North Lawndale College Prep Charter High School
1615 South Christiana, Chicago, Illinois 60623
(773) 542.1490
English Department
Fax (773) 542.1492
Summer 2013
Dear 2013-14World Literatures Student,
Welcome to your freshman year at North Lawndale College Preparatory High School! We in the English Department are
looking forward to working with you as you develop intellectually and personally.
Your scholarly pursuits in English will begin this summer with this year’s summer reading text. These reading and writing
exercises will become your first graded assignment of the 2012-2013 school year in World Literatures. .
The Driving Question for this summer’s reading assignment is: Why is making a difference important?
1) Read Our America by Lloyd Newman and LeAlan Jones. Make sure to show that you are actively reading in your inquiry
journal by writing questions, answering comprehension questions, and responding to prompts assigned by your GEAR Up
instructor
2) Choose ONE of the following assignments to demonstrate synthesis of Lloyd and LeAlan’s experiences as depicted in
Our America, experiences from your own life, and your reflection on the driving question: Why is it important to make a
difference.
a. Collage: Create a collage that responds to the driving question. Be sure to make three references to events,
characters, objects, scenes, etc. from Our America and three references from your own life through images,
quotes, words, etc.
b. Poem: Write a poem (at least 20 lines) where you respond to the driving question. Be sure to make three
references to events, characters, objects, scenes, etc. from Our America and three references from your own life.
c. PowerPoint or Short Film: Create a PowerPoint or Short Film that responds to the driving question. Be sure to
make three references to events, characters, objects, scenes, etc. from Our America and three references from
your own life through images, quotes, words, etc.
3) Choose ONE of the following assignments to take action in response to reading Our America and reflection on the driving
question: Why is it important to make a difference.
a. Interview: Like Lloyd and LeAlan, interview somebody from your school, home, or neighborhood. Develop a
list of TEN interview questions (use Lloyd’s and LeAlan’s as examples). Type the questions and responses in the
same format as Our America.
b. Essay: Read the article, Neighborhoods Have A History. Write an essay with a clear introduction, body, and
conclusion where you explain three positive things that you’ve learned about the Ida B. Wells Homes from the
article.
c. Letter: Write a letter to one of the following: Rahm Emmanuel, your fellow classmates, your future teachers at
NLCP, a family member, or a neighbor. In the letter, explain what you are currently reading and how it
relates to the current violence in the City of Chicago. .Explain what you think can be done in the
neighborhood or for the people in the neighborhood to cease this type of activity.
Bring your Summer Reading assignment to World Literatures on the first day of class. Be sure that every assignment is
complete to the best of your ability so that your teacher knows what you are capable of.
With best wishes for your summer,
NLCP World LiteraturesTeachers
2013-2014 North Lawndale College Prep High School
Freshmen Team Summer Reading Assignment Rubric
Student Name:_____________________________________ Course:_____________________________________ Date:________________________________
Inquiry Journal
Optimize Standards
(15-14 points)
Exceed Standards
(13-12 points)
Meet Standards
(11 pts)
Do Not Meet Standards
(10-0 points)
Assignments at this level include
Student writes (5) or more comments during
Guided Reading for each entry.
Assignments at this level include
Student writes at least (4) comments during
Guided Reading for each entry.
Assignments at this level include
Student writes at least (3) comments
during Guided Reading for each entry.
Assignments at this level include
Student writes at less than (3) comments
during Guided Reading for each entry.
All responses to writing prompts are
thoughtful and thorough.
Most responses to writing prompts are
thoughtful and thorough.
Some responses to writing prompts are
thoughtful and thorough.
Few to no responses to writing prompts are
thoughtful and thorough.
All responses to homework comprehension
questions are written in complete sentences
and supported by evidence from the text.
Most responses to homework
comprehension questions are written in
complete sentences and supported by
evidence from the text.
Some responses to homework
comprehension questions are written in
complete sentences and supported by
evidence from the text.
Few to no responses to homework
comprehension questions are written in
complete sentences and supported by evidence
from the text.
Creative Response
The creative response exceeds the
requirements outlined in the Summer
Reading letter (20 lines, 10 slides).
The creative response meets the requirements
outlined in the Summer Reading letter (20
lines, 10 slides).
The creative response meets the
requirements outlined in the Summer
Reading letter (20 lines, 10 slides).
Student does not submit an Inquiry Journal or
Inquiry Journal is incomplete.
The creative response does not meets the
requirements outlined in the Summer Reading
letter (20 lines, 10 slides).
Collage
Poem
OR
Slideshow
The creative response demonstrates
exceptional connections to the text (3 or
more) and the student’s own experiences(3
or more).
The creative response demonstrates strong
connections to the text (3) and the student’s
own experiences (3).
The creative response demonstrates basic
connections to the text (3) and the student’s
own experiences (3).
The creative response demonstrates few to no
connections to the text (3) and the student’s
own experiences (3).
The creative response demonstrates strong
creativity.
The creative response demonstrates some
creativity.
The creative response demonstrates little to no
creativity.
The written response answers the prompt
exceptionally well.
The written response answers the prompt
well.
The written response answers somewhat
strays from the prompt.
The creative response is incomplete.
The written response does not answer the
prompt.
The written response has an exceptional
introduction, body, and conclusion.
The written response has a strong
introduction, body, and conclusion.
The written response has a basic
introduction, body, and conclusion.
The written response is missing an
introduction, body, or conclusion.
The written response demonstrates an
exceptional command of grammar,
punctuation, and spelling.
The written response demonstrates a strong
command of grammar, punctuation, and
spelling.
The written response demonstrates some
errors in grammar, punctuation, and
spelling.
The written response demonstrates many
errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Assignment #2
The creative response demonstrates
exceptional creativity.
Assignment #3
Written Response
Interview
Essay
OR
Letter
Total Score
Your
Points