Summer Reading Information
All students are required to read one book and complete one assignment before they start school.
The English Department of the Mount Carmel Area School District believes in the importance of summer reading to enrich the lives of students. Hopefully, the summer reading experience will be enjoyable.
Books may be read with friends or family members to enhance your experience and understanding of the text. All students entering grades 7 through 12 are required to read one book over the summer and complete the summer reading assignment. While each of you is only required to read one book, we offer this extensive list to encourage you to read more than the minimum.
*See the Summer Reading Packet your English teacher gave you for the list of books.
Students enrolled in Honors English classes are assigned a specific book to read during the summer.
Those entering Honors English 9 will read The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway.
The English Department of the Mount Carmel Area School District believes in the importance of summer reading to enrich the lives of students. Hopefully, the summer reading experience will be enjoyable.
Books may be read with friends or family members to enhance your experience and understanding of the text. All students entering grades 7 through 12 are required to read one book over the summer and complete the summer reading assignment. While each of you is only required to read one book, we offer this extensive list to encourage you to read more than the minimum.
*See the Summer Reading Packet your English teacher gave you for the list of books.
Students enrolled in Honors English classes are assigned a specific book to read during the summer.
Those entering Honors English 9 will read The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway.
MCA English Department Policies for Summer Reading:
- Choose one novel from the Suggested Reading List or a book of your own with your teacher's approval. Make sure to read novels that are not too easy and not too difficult. (If you are entering Honors English 9 you will read Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry.)
- Complete the Summer Reading Form and have your teacher sign it.
- When you finish reading, complete the Summer Reading Assignment attached to the packet.
- Complete ONE Activity from the suggested list.
- Bring your Summer Reading Assignment and Activity on the first day of school.
- Students in all grade levels will present their Activity in class during the first week of school.
- This summer reading project will count as the first grade in your English class. If it is not finished, you will lose points every week it is past due. At the end of the first marking period, you will be given a zero if you do not complete the project.
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." ~Dr. Seuss
Summer Reading Assignment Worksheet Questions:
* See the Summer Reading Packet for the form and worksheet.
Title:
Author:
Main Characters:
Title:
Author:
Main Characters:
- What are the important events that take place in the book? (List in chronological order)
- What are the most important ideas that the author wants you to consider?
- Copy one or two short quotations or passages that you think are particularly important.
Summer Reading Activity Choices:
Activity 1: Sequence of Action
Objectives:
Objectives:
- Demonstrate understanding of sequence of action
- Define new vocabulary terms
- Create a timeline of events that take place in the novel
- Target five (5) important events
- List and define five (5) new or interesting words you learned
- You will present your activity to the class, explaining how the author conveyed the series of events.
- Try to include literary elements such as flashback and climax.
- Be prepared to present your activity on the first day of class.
Activity 2: Setting
Objectives:
- Demonstrate understanding of setting
- Define new vocabulary terms
- Identify the setting of the novel
- Draw or find pictures to describe both the time and place represented in the novel. Try to use five (5) adjectives to describe the setting.
- If the setting is an actual place, also include a map to show its relationship to other places in the world/country.
- List and define five (5) new or interesting words you learned.
- You will present your activity to the class, explaining how the author developed the setting.
- Think about how the author develops the setting to convey feelings and set the mood.
- Be prepared to present your activity on the first day of class.
Activity 3: Characterization
Objectives:
- Demonstrate understanding of character development
- Define new vocabulary terms
- Draw an outline of one main character in the novel
- Inside the outline, write or place symbols or pictures to describe the internal elements of his/her character. Think about character traits such as honesty or bravery.
- Outside the outline, write or place symbols or pictures to describe the external elements of his/her character. Think about physical characteristics like the way the character looks or dresses. Include five (5) different characteristics or traits.
- List and define five (5) new or interesting words you learned.
- You will present your activity to the class, explaining how the author develops the characters.
- Think about how the characters interact with each other and the types of relationships they develop.
- Be prepared to present your activity on the first day of class.
Activity 4: Figurative Language
Objectives:
- Demonstrate understanding of the use of figurative language
- Define new vocabulary terms
- As you read, identify elements of figurative language
- Look for five (5) examples of figurative language such as simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration, hyperbole, idiom, allegory, and irony.
- Find or draw a picture to represent one of your examples.
- List and define five (5) new or interesting words you learned.
- You will present your activity to the class, explaining how the author uses figurative language to develop his/her style.
- Be prepared to present your activity on the first day of class.
Activity 5: Symbols
Objectives:
- Analyze literature/demonstrate understanding through the use of symbols
- Define new vocabulary terms
- As you read, identify examples of symbols.
- Identify five (5) examples of symbolic images.
- Bring an object to represent one of your examples.
- List and define five (5) new or interesting words you learned.
- You will present your activity to the class, explaining how the author's use of symbolism helps to develop his/her style.
- Be prepared to present your activity on the first day of class.
Activity 6: Theme
Objectives:
- Analyze literature/demonstrate understanding of theme
- Define new vocabulary terms
- As you read, identify some quotation from the text that help to identify the theme.
- Create a poster (81/2x11in) with one quote from the novel that demonstrates its general theme.
- List and define five (5) new or interesting words you learned.
- You will present your activity to the class, explaining the theme of the novel and the quotation(s) you have selected.
- Be prepared to present your activity on the first day of class.