Socorro Middle School
7th Grade Pre/AP ELAR
Independent Summer Project/Assignment Syllabus
Ms. Esther Holguin
Dear 7th Grade Students and Parents,
In order to be enrolled in the 7th grade Pre-AP ELAR class, you will have to complete a
project during the summer on the novel “The Outsiders”. Final Projects can be turned in
starting July 27, 2016. The very latest you can turn them in will be the first day of school
which will be August 1, 2016. After August 1, students will not be able to turn in projects
and will be dropped from the class. Make sure you turn in all the pieces of your project
for your entry into Pre-AP 7th grade ELAR. So put your thinking caps on and start thinking
OUT OF THE BOX!
This summer you will be reading the novel THE OUTSIDERS by S.E Hinton. You can either
check it out from Socorro Middle School Library, your local library, or you might purchase
it on your own.
“The Outsiders” has plenty of great quotes. You will do a double entry journal for each
chapter. The double entry journal combines note taking with personal comments. Its
purpose is to encourage careful reading and response. This is something you must do
during the summer.
AFTER YOU FINISH READING, YOU MUST CHOOSE TWO OF THE FOLLOWING..
1. Do you wonder what happened next? Write a sequel to The Outsiders where you
predict what comes next in the lives of the characters. Pick 2 characters to talk about.
Be sure to write it as a story, not just an essay explaining what you think. The story must
show evidence that you understood the book and its characters. Quality is more
important than quantity.
2. After the fire, a newspaper article is written about the boys being heroes. Write this
newspaper article. Make the newspaper page including headlines, pictures, captions.
Make it look like a real newspaper.
3. Create a book jacket! Design a “Special Edition” copy of The Outsiders.
a. Front Cover Directions: Create cover art for the jacket. Think about
specific parts in the novel that are important to the plot, and use those ideas
to work from. The cover MUST be relevant to the book, and may not be
random or unrelated artwork. Make the cover as colorful and attractive as
possible.
b. Inside Front Fold Directions: Describe an exciting scene from the book to try
and entice students to read the book. Leave it as a cliffhanger! Why would a
person want to read this book?
c. Spine Directions: The title of the novel (The Outsiders) and the author (S.E.
Hinton).
d. Back Cover Directions: At the top, write a summary of the novel in your own
words. Underneath the plot synopsis, include a review of the novel. This should
be written in your own words. You may create reviews by fictitious or famous
people. Get creative!
e. Inside Back Fold Directions: Your choice! Tell us about the author, add
more “reviews,” or illustrations.
4. Create the soundtrack for The Outsiders: The Movie (2.0). Select five important scenes
from the novel and choose a song from the era that you would include in the movie
version for each scene. For each, describe the scene, the characters involved and
why this song or artist is appropriate.
a. Burn a cd, put on a flash drive, save it on your phone the songs you’ve
selected for your soundtrack or write the names of the song and when
you present we can watch it in class.
b. Describe each scene and why the song or artist is appropriate.
c. Design the cd or album cover for the soundtrack.
5. Create 5 memes of any events presented in the novel. Be unique, creative and
choose your words wisely.
The best way to contact me is through email which is eholgu@sisd.net. Have fun with
your projects and get creative with them. I am looking forward to your presentations
when school starts! HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!!
I received the information for the 2016 7th grade ELAR Pre/AP Summer
Assignments and understand that these requirements and deadlines must be met
to be enrolled in this course.
Signature of Student: ________________________________ Date: _____________
Signature of Parent or Guardian: _______________________ Date: ___________