7th Grade Summer Reading
All students will read the required book and complete the assignment following the list. The assignment is due on August 6, 2015.
The directions and a rubric are included.
Students must also choose one book from the list and be prepared to take an AR test the first full week of school.
Going to 7th Grade Required: Flush by Carl Hiaasen
CHOOSE one
Title
Author
Tangerine
Bloor
Crash
Spinelli
Here Today
Martin
Buddy
Herlong
War Horse
Morpurgo
Walk Two Moons
Creech
False Prince
Nielsen
Among the Hidden
Haddix
8 Keys
Lafleur
Absolutely Normal Chaos
Creech
Westing game
Raskin
Zero Tolerance
Mills
7th Grade Summer Reading Requirement
Directions: After reading the novel Flush by Carl Hiaasen, complete 1 of the writing assignments below.
Option 1: Noah’s father sank the Coral Queen when he learned the crew was dumping raw sewage into the ocean. Do you think he was justified in doing so? If you were his defense attorney, what would you say to the jury? What if you were the district attorney? What a two-page typed paper defending or condemning his actions. Be sure to include facts to justify your opinion. The paper must meet the requirements outlined on the attached rubric.
Option 2: Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to demonstrate your ability to state and support personal points of view, even when your ideas and opinions may be contrary to those of others. Reflect on the core issues in the novel FLUSH and select one about which you feel passionate (i.e. the bacteria levels of ocean water nearest your geographic area).
Research your subject, examine the data, formulate a theory to explain your findings, and write a letter to the editor that expresses your viewpoints. The letter will need to meet all
the criteria on the attached rubric.
Rubric
For Flush Assignment 1: Justification Paper
Possible
Points
Criteria for Justification Paper
Points
Earned
10
Paper defends or condemns the actions of the Flush character, Paine Underwood (when he sank the Coral Queen after learning the crew was dumping raw sewage into the ocean).
10
The paper clearly explains whether it is felt that Paine Underwood’s actions were justified.
10
Word choices in the paper are convincing and help shape the reactions and beliefs of the reader.
15
When pretending to be the defense attorney, writing reflects qualities such as passion for justice, desire to protect the rights of the client, bold, confident, and friendly with detectives and police.
15
When pretending to be the district attorney, writing reflects qualities such as decision-making based on the facts of the law, integrity, patience, courage, good listening skills, and able to relate to others.
10
Writing communicates thoughts clearly, thoughts are elaborated upon to an appropriate degree of depth, and higher-level vocabulary is incorporated throughout the paper.
10
Writing is well-organized and includes a quality introduction and conclusion.
12
Paper has no grammatical, capitalization, punctuation or spelling errors.
5
Paper is a minimum of two pages, has title, 1” margins, double-spaced, 5-space indentions for paragraphs, and 12-point font.
3
Pages are stapled together or placed in a folder with a clear plastic cover. Pages are not wrinkled, torn, or out-of-order.
Total
Total
100
Teacher Comments:
Earn Rubric
For Flush Assignment 2: Letter to the Editor
Possible
Points
Criteria for Letter to the Editor
Points
Earned
15
The letter to the editor demonstrates the student’s ability to state and support personal points of view.
10
The main idea of the letter focuses on a core issue introduced in the novel Flush.
15
There is evidence that the topic was researched, the data was examined, and a theory was formulated.
10
Content is clear, concise, and passionate.
10
There are short, catchy sentences, grouped in two or three paragraphs.
10
Major points are introduced in the opening paragraph(s).
10
Wit and a sense of humor (in good taste)are incorporated.
10
Letter is free of personal attack and/or defamation.
5
There are no grammatical, spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors.
5
A title, the student’s name, and the date are listed.
Total
Total
100
Teacher Comments:
All students will read the required book and complete the assignment following the list. The assignment is due on August 6, 2015.
The directions and a rubric are included.
Students must also choose one book from the list and be prepared to take an AR test the first full week of school.
Going to 7th Grade Required: Flush by Carl Hiaasen
CHOOSE one
Title
Author
Tangerine
Bloor
Crash
Spinelli
Here Today
Martin
Buddy
Herlong
War Horse
Morpurgo
Walk Two Moons
Creech
False Prince
Nielsen
Among the Hidden
Haddix
8 Keys
Lafleur
Absolutely Normal Chaos
Creech
Westing game
Raskin
Zero Tolerance
Mills
7th Grade Summer Reading Requirement
Directions: After reading the novel Flush by Carl Hiaasen, complete 1 of the writing assignments below.
Option 1: Noah’s father sank the Coral Queen when he learned the crew was dumping raw sewage into the ocean. Do you think he was justified in doing so? If you were his defense attorney, what would you say to the jury? What if you were the district attorney? What a two-page typed paper defending or condemning his actions. Be sure to include facts to justify your opinion. The paper must meet the requirements outlined on the attached rubric.
Option 2: Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to demonstrate your ability to state and support personal points of view, even when your ideas and opinions may be contrary to those of others. Reflect on the core issues in the novel FLUSH and select one about which you feel passionate (i.e. the bacteria levels of ocean water nearest your geographic area).
Research your subject, examine the data, formulate a theory to explain your findings, and write a letter to the editor that expresses your viewpoints. The letter will need to meet all
the criteria on the attached rubric.
Rubric
For Flush Assignment 1: Justification Paper
Possible
Points
Criteria for Justification Paper
Points
Earned
10
Paper defends or condemns the actions of the Flush character, Paine Underwood (when he sank the Coral Queen after learning the crew was dumping raw sewage into the ocean).
10
The paper clearly explains whether it is felt that Paine Underwood’s actions were justified.
10
Word choices in the paper are convincing and help shape the reactions and beliefs of the reader.
15
When pretending to be the defense attorney, writing reflects qualities such as passion for justice, desire to protect the rights of the client, bold, confident, and friendly with detectives and police.
15
When pretending to be the district attorney, writing reflects qualities such as decision-making based on the facts of the law, integrity, patience, courage, good listening skills, and able to relate to others.
10
Writing communicates thoughts clearly, thoughts are elaborated upon to an appropriate degree of depth, and higher-level vocabulary is incorporated throughout the paper.
10
Writing is well-organized and includes a quality introduction and conclusion.
12
Paper has no grammatical, capitalization, punctuation or spelling errors.
5
Paper is a minimum of two pages, has title, 1” margins, double-spaced, 5-space indentions for paragraphs, and 12-point font.
3
Pages are stapled together or placed in a folder with a clear plastic cover. Pages are not wrinkled, torn, or out-of-order.
Total
Total
100
Teacher Comments:
Earn Rubric
For Flush Assignment 2: Letter to the Editor
Possible
Points
Criteria for Letter to the Editor
Points
Earned
15
The letter to the editor demonstrates the student’s ability to state and support personal points of view.
10
The main idea of the letter focuses on a core issue introduced in the novel Flush.
15
There is evidence that the topic was researched, the data was examined, and a theory was formulated.
10
Content is clear, concise, and passionate.
10
There are short, catchy sentences, grouped in two or three paragraphs.
10
Major points are introduced in the opening paragraph(s).
10
Wit and a sense of humor (in good taste)are incorporated.
10
Letter is free of personal attack and/or defamation.
5
There are no grammatical, spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors.
5
A title, the student’s name, and the date are listed.
Total
Total
100
Teacher Comments:
