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Home Summer Reading Assignment Students

Given the nature of the 2011 summer reading program, you had significant autonomy in selecting the books you would read. While you were responsible for completing a proposal, you were not given other assignments to complete over the summer. As indicated on your proposal form, you are required to write a letter to your 2011-12 Language Arts teacher that demonstrates your thoughtful reading of your book. We have chosen to break this down further into three focused "Power Paragraphs" for two reasons, one, to introduce you to the idea of a power paragraph, and two, to assist you in covering all aspects of the assignment.

__ Prompt for Paragraph One - A Reflection of Your Choice __ //Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire//, by J.K. Rowling, is my favorite book of the series so far. I enjoyed this book because of its other worldly feel. As I read, I feel like I’m part of the magical world Rowling has created, which made me incapably of putting this book down. In my summer reading proposal I say I want to read these books because “I watched the Harry Potter movies, but never read the books” (Schodorf Summer Reading Proposal). When I wrote my proposal the only reason I wanted to read these books was because I felt like I need to. But, I enjoyed them much more than I expected. The fourth book has been my favorite so far, because we get to see the characters grow from children to teenagers, and take on dangerous situations, which challenges there friendships. Some parts can‘t be related to real life, but the struggle with friendship, change, danger and love, can. One paragraph says “Cedric was lying spread-eagled on the ground beside him. He was dead” (Rowling 638).This is one of the points in the book when the characters have to learn to grow up, and face danger and change. Overall, this book met my expectations and went way beyond.
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Wednesday, 8/24 **

Rowling, J.K. //Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire//. New York: Scholastic, 2000. Print. I know what you mean about feeling like you are supposed to read this series, I feel the same way, but I can't really explain why. :) Please review the format for a power paragraph, especially the first (topic) sentence. You need to focus on addressing the prompt right away.

__ Prompt for Paragraph Two - A Discussion of What You Gained by Reading Your Book __ Even though //Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire//, by J.K Rowling is about magical world, I believe that we can take true meaning from it. For example, the summer reading proposal says “reading pushes and pulls us: it asks us to imagine and imagine again” (Summer Reading Proposal). When I read this, I think it is saying that reading forces us to become creative and think beyond reality. And by reading this book I am forced to do just that. Also, in reading //Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire//, I learn a little more about the meaning of life. In the book Harry losses a friend, which forces me to think about what would happen if I lost a friend, or was there to see it happen, as Harry was. It causes me to think about the meaning of life. No matter how strong we think we are something tragic can happen and take us away in a second. Good insight into your reading. Again, watch PP format. I know this is difficult at first, but we hope that you will learn to write clear, focused responses.
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Thursday, 8/25 **

__ Prompt for Paragraph Three - What to do With it... __ It is difficult to find a book that both boys and girls would like, but I believe that //Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire// is one of them. I think that because this book is about the friendship if two boys, Harry and Ron, and one girl, Hermione, that it can connect with both boys and girls. Given that I know so many people who had read these books, I would say that any age would like this book. But, it might connect more with teenagers and young adults, because it does take place in a school and the characters are going through the things most young people experience. If you enjoy fiction/fantasy then this would be a great book because you are reading about the characters and their lives, but also a magical world. Overall, I believe that not many people would have a hard time connecting with this book, unless of course they hate fantasy and are unwilling to read anything that involves magic, because it is hard not to fall in love with the characters. And develop a need to keep reading, to see what the next challenge for Harry is, what Hermione will find out or what prank Fred and George will pull. Nice topic sentence, it is focused and draws in your reader.
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Sunday, 8/28 **


 * Scoring: Your three paragraphs will be given one overall grade, and the timeliness of your posts will be reflected in your "timeliness" grade. **

// An outstanding response to the prompts will include the following: //
 * A strong topic sentence that clearly establishes the focus on the prompt
 * Evidence that clearly supports the topic sentence
 * Correct use of internal citations and a properly formatted MLA citation for your book (put this citation at the end of paragraph one)
 * Strict adherence to the Power Paragraph format
 * Mechanics are clean and do not detract from meaning