Summer ELA Assignment Grades 7 and 8
GRADE 7
English Language Arts 7
Summer Homework: Due
date – Wednesday September 5, 2018
Assignments
Reminder: A
typed assignment is preferred. If that
is not an option for you, then please handwrite the assignment as neatly as
possible. If you are typing, use the
proper headings and follow writing guidelines attached.
Required Reading:
The Book Thief by
Markus Zusak
Book 1: The
Book Thief
Assignment:
Discuss the conflict in The Book Thief and how the
characters either conform to or rebel against societal expectations during a
time of war.
Be sure to:
·
Describe the setting of the book.
·
Describe the characters (character traits)
·
Explain what society expected from the
characters during the war.
·
Discuss how wartime societal expectations influenced
the development of the character.
·
Include text evidence to support your claim.
Book 2: Choose
Book from attached list OR 2 Poems from Poetry for Young People by Robert Frost
Book Assignment- if you choose a book:
Write an essay on the plot of your choice of book.
Include:
·
title and author of the book
·
setting,
·
names of main characters (include character
traits – check Blog for list of character traits http://elaandmathwithmrsd.blogspot.com/
·
challenge/difficulty/problem that one of the
characters has to deal with in the book
·
how the character finds a solution to the
problem or resolves the difficulty/challenge
Poetry Assignment – If you choose 2
poems:
For each poem:
Include the title and author of the poem.
What did you like about
the poem?
How did the poem make
you feel?
Which words or phrase
did you like?
What words or phrases
need clarification?
What surprised you?
What do you think the
poem is about?
What might this poem be
saying?
What is the theme of the poem? Look on
Blog for Themes in Literature/Poetry
What devices did the
poet use?
A poetic device is a
language feature such as a simile, metaphor, imagery, figurative language.
Look
on the Blog under figurative language.
GRADE 8
GRADE 8
Visitation Academy
English Language Arts 8
Summer Homework: Due date – Wednesday September 5, 2018
Assignments
Reminder: A typed assignment is preferred. If that is not an option for you, then please handwrite the assignment as neatly as possible. If you are typing, use the proper headings and follow writing guidelines attached.
Required Reading:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Book 1: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Theme: "Perseverance through Hardships"
Assignment:
As you read the novel, you will complete a journal activity. You will write five (5) different journal entries based on the assigned journal topics below.
Your five journal entries include a cover that reflects one of the themes that you think the author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith, communicates through the novel – see Journal entry #5.
- Journal Entry #1 Chapters 1-10 Poverty
Poverty was an everyday fact of life for many people in early twentieth century America. How do the main characters in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn deal with the effects of poverty in their lives (concerns over food, shelter, and clothing). How are the Nolans’ treated by others? Why are they treated this way?
- Journal Entry #2 Chapters 11-20 Education
Education can be formal, as in school, or informal, as in learning important things from friends and family members. How do you define education? What does it mean to you? How have you experienced education in your own life? How do the main characters of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn experience education? What does an education mean to them?
- Journal Entry #3 Chapters 21-40 Perseverance
Perseverance means doing and working to accomplish something despite difficulties. Is perseverance an important quality in your life? Give an example. Do you consider yourself a perseverant person? Give examples. What examples of perseverance have you found in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn?
- Journal Entry #4 Chapters 41-50 The American Dream
What is the American Dream for the main characters of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? Give details from the text.
- Journal Entry #5 Chapters 51-56 Theme
The theme of a novel is the message that the author is trying to send by writing the novel. What do think Betty Smith is trying to say in her novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn?
Create a cover for your journal assignment that represents the theme. Explain your cover in this journal entry. Perseverance through Hardships is one of the themes of this book. You may use this theme for your cover. You may use another theme if you would like.
Some metaphors:
Tree – what does this represent and how does it relate to book?
Crowded apartment buildings – how would this represent theme?
There are many possibilities – check Blog for themes in Literature.
Book 2: Choose Book from attached list or 2 Poems from Poetry for Young People by Robert Frost
Book Assignment
Write an essay on the plot of your choice of book. Include title and author of the book, setting, names of main characters (include character traits – check Blog). You are to include:
Exposition – what or who is the problem?
Climax – most important moment that impacts plot.
Resolution – how problem is resolved or concluded.
Poetry Assignment – If you choose 2 poems:
For each poem:
Include the title and author of the poem.
What did you like about the poem?
How did the poem make you feel?
Which words or phrase did you like?
What words or phrases need clarification?
What surprised you?
What do you think the poem is about?
What might this poem be saying?
What is the theme of the poem? Look on Blog for Themes in Literature/Poetry
What devices did the poet use?
A poetic device is a language feature such as a simile, metaphor, imagery, figurative language.
Look on the Blog under figurative language.
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