Summer Reading

Over the summer all students entering 7th or 8th Grade at Baldwin Road will read The Maze

Runner by James Dashner. After reading the book students must complete both a writing

assignment and a book project to represent their understanding of the book. The initial

projects are due Wednesday, August 13, 2014 and Improved and Shared the first few weeks

of school. Papers are to be uploaded to student’s ItsLearning accounts.

**Parents, please preview the book. We strongly feel this book is appropriate for all of our students. If

your view differs, please email us and let us know. We can talk about an alternative! Thanks!

ecelio@reyn.org 7th grade

cbobst@reyn.org 8th grade

rachel.lovely@reyn.org 7th and 8th grade

The processes for Inquiry Thinking mirrors:

• The writing process

• The artistic process

• The scientific method

"It all must start with an inspired, spontaneous idea."

Raymond Loewy, Father of Industrial Design

Book Project Guidelines

• The Book Project and report are due on the first day of school.

• Make sure to choose a project that fits well with the book and one that you will ENJOY making.

• The following are just IDEAS. Your project does not have to be on this list.

• Remember that your project should represent your BEST work.

Imagine

Possible Book Project Ideas:

1. Make a Minecraft maze similar to the one described in the book.

2. Design a flipbook that includes title, author, story summary, main characters, setting, and

a brief, but detailed book review, and any other pertinent information about the book.

3. Make a timeline including all the key events from the book. The timeline should have

pictures/photos that represent these key events.

4. Suddenly the book has become a best-seller! Write a letter to a movie producer trying to

persuade that person to turn your book into a movie. Explain why the story, characters,

conflicts, etc. would make an entertaining movie. Suggest a filming location and actors

to play the various roles.

5. Make the book into a game. The game must include a game board, cards with

questions, all necessary game pieces, and directions explaining how to play the game.

6. Design a mini newspaper about the book. It should include sections like breaking news,

weather, comics, letters to the editor, etc.

7. Dramatize a scene for the book. Write a script and have several rehearsals before

creating a video. The video must be cut and edited.

8. Make a book bag. Make or find 8-10 “artifacts” that best illustrate the people, places,

events, and overall meaning of the book. Tell why you chose each one.

9. Write a full (physical, emotional, relational) description of three characters from the book.

Draw a portrait to accompany each description.

10. Write original song lyrics that describes the plot of the book.

11. Rewrite the book as an A, B, C picture book for younger children. Remember to use words

that begin with each letter of the alphabet to describe the characters, character traits,

and events that occur in the book.

12. Design a graphic novel version of the book.

13. Write a narrative poem version of the story that includes at least 3 different types of literary

devices, such as metaphors, similes, onomatopoeia, foreshadowing, etc.

If you have a brilliant idea that is not in this list you may fall into the “other” category.

Use the rubric as you work.

Plan

Explain in a paragraph or list the steps Make a quick schematic (views,scale,notations)

Design

Document the process of the build

These stages of the design cycle are to be completed when we return to school.

Improve

Now that you have seen other projects, how would you improve yours?

List the improvements you made:

What was the Improvement? Why did you make it?(What needed improvement?)

Share

What were the results/conclusions

Book Report Guidelines – 5 Paragraph Essay

Heading, Title, and General Format

• Identify student, class, assignment, due date in a heading.

• Create an original title, uniquely relevant to this essay (not the book's title).

• Center it on the page, not underlined, below the heading and above the first paragraph.

• Double space and use a legible 12-point font and one-inch margins throughout.

Introduction (1st paragraph)

• Begin with a catchy opening statement.

• Go on to identify the book's title (underlined or italicized), author, and major themes.

• Briefly introduce the main characters and describe the setting (time and place).

• MUST have a thesis statement that previews the ideas you will explore in paragraphs 2, 3, and 4

Synopsis (2nd paragraph)

• Begin this paragraph with the book's main idea in a single topic sentence.

• Go on to present a complete but concise synopsis of the book in one paragraph. This is a brief sketch

of what happens: the beginning, the middle, and the end. Think about the major conflict, the rising

action, the climax of the story, and the resolution.

• Keep it brief.

Observations (3rd and 4th paragraphs)

In each of these two paragraphs:

• Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that makes an observation about a particular aspect of the

book: a character, a feature of the plot, an element of style, or a theme.

• Go on to support and expand upon your idea with specific examples, incidents, details, and at least one

relevant quote from the book.

• Write in flowing sentences, weaving these elements from the book into your writing, not simply listing

them. (Cite the page number for each quote used.)

• End each paragraph with a wrap-up sentence that ties your examples and details together in support of

your topic sentence; show how they add up to your main point, what they have in common.

Conclusion (5th paragraph)

• Begin this paragraph with your reaction to this piece of literature, your response to it as a reader.

• Avoid writing, "I think," "I feel," "I believe," or "In my opinion," but do try to express how the work has

affected you in some way.

• End with a thoughtful closing statement: a concluding remark for the whole report. This could be your

most important evaluative point, an intriguing twist on your title, a fitting quote, or a compelling question.

Summer Reading Book Project Rubric

A = 23-25 Points

• An “A Project” is neat, (preferably) typed, and has a professional quality.

• Any written part of the project clearly and skillfully summarizes/analyzes the most significant

portions of the text in the student’s own words.

• The project reflects skillful and effective organization of ideas.

• Word choice is skillful, precise, and sophisticated, while reflecting the individual student’s

writer’s voice.

• Contains few (if any) errors in English grammar, usage, and mechanics.

B = 20-22 Points

• A “B Project” is neat, may or may not be typed, and has a finished quality.

• Any written part of the project adequately summarizes/analyzes the most significant portions

of the text in the student’s own words.

• The project reflects an adequate organization of ideas.

• Adequately addresses all or most parts of the writing project description.

• Word choice is thoughtful, effective, and reflects the individual student’s writer’s voice.

• May contain some errors in English grammar, usage, and mechanics.

C = 18-19 Points

• A “C Project” is neat, may or may not be typed, and has a semi-finished quality.

• Any written part of the project summarizes/analyzes some portions of the text in the student’s

own words, but might also have some copying of main ideas from other sources.

• The project reflects an effort to organize ideas, but may be somewhat confusing.

• Project may be missing key elements.

• Word choice is general and basic, but still reflects the individual student’s writer’s voice.

• May contain some to many errors in English grammar, usage, and mechanics.

I = 15-17 Points (Incomplete)

• A “D Project” is messy, may be illegible, and has an unfinished first draft quality.

• Any written part of the project summarizes/analyzes few portions of the text and has some or

substantial copying of main ideas from other sources.

• The project reflects little organization of ideas and may be somewhat confusing.

• Does not appear to address the project in a meaningful way.

• Word choice is general and basic, but still reflects the individual student’s writer’s voice.

• Contains numerous errors in English grammar, usage, and mechanics.

I = 0-14 Points (Incomplete)

• Project is illegible.

• Project does not follow any description or show meaningful work.

• Project contains too many English grammar, usage, and mechanics errors to understand.

• Project is not turned in = 0.