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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 __ For my summer reading book, I chose //The City of Ember// by Jeanne DePrau because I enjoy reading science fiction novels. In my proposal I wrote, " I enjoy science fiction novels because they give a look into the unimaginable" (Deshmukh Proposal). The idea of an underground society was appealing to me. I had high hopes for this novel because it had been recommended by students and teachers. I was satisfied with //The City of Ember// because it provided a look into a world where people lived underground, but at times the novel moved slowly. One thing Jeanne DePrau did very well was making the audience keep reading by uncovering little bits of secrets at a time. This made me keep turning the page in order to find out what was going to happen. As a fan of science fiction novels, //The City of Ember// did not disappoint me in any way. Good use of detail from the novel to support your point. Can you tighten up your sentences a bit? Look for places where you repeat the same idea or for sentences that do not add any new information to the paragraph.
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Wednesday, 8/24 **

__ Prompt for Paragraph Two - A Discussion of What You Gained by Reading Your Book __ After reading //The City of Ember// I was brought into a world where people lived underground and relied on a generator in order to survive. The main characters, Lina and Doon, realize the generator is deteriorating because of occasional flickering lights and blackouts. After, the discovery of a box, which contains instructions on how to leave the city of Ember, Lina and Doon set out to help themselves and the rest of the city. From the novel, I learned people will go through great lengths in order to survive. Lina and Doon went on a rigorous journey to save the city. Also, I learned that it is usually one or two people that can change a whole community. Reading this novel made me think about how some people never leave their "bubble". Everybody in Ember has lived in the city their whole life and never witnessed anywhere else. An initial idea I had was that a society would prosper if it was isolated. With outside influences, the society becomes corrupted and deteriorates. My idea was supported when I read //The CIty of Ember// because in the city, everyone prospers and has a job. //The City of Ember// gets the reader thinking with the use of multiple themes and ideas. Remember that your first sentence in a power paragraph should address the prompt.
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Thursday, 8/25 **

__ Prompt for Paragraph Three - What to do With it... __ ﻿I would recommend the novel //The City of Ember// to a select group of people. The book is targeted more towards teenagers because the main characters are of the same age, but the novel would still be a great read for adults as well. If you are a reader who enjoys the thoughts of the characters then //The City of Ember// accomplishes just that. Jeanne DePrau writes, " Think, he said to himself. Think! He was not even sure he could make the river journey by himself. How would he get the boat into the water? Could he lift it without help?" (DePrau 137). The novel is a mix between science fiction, mystery, and adventure; if you enjoy these genres, //The City of Ember// is perfect for you. Again, good ideas and evidence, but try to be specific and focused. Combine/cut sentences that restate the same ideas or that do not add something new/important.
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Sunday, 8/28 **

DuPrau, Jeanne. //The City of Ember//. New York: Random House, 2003.


 * 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