Writing Prompts for Summer Reading – The Choir School
Grades 5 and 6:
For each of the three books you read—the one required book and the two books chosen from the list
for your grade level—please write a 1-1.5 page long essay. It may be either 1.5 pages handwritten or
1 page typed in size 12 double-spaced Times New Roman font.
Each essay should be approximately two paragraphs long. The first paragraph should be a short
summary of the book, and the second paragraph should discuss who your favorite character was in
the book and why, as well as whether or not you liked the book and why or why not. Each paragraph
should be about five sentences long.
In the first paragraph, the first 1-2 sentences should state the title, the author, the setting and “what
the book is about.” In 2-4 sentences after that, please summarize the main characters, main conflict,
and main plot.
First Paragraph Example: Harry Potter and Deathly Hollows, by J. K. Rowling, is set in
present day England and tells the story of the final conflict between the young wizard Harry
Potter and the evil Lord Voldemort, who wants him dead. (1 sentence) Harry and his best
friends, Ron and Hermione, are searching for horcruxes (objects that Voldemort is using for
power) so they can destroy them while also trying to avoid capture by Voldemort's allies.
Eventually they return to Hogwarts, where they join forces with their friends for a final battle
against the dark lord, in which Harry must sacrifice his life to defeat Voldemort. (2 sentences)
In the second paragraph, the first 2-3 sentences should discuss your favorite character and the second
2-3 sentences should discuss whether or not you liked the book and why or why not. Use proper
grammar and mechanics, and if handwritten please write carefully and neatly. Please bring a hard
copy of the essays for all three books to the first day of classes.
Grade 7:
For each of the three books you read—the one required book and the two books chosen from the list
for your grade level—please write a 2-4 page long essay. It may be either 3-4 pages handwritten or 23 pages typed in size 12 double-spaced Times New Roman font.
The essay should answer the following questions: is the protagonist (main character) of the book a
good person? Why or why not? In your essay, be sure to clearly identify who you believe to be the
protagonist (and explain why) in your opening paragraph. This essay should be a mix of an analytical
work examining the protagonist using the text and events of the book as evidence—please include at
least one quotation from the text in your essay—as well as your personal response to the book and the
characters. Be sure to think about why you think the protagonist is or is not a good person, as well as
how you know that they are or are not, and to use evidence to support your opinion. Use proper
grammar and mechanics, and if handwritten please write carefully and neatly. Please bring a hard
copy of the essays for all three books to the first day of classes.
Grade 8:
Please complete the entirety of the Princeton Review SSAT/ISEE book. This means reading through
the chapters about how to take the test and the different components of the test (please do so with a
pen in hand, underlining or highlighting important information as you go), doing the practice
problems, and taking the practice tests. Please try to take the practice tests in a quiet place using a
timer; that way, the practice tests will be closer to the experience of taking the real test and will give
you a better sense of what areas need improvement. Additionally, bring your books to school with
you. We will refer to them throughout the year, and I will be checking that they have been completed
in the first week of classes (this is a required assignment).
Optional: If anyone would like extra SSAT test prep over the summer, the Kaplan SSAT and ISEE
2012 Edition book is also pretty good; I would recommend reading through that and taking their
practice tests if you have time and want to work on improving your scores. There are also some
practice problems available on the ISEE and SSAT websites, so those are another good additional
resource.
Required: For each of the two books you read from the 8th grade list, please write a 2-4 page long
essay. It may be either 3-4 pages handwritten or 2-3 pages typed in size 12 double-spaced Times New
Roman font.
The essay should answer the following questions: is the protagonist (main character) of the book a
good person? Why or why not? In your essay, be sure to clearly identify who you believe to be the
protagonist (and explain why) in your opening paragraph. This essay should be a mix of an analytical
work examining the protagonist using the text and events of the book as evidence—please include at
least one quotation from the text in your essay—as well as your personal response to the book and the
characters. Be sure to think about why you think the protagonist is or is not a good person, as well as
how you know that they are or are not, and to use evidence to support your opinion. Use proper
grammar and mechanics, and if handwritten please write carefully and neatly. Bring a hard copy of
the essays for both books to the first day of classes.