8th Grade Pre-AP English Summer Assignment 2014-2015
-REVISED June 18, 2014In light of new information, and because I want to ensure my summer assignment is beneficial rather
than punitive in nature, I have decided to alter the requirements. My goal is to support my students
so they can stretch and grow, not to frustrate them to the point of giving up. I have done my best to
alter the assignment so it is fair while maintaining a high level of expectation so that we can achieve
great success together. Here's the adjusted assignment:
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The assigned book remains the same: Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson
The assigned list of terms remains the same. Become familiar with all of them, but you
don't need to have a complete understanding yet
The journaling assignment is now as follows: As you read the book identify only TEN
quotes that represent literary terms on your assigned sheet. Create journal entries for
each of them in the dialectic format laid out on page2 of this document. It would be
best to do this in a composition book, but notebook paper is fine.
Journal entries may be turned in before school starts, but are not due until the first day
of school.
On the first day of school, I will provide a "short list" taken from the complete list of
literary terms over which you will be tested later in the week. We will spend a few days
clarifying these terms before the test. The test will contain excerpts from the book, and
you will be expected to identify and/or explain the literary devices represented It will
be necessary to have read the entire book to fully understand some of the excerpts.
You will also be responsible for a written response essay over the book that will be
done in class during the first week of school.
**If you have already begun the assignment in its original form and already have ten quoted
entries, you are done with the journaling portion (even if some of those entries are something
besides literary devices -- personal connections, definitions, questions, etc.). If you have begun
the assignment in its original form and don't have ten quoted entries yet, keep what's done and
continue on to ten focusing only on literary devices for the remainder of your entries.
PLEASE contact me if you have questions or concerns: jbonner@kaufmanisd.net / (214) 293-8652
Best Wishes,
Mrs. Bonner
CREATING YOUR DIALECTIC JOURNAL
I realize this is a brand new process for you. If you'll follow these instructions,
you will be successful!
a. On the cover of your composition book, PRINT your name: Last, First and 8th Grade
PAP English. If you're using notebook paper, create a "cover" with another sheet of
paper
b. On the top line of the first page of entries, write the title of the book (underlined) and
the author’s name.
c. On each page, create two columns. Use a ruler or another straight edge to draw a
neat line down the center of the page.
d. Quotes from the book will be written on the LEFT (be sure to use quotation marks
appropriately and cite the page number); the literary device you think it represents
will be written on the RIGHT
Here's an example of the beginning of a page from a dialectic journal:
title and author @ top of
first page only
Page
number
The Ocean at the end of the Lane
Neil Gaiman
"I sat on the dilapidated green bench
beside the duck pond, in the back of
the red-brick farmhouse" pg. 172
quotation marks around text
AND page # from the book
"Lettie did a very big thing for you."
pg. 174
skip a line between entries
1
quotes from the text on the left, identification
of literary term & explanation on the right
This is an example of visual imagery.
The author's descriptions create an
image of contrasting colors and paint
the scene with words that help me
understand this place is very old.
This is an example of a euphemism.
Lettie died, but instead of saying
that, her grandmother is using nicer
words so the narrator doesn't get
upset.
List of Literary Terms
adage – a familiar proverb or wise saying
ad hominem argument – an argument attacking an individual’s character rather than his/her
position on an issue
alliteration – the repetition of initial sounds in successive or neighboring words
allusion – a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author
assumes the reader will recognize
analogy – a comparison of two different things that are similar in some way
anaphora – the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or
sentences
anecdote – a brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event
anthropomorphism – representing animals, gods, or objects as if they had human emotions
and intelligence
antithesis - a statement in which two opposing ideas are balanced
aphorism - a concise statement that expresses succinctly a general truth or idea, often using
rhyme or balance
apostrophe - a figure of speech in which one directly addresses an absent/imaginary person,
or some abstraction
archetype – a detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth
and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and to evoke a response
assonance – repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds in the stressed syllables of
neighboring, non-rhyming words
asyndeton – a construction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions
cacophony – a harsh, unpleasant combination of sounds
chiasmus – a statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is
structurally reversed
cliché – an expression that has been overused to the extent that its freshness has worn off
deuteragonist – the role second in importance to the protagonist
dialect – a variety of speech characterized by its own particular grammar or pronunciation,
often associated with a particular geographical region
dialogue – conversation between two or more people
didactic – having the primary purpose of teaching or instructing
dissonance – harsh, inharmonious, or discordant sounds
dynamic character – a character who develops or changes as a result of the actions of the
plot
elegy – a formal poem presenting a meditation on death or another solemn theme
epanalepsis – the repetition at the end of a clause of a word or phrase that occurred at its
beginning
epigram – a brief, pithy, and often paradoxical saying
epigraph – a saying or statement on the title page of a work, or used as a heading for a
chapter or other section of a work
epiphany – a moment of sudden revelation or insight
epithet – a term used to point out a characteristic of a person. Those of the Homeric variety
are often compound adjectives that become an almost formulaic part of a name. They
can be abusive/offensive, but not so by definition; in contrast, some athletes are proud
of theirs.
euphemism – an indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered
unpleasant
expletive – an interjection to lend emphasis; sometimes, a profanity
extended metaphor – a direct comparison between two things that is extended throughout
several lines/paragraphs/chapters of a work or throughout the entire piece
flat character – a character constructed around a single idea or quality; immediately
recognizable and can usually be represented by a single sentence
foil – a character who provides a strong contrast to another character, usually a main
character
homily – a sermon, or a moralistic lecture
hubris – excessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a
tragedy
idiom – an expression in a given language that cannot be understood from the literal meaning
of the words in the expression; or, a regional speech or dialect
imagery – the use of figures of speech to create vivid images that appeal to one of the senses
a) auditory – sense of hearing
d) tactile – sense of touch
b) gustatory – sense of taste
e) visual – sense of sight
c) olfactory – sense of smell
invective – an intensely vehement, highly emotional attack
inversion – the reversal of the usual word order in a prose sentence or line of poetry
irony – the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; or, incongruity
between what is expected and what actually occurs
a) dramatic irony – audience or reader knows information that characters do not
b) situational irony– actual outcome of a situation is the opposite of what is expected
c) verbal irony– sarcasm
jargon – the specialized language or vocabulary of a particular group or profession
juxtaposition – placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast
literary license – deviating from normal rules or methods in order to achieve a certain effect
litotes – a type of understatement in which an idea is expressed by negating its opposite
logos – an appeal based on logic or reason
malapropism – the mistaken substitution of one word for another word that sounds similar
maxim – a concise statement, often offering advice; an adage
metonymy – substituting the name of one object for another object closely associated with it
mood – the emotional atmosphere of a work
non sequitur – an inference that does not follow logically from the premises
oxymoron – an expression in which two words that contradict each other are joined
parable – a simple story that illustrates a moral or religious lesson
paradox – an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth
parallelism – the use of corresponding grammatical or syntactical forms
parody – a humorous imitation of a serious work
parenthetical – a comment that interrupts the immediate subject, often to qualify or explain
pathos – the quality in a work that prompts the reader to feel pity
philippic - a strong verbal denunciation; originates from the orations of Demosthenes
against Philip of Macedonia in the fourth century
polysyndeton – the use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or
natural
protagonist – the central character in a narrative literary work, around whom the main
conflict revolves
resolution (or denouement) – the falling action of a narrative; the events following the
climax
rhetorical devices – literary techniques used to heighten the effectiveness of expression
sarcasm – harsh, cutting language or tone intended to ridicule
satire – the use of humor to emphasize human weaknesses or imperfections in social
institutions
scapegoat – a person or group that bears the blame for another
solecism – nonstandard grammatical usage; a violation of grammatical rules
static character – a character who changes little if at all
syllepsis – a construction in which one word is used in two different senses
syllogism – a three-part deductive argument in which a conclusion is based on a major
premise and a minor premise
symbol – an object that is used to represent something else
synecdoche – using one part of an object to represent the entire object
synesthesia (or synaesthesia) – describing one kind of sensation in terms of another
syntax – the manner in which words are arranged into sentences
tautology – needless repetition which adds no meaning or understanding
tone – the attitude of a writer, usually implied, toward the subject or audience
vernacular - the everyday speech of a particular country or region, often involving
nonstandard usage
SENTENCE VARIATIONS
Become familiar enough with these sentence types that you can identify them and write examples
of each.
balanced sentence – a sentence in which words, phrases, or clauses are set off against each other
to emphasize a contrast
complex sentence – a sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause
compound sentence – a sentence with two or more coordinate independent clauses, often joined
by one or more conjunctions
cumulative sentence – a sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the
successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases
declarative sentence – a sentence that makes a statement or declaration
exclamatory sentence – a sentence expressing strong feeling, usually punctuated with an
exclamation mark
hypothetical question – a question that raises a hypothesis, conjecture, or supposition
rhetorical question – a question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer
simple sentence - a sentence consisting of one independent clause and no dependent