Assignment rationale/Objective
Although one objective is to encourage you to continue reading over the summer, this book was selected to expose you to some of the themes of American Literature. This novel will also set us up for the narrative writing task which is part of the first unit of instruction.
Required materials
 Black and White by Paul Volponi (Paperback ISBN-10: 0142406929)
 Attached Novel Organizer
Overview instructions
1.
You are required to read the book, Black and White by Paul Volponi.
2.
Complete the Novel Organizer attached in order to prepare you for your PARCC-style narrative writing task.
Estimated time for completion/Suggested pacing- Completing the required assignments should not take longer than 15 hours, depending on how quickly you read. Mrs. Nellins recommends completing this reading in mid-August so that you can recall and discuss it in
September.
Number of points
Assignments that students carry into class on the first day of school will count for a 10-point homework grade.
Percentage of first marking period grade
When they return to school, students will have an assessment on the novel and a PARCC-style narrative writing task that requires familiarity with the novel. These grades will constitute 10-
15% of the first marking period grade.
Process for requesting help over the summer
Email Mr. DeBiasse at debiasse@madisonpublicschools.org

Please complete this organizer as part of your summer reading assignment. Bring your complete organizer and notes to class on the first day of English class to be checked, reviewed, and used to complete our first assignments of the year.
Title: Author:
15.
8.
9.
6.
7.
4.
5.
2.
3.
10.
11.
12.
Major Plot Events
List the significant events of the novel in the space below. Your list should include at least 10-15 moments.
The best way to complete these notes is to jot down important events as you’re reading on a separate sheet of paper.
1.
13.
14.
Major Characters/ Characterization
Characterization is how important characters are developed in a story. Direct Characterization refers to the specific comments the narrator makes about a character, while Indirect Characterization refers to what

we observe and conclude as readers. Who are the important characters in this novel? How are they characterized? (Physically, Directly/Indirectly)
Important Characters
Physically
Characterization
Indirect Direct
Setting
Setting is the time and place where the action of a novel occurs. Very often, this information will be
important to the meaning of the work. Where does your novel take place? What settings seem
significant?
Where:
Significant Settings:
Narrator
The narrator is the voice telling the story. It can be 1 st
person (I, me, we) or 3 rd
person (they, them, he/she).
An Omniscient narrator knows everything, whereas a Limited narrator only knows so much. What kind of narrator tells the story in the novel you’re reading? What is his/her point of view?
Type of narrator:
Point of View:
Mood
Mood is the intended feeling the reader gets as he/she reads the text. Is the story suspenseful? Sad? Exciting? What is the mood you feel as you read this novel, and what events/images in the story are causing that feeling? Where are there significant shifts in mood?
Mood:
Events/images causing that feeling:

Conflicts
Conflicts can be Internal (inside a character- usually involving a decision) or External (with another
character, nature, a supernatural force, etc.) What are the important conflicts in your work? Where do they take place, and how are they resolved?
Important Conflicts Where do they take place?
How resolved?
Themes
Themes are the larger ideas the author wishes us to consider as we read his/her novel. What are the larger ideas the author is asking you to consider through the events and characters in your novel?