Ms. Curran and Mr. Gergen
American Studies Summer Reading Assignment 2013 School Year
The Hot Zone
When you return to school, bring your essay on Thursday, August 22th. We will do a fishbowl activity to
discuss the book and chemical warfare. If you signed out a book from me, bring it with you. Fill out the prefishbowl, and bring it with your essay.
Write three to four pages (seven paragraphs) on the following prompt:
Essay Question: Explain how this book connects with ONE example of chemical warfare in history (some
examples include: Saddam Hussein bombing Kurds in Northern Iraq, use of chemical weapons in WWI,
and bombing Hiroshima). What significance does the Hot Zone have on our world today and with
involvement in chemical or biological warfare?
Paragraph One (introduction):
 Lead that catches the reader’s attention (quote, question, astonishing fact, short story that
relates, simile, metaphor, etc.)
 Background (summary, title, and author)
 Thesis (TCBY): The book connects with ____________________ (your event of chemical
warfare) because….; this impacts our world because…
Paragraph two (summary of the book):
 T (topic sentence)
 E (evidence—examples and quotes sandwiched—one from book and one from research)
 S (significance)
 TR (transition to next paragraph)
Paragraph three (first comparison to the event of chemical warfare)
 T (topic sentence)
 E (evidence—examples and quotes sandwiched—one from book and one from research)
 S (significance)
 TR (transition to next paragraph)
Paragraph four (second comparison to the event of chemical warfare)
 T (topic sentence)
 E (evidence—examples and quotes sandwiched—one from book and one from research)
 S (significance)
 TR (transition to next paragraph)
Paragraph five (third comparison to the event of chemical warfare)
 T (topic sentence)
 E (evidence—examples and quotes sandwiched—one from book and one from research)
 S (significance)
 TR (transition to next paragraph)
Paragraph six (why are biological weapons illegal?)
 T (topic sentence)
 E (evidence—examples and quotes sandwiched—one from book and one from research)
 S (significance)
 TR (transition to next paragraph)
Paragraph seven (conclusion):
 Thesis restated
 How does this impact the world today?
Works Cited Page
 Websites used
 Book (The Hot Zone)
Directions for the essay
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Have a works cited page using www.easybib.com for ALL of your websites use.
You must have AT LEAST two quotes per paragraph (one from the book and one from the research),
but you are encouraged to have more.
SANDWICH EACH QUOTE. SEE BELOW:
o Intro phrase, “quote” (citation). Explanation.
o For the book use the following: (Preston page #); (Preston 21).
o For the websites, make your works cited page first and put the website title in the intro phrase
or parenthesis following the quote.
 On the website “Biological Warfare,” it states, “quote.” Explain the quote.
 Chemicals are “quote” (“Biological Warfare”). Explain the quote.
Type your response using double-spaced 12 point, Times New Roman font.
Put the following heading on the top left of your paper:
(sample)
Sally Student
Mrs. Book
3rd Bell Eng. 9
September 3, 2013
Your name
Teacher’s name
Bell and Course
Date



Skip a line after the heading and put the title and author of your essay
Proofread because spelling, mechanics, punctuation, and grammar will count!
ANSWER THE QUESTION; DO NOT SUMMARIZE THE NOVEL.
PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

What is plagiarism?
It is plagiarism to copy word for word information from other sources and present it as your own or to paraphrase ideas
from other sources and present it as your own. YOU MUST CITE ALL DIRECT QUOTES WITH THE PAGE NUMBER.

What will happen if you plagiarize?
PLAGIARISM WILL RESULT IN A FAILING GRADE FOR THIS PROJECT AND A PARENT CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS THE
INFRACTION.
Name__________________________________________________
Academic Content
Unsatisfactory
-No thesis
-Does not follow the prompt
-Does not have seven paragraphs or is
missing some parts
-Paragraphs do not follow TESTR
-Lack of quotes
-No works cited page
Essay Rubric
Proficient
-Has clear thesis
-Follows the prompt
-Has seven paragraphs
-Each paragraph follows the TESTR format
-Each paragraph has one quote from the book
and one from the research
-Works cited page, citing book and all research
Advanced
-Particularly interesting and compelling
piece of writing
-Sheds original insight on the Hot Zone
and chemical warfare
21………………………………………………………………….26
27……………………………………………………30
Proficient
-Each quote is correctly SANDWICHED with
correct in-text citations (last name #) OR (“title
of website”)
-The significance of each quote and example is
explained
-The are few errors in grammar, spelling,
mechanics, and punctuation
21………………………………………………………………….26
Advanced
-High advanced commentary on
examples and quotes
-Quotes and smoothly embedded in the
writing
-Very few grammar errors
Proficient
-The essay has three clear connections about
the book to chemical warfare
-The essay uses plenty of research to enhance
the development with a variety of sources
Advanced
-Connections to the book and chemical
warfare are sophisticated and well
thought out
-Uses more than enough research
0………………………………………………………..20
Work Ethic
Unsatisfactory
-The essay is late
21………………………………………………………………….26
27………………………………………………………30
Proficient
-The essay is turned on the second day of
school
Advanced
-The essay is turned in on the first day of
school
0………………………………………………………..20
Media Literacy
Unsatisfactory
-Missing one or more of the following:
-heading
-title
-last name, page number
-double spaced
-readable font
21………………………………………………………………….26
27………………………………………………………30
Proficient
-The heading is on the left:
You name
Curran/Gergen
American Studies
Date
Title
-Last name and page number in the top right
corner
-Double spaced
-Readable font like Times New Roman
21………………………………………………………………….26
Advanced
-No mistakes in any part of the format
Proficient
-The essay shows global awareness in the
knowledge of chemical and biological warfare
Advanced
-The reader gain new insight on
chemical and biological warfare from
around the world
27………………………………………………………30
0………………………………………………………..20
Communication
Unsatisfactory
-Quotes not correctly sandwiched
-The significance of the quote is not
explained
-There are many errors in grammar
0………………………………………………………..20
Critical Thinking
Unsatisfactory
-The essay fails to connect the book to
chemical warfare
-The essay lacks research
0………………………………………………………..20
Global Awareness
Unsatisfactory
-The essay fails in connecting the Hot
Zone to worldly issues
0………………………………………………………..20
21………………………………………………………………….26
27………………………………………………………30
27………………………………………………………30