentences. (3 Points Each)
21. What does Dr. Palleni’s handling of Phil’s situation tell us about his attitude and beliefs? __________________
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22. How does Ted Griffen use Phillip’s story in his political campaign? ____________________________________
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23. How does Jake Barlow use the newspaper article about Phil? ________________________________________
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24. How do Phil’s classmates feel about him by the end of the story? Give two examples. ______________________
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25. Give two examples of how the school has not supported Miss Narwin. __________________________________
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26. Describe the final outcome and irony in Miss Narwin’s written request to take a class to help with her teaching?
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27. What happens to Miss Narwin at the end of the story and how does she respond? __________________________
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28. Why is Coach Jamison mad at Phil? Give two reasons. ______________________________________________
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29. How does Mr. Malloy stand up for himself and how does Phil end up like his father by the end of the story? ____
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30. Describe four consequences that happen as a result of Phillip telling his version of the events to a reporter. _____
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Essay Questions:
Chose TWO of the five essay topics to answer. They must consist of at least 3-4 paragraphs
with at least 5-7 sentences in each paragraph. You must use exact details, examples and/or
quotes from the book. You must cite the page number from the book for each detail,
example and/or quote used in your response. It will be added in parentheses at the end of
the sentence it was used to answer. Each essay is worth 15 points and will be graded
according to the PSSA rubric for informative writing.
1. Over the course of the novel, several people give Phillip advice that he does not take.
These people include Dr. Palleni, Miss Narwin, and Coach Jamison. Choose one
character whose advice you think was good. Explain why you think it was good
advice. Describe how the novel might have been different if Phillip had taken that
advice.
2. Irony often occurs in a story when people’s good intentions work out to be just the
opposite of what they wanted. In Nothing but the Truth, Philip’s parents sincerely want
to help their son. Discuss some of their attitudes and actions. What are the ironic
consequences of their actions?
3. Imagine that six months have passed since Phillip entered Washington Academy. As he
thinks about the trouble at Harrison High, what does he think he has learned? Write a
diary entry for Philip. Have him tell what the experiences of Nothing but the Truth have
taught him.
4. Philip clashes with other characters in the novel – external conflict. He also struggles
with his own thoughts and feelings – internal conflict. Identify one of Philip’s external
conflicts and one of his internal conflicts. Explain how both conflicts are resolved by the
end of Nothing but the Truth.
5. A theme is a main idea in a work of literature. Some themes reveal a writer’s thoughts
about human life. Other themes focus on the way that people treat each other. State
what you believe is the central theme of Nothing but the Truth. Support your opinion
with details from the novel.
Point Value
Focus
Content
Organization
Style
Conventions
3
Sharp, distinct
controlling
point made
about a single
topic with
evident
awareness of
task
Sophisticated
arrangement of
content with
evident and/or
subtle
transitions
Apparent
point made
about a single
topic with
sufficient
awareness of
task (mode)
1
No apparent
point but
evidence of a
specific topic
Limited content
with inadequate
elaboration or
explanation
0
Minimal
evidence of a
topic
Superficial
and/or minimal
content
Confused or
inconsistent
arrangement of
content with or
without
attempts
at transition
Minimal control
of intent
arrangement
Precise,
illustrative use
of a variety of
words and
sentence
structures to
create
consistent
writer's voice
and tone
Generic use of
a variety of
words and
sentence
structures that
may or may not
create writer's
voice and tone
appropriate to
audience
Limited word
choice and
control of
sentence
structures that
inhibit voice
and tone
Minimal
variety in word
choice and
minimal
control of
sentence
structures
Evident control
of grammar,
mechanics,
spelling, usage
and sentence
formation
2
Substantial,
specific; and/or
illustrative
content
demonstrating
strong
development
and
sophisticated
ideas
Sufficiently
developed
content with
adequate
elaboration or
explanation
Functional
arrangement of
content that
sustains a logical
order with some
evidence of
transitions
Sufficient
control of
grammar,
mechanics,
spelling, usage
and sentence
formation
Limited control
of grammar,
mechanics,
spelling, usage
and sentence
formation
Minimal control
of grammar,
mechanics,
spelling, usage
and sentence
formation