Pre AP Summer Reading Project – Summer, 2015
Eighth Grade English/Language Arts
8th grade English Language Arts –
Pre-AP Summer reading Project
Date Assigned: 05/18/15
Due Date: 7/22/2015
Turn in to: Your Pre-AP/Honors teacher
**Summer reading projects are meant to keep your mind
stimulated throughout the summer months. Assignments are
required- not optional- and are due no later than the 2nd day we
return from summer break. A test will be given to cover material
completed. The summer work will count as one major grade and
the test covering that material will count as one major grade.
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Pre AP Summer Reading Project – Summer, 2015
Eighth Grade English/Language Arts
A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi
You are expected to do all your own work, and all parts of the project must be
completed. Copying, plagiarism, or any other form of cheating will not be tolerated
and may be grounds for dismissal from Pre AP.
Students enrolling in Pre AP at anytime after school has begun will be expected to
complete this project within one week from time of enrollment. Failure to do so will
result in removal from the Pre AP class.
You may buy your own novel, check it out from the public library, or borrow a
novel.
Assemble the following in a pocket folder with brads. You may decorate the cover.
The bio-cube will be inserted into a pocket and will be assembled in class.
1. Research the author of the novel. Use the following link to complete the
background information on the author Ann Rinaldi:
http://www.annrinaldi.net/home.htm
*With what characteristic of Ann Rinaldi do you most relate? Explain how and/or
why you identify with this characteristic?
Next you will complete a bio-cube on the author.
2. Bio-Cube
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/cube30057.html
Go to the Feature Resources section. Use the Bio-cube Planning Sheet first, and
then complete the Bio-Cube using the interactive tool. Don't forget to print out
the bio cube. You will turn it in the first day of class.
3. Use the following links to gather background information on the Salem Witch
Trials:
 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/brief-salem.html

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/salem/
 http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/education/
Once you have gathered information, go to #4 and fill out the essay map and then
write the essay.
4. Use the Essay Map found on Read Write Think
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/essay30063.html?tab=3#tabs to organize information and write an informative essay on
the Salem Witch Trials.
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Pre AP Summer Reading Project – Summer, 2015
Eighth Grade English/Language Arts
5. Chapter assignments/Type this assignment 12 point font: Arial or
Verdana. (It may be handwritten if necessary; handwriting must be neat and legible)
Read chapters 1-2
After reading the background article, write a paragraph describing your
impressions and understanding about the Salem Witch Trials as you would interpret
them. How do you think this historical time period created an environment where
this could happen?
Read chapters 3-5
Write 2 paragraphs about mood. Mood is the feeling created in the reader by a
literary work or passage. Sometimes a book makes me feel a certain way. In the
first paragraph write about how this book makes you feel and why. Give specific
examples from the text to support why you feel that way. In the second
paragraph, write about how you think the characters feel in the book and tell why.
Read chapters 6-8
Draw a picture of some place/setting in the novel that you are picturing in your
mind. Then write a paragraph describing the place in detail and why you chose
that place to describe. Pay attention to your word choice and use interesting
words and phrases (like similes) to describe the place.
Read chapters 9-11
Write about a connection you have made while reading this novel. Write a
paragraph about 3 connections including text-to-text, text-to-world or text-toself. Site specific examples from the book and how that reminded you of a book
you have read, an event in the world, or something that has occurred in your own
life.
Read chapters 12-14
In your notebook, write five questions that you have had while reading this novel.
Record any discoveries you make and answers to the questions. Also, write a
prediction about what you think might happen in the novel.
Read chapters 15-17
There are several different types of conflicts such as: character vs. character,
character vs. self, character vs. society, character vs. nature, or character
vs. fate. Make a 4 column chart with the headings:
Character, Conflict/Problem, Type of Conflict, Steps Taken to Deal with the
Problem. Then fill it out with 5 examples from the book.
Read chapters 18-19
Choose one or more characters from the novel to describe. Make a 3 column chart
with 5 specific examples including the character’s name, an adjective to describe
the character, and a quote with the page number from the text to support the
characteristic.
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Pre AP Summer Reading Project – Summer, 2015
Eighth Grade English/Language Arts
Read chapters 20-21
Take on the persona of Susanna English and write a letter to her cousin in
another town describing in detail what is happening in Salem. Use correct letter
format and write at least one full page.
Read chapters 22-23
Identify a theme presented in this novel such as friendship, loyalty, courage and
fear, or something else you identify. Write a paragraph describing how this theme
is portrayed in the novel including examples from the text.
Read Epilogue and Author’s Note
A dynamic character is a character that undergoes a change in actions or beliefs
during the course of a story. A static character is a character that does not grow
or change throughout the story; he or she remains the same from the beginning to
the end of the story. Identify and write about a dynamic character and give at
least 2 examples that demonstrate how he/she changed. Identify and write about a
static character and give at least 2 examples that demonstrate how he/she did not
change.
6. Complete a Character Map (example on last page) for the protagonist (main
character) and a Character Map for the antagonist (the rival) of the main character
at the beginning of the novel, and another map for each character at the end of the
novel. (4 character maps total)
7. Write a short paragraph on the protagonist: What was he/she like at the
beginning of the book? What was he/she like at the end of the book? When did
he/she begin to change? What caused him/her to change?
8. Write a short paragraph on the antagonist: What was he/she like at the
beginning of the book? What was he/she like at the end of the book? When did
he/she begin to change? What caused him/her to change?
9. Respond to the questions found in the “Reader Chat Page” found in the book
after the Bibliography. Be sure to address each prompt, provide support and
specific details from the story/real life in your responses, and use correct grammar
and mechanics in your writing. You may type it if you choose; however, you must
turn in your rough draft with the typed copy.
10 Use the following link to create a MLA citation for the book and for the source for
your report: http://www.easybib.com .
Note: I check my school email once a week throughout the summer. If you have
any questions or need some clarification on this project, you can email me BEFORE
July 12, 2014: lmcgrew@tmisd.us mdepau@tmisd.us
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Pre AP Summer Reading Project – Summer, 2015
Eighth Grade English/Language Arts
Character Map
A Break with Charity – Ann Rinaldi
Naïve
Independent
thinker
Q
U
O
T
E
“I was not a proper Puritan, I
knew that. The heart that beat in
my breast was more like my
father’s than my mother’s... he
could be forgive his enlightened
view while I, a mere girl, could
not.
(Rinaldi, 9))
Susanna English
Q
U
O
T
E
“Without realizing that I was
doing so, I continued to confide in
her.”
(Rinaldi 12)
Instructions:
Q
U
O
T
E
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
(author last name, page number)
 Put the name of the character in
the banner.
 Put a characteristic in the bubble
(neat, sloppy, rowdy, caring,
upset, expert, patient, daring,
sneaky…)
 Put a quote on the lines
underneath that supports your
inference about the character.
 Be sure to include the
parenthetical documentation
(author’s last name, page
number).
 You should have 4 character
maps- a map for the protagonist
at the beginning of the story and
another one at the end. A map
for the antagonist at the
beginning and another map
towards the end of the story.
Q
U
O
T
E
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
(author last name, page number)
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