Dear Biotech Student,
Welcome to Summer Reading 2014! It is our hope that you will spend some the summer months reading and enjoying
literature. Whether you plan to travel across the world or across North Carolina, we hope that your summer reading novel becomes a
companion for you and a source of inspiration as well.
This year, all students in grades nine through twelve can complete a summer reading assignment. The benefits of reading during the
summer months are applicable to all students, and we hope that every one of you takes advantage of this opportunity.
Over the summer, you will have the opportunity to get a head start on next year’s grade in your English class. In order to take
advantage of this opportunity, you will need to complete the Summer Enrichment Project below. This grade can be used later to
replace a low project score or as extra credit. The best way to prepare for this assignment is to read the text during the summer!
NOTE: Students enrolled in HONORS ENGLISH courses are REQUIRED to complete the reading and project. Students
enrolled in REGULAR ENGLISH may complete the reading and the project to replace a test grade (provided it is good).
Required Reading: Below is a list of classic novels from which you need to choose ONE to read and use to complete the
Dialectical Journal Assignment.
9th Grade
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
10th Grade
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
11th Grade
The Things They Carry by Tim O’Brien
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
12th Grade
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Garcia Marquez
1984 by George Orwell
The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Guidelines for Novel Dialectical Journal:
Dialectic means “the art or practice of arriving at the truth by using conversation involving
question and answer.” The “dialectic” was the method Socrates used to teach his students how
to be actively engaged in the struggle to obtain meaning from an unfamiliar and challenging
work. A dialectical journal is a written conversation with yourself about a piece of literature
that encourages the habit of reflective questioning – a habit that should be firmly ingrained by
the time you leave this class.
Absolutely NO collaboration with another student is permitted. Any assistance from the
internet, movies, or secondary sources such as SparkNotes or Cliff Notes will be perceived as
cheating.
Instructions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Purchase a composition book.
Fold pages in half vertically or draw a vertical line down the middle of each page.
Label the top of each column: left side, TEXT; right side, RESPONSE.
Skip pages (write on one side of the page only).
In the TEXT column, cite passages verbatim from the book; including quotation marks
and page numbers.
a. Choose two-three quotes from each chapter (depending on the novel chosen).
b. Use MLA format for all direct quotations and citations.
c. How to choose quotes:
i. Details that seem important to you
ii. You have an epiphany (look it up)
iii. Your learn something significant
iv. You agree or disagree with something the author says or does
v. You find an interesting or potentially significant quotation
vi. You notice something important or relevant about the writer’s style
vii. You notice effective use of literary devices
6. In the RESPONSE column, reflect upon the passages (you must use each one of the
letters at least once):
a. make personal connections
b. make associations to other texts or events
c. share feeling about the ideas, tone, and/or style
d. question parts of the passage you do not understand
e. comment about what you think is important
f. speculate about the significance of images
g. comment about the repetition of ideas, words, phrases, and/or images
h. make connections between quotes chosen in the text
i. explain or speculate about symbols or motifs
j. speculate about theme
k. address questions that are raised as you read
7. DO NOT MERELY SUMMARIZE.
8. Each RESPONSE must be at least 50 words (include the word count at the end of each
response).
9. Write down your thoughts, questions, insights, and ideas while you read or immediately
after reading a chapter so the information is fresh.
10. As you take notes, re-read previous pages of notes and comments.
11. First person reference is acceptable in the RESPONSE column.
12. Write a detailed 8-10 sentence analysis of the entire text – do not summarize – a
summary is not an analysis
Dialectic journals will be assessed on your choice of quotes: Are they meaningful? Do they
reflect the ideas discussed? Are the quotations significant? Is interpretation and commentary
about the text thoughtful? Do you include commentary on various literary devices such as
theme, narrative voice, imagery, conflict, etc., AND how each contributed to the meaning of
the text? Do you comment on your understanding of how comics and “sequential visual art”
work? Do you make insightful personal connections and ask thought-provoking questions? Is
coverage of the text thorough? Is the journal neat, organized and professional-looking? Did
you follow directions? Is your analysis detailed and dealing with the entire text?
Dialectical Journal Format (Sample only – yours must be handwritten)
Text Title: _____________________________ Author: _____________________
Reference to the Text
Response
Type #
In the space below, copy direct
The
quotations, citations, summaries,
letter of
paraphrases, key words, and/or
the
other clear references to the text that Response
used from
“speak to you.” Use MLA format
the
for all direct quotations and
column
citations.
on the
right
Example:
“I hurled orange peels t the mouth of
an open garbage can, and when the
peels were gone I watched the white
puffs of my breath thin to nothing”
(Soto 50).
g
Responses to the Textual Examples
In the space below, write your responses.
You may (a) make personal connections;
(b) make associations to other texts or
events; (c) share feeling about the ideas,
tone, and/or style; (d) question parts of the
passage you do not understand; (e)
comment about what you think is
important; (f) speculate about the
significance of images; (g) comment about
the repetition of ideas, words, phrases,
and/or images; (h) make connections
between quotes chosen in the text; (i)
explain or speculate about symbols or
motifs; (j) speculate about theme; and/or
(k) address questions that are raised as you
read.
Example Response:
The mouth of the trashcan reflects to the
image of the monster eating orange peels.
When the boy is throwing orange peels
into the trashcan is symbolizes that the
jacket is peeling and that he wants to
throw it away.
The breath thins to nothing is used to
show that the boy is watching his life
disappear. Even though he can do
something about it, he doesn’t. In turn, he
is throwing his life away.
Analysis (8-10 sentences):
Dialectical Journal Rubric for Novel Summer Enrichment Assignment
Formatting
(Neatness,
professional
appearance,
and set up)
Quotes in
MLA format
Response
5
Follows all of
the
formatting
instructions
and
guidelines
All quotes
are in MLA
format
Responses
fully reflect
ideas and add
meaning
Connection
to self and
addresses
thought
provoking
questions
Insightful
connections
that address
thought
provoking
questions
Analysis
Analysis is
thorough,
detailed, and
is 9-10
sentences in
length
4
Follows most
of the
formatting
instructions
and
guidelines
Most quotes
are in MLA
format
Responses
mostly
reflect ideas
and add
meaning
Most
connections
are insightful
and address
thought
provoking
questions
3
Follows some
of the
formatting
instructions
and
guidelines
Some quotes
are in MLA
format
Responses
somewhat
reflect ideas
and add little
meaning
Connections
are somewhat
insightful and
address
thought
provoking
questions
Analysis is
mostly
thorough,
detailed, and
is 7-8
sentences in
length
Analysis is
somewhat
thorough,
detailed, and
is 5-6
sentences in
length
2
Follows very
few of the
formatting
instructions
and guidelines
Very few
quotes are in
MLA format
Responses do
not fully
reflect ideas
and add very
little meaning
Connections
inconsistently
reflect insight
and offers very
few ideas
about thought
provoking
questions
Analysis lacks
detail, and is
3-4 sentences
in length
1
Follows very
little of the
formatting
instructions
and
guidelines
Limited
quotes are in
MLA format
Responses do
not reflect
ideas and
lack meaning
Connections
are not
insightful and
offer limited
ideas about
thought
provoking
questions
Analysis has
limited detail,
and is 1-2
sentences in
length
TOTAL SCORE FROM RUBRIC: _________________ X 2 = _____________/50 points