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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 __ //Graceling,// by Kristin Cashore, was a surprising and wonderful book. I enjoyed the adventure, suspense, and daring characters. This book was so interesting that I read it late into the night, unable to stop. Every page revealed new questions that I had to know the answer S to as soon as possible. In my summer Reading Proposal, I said that, "this nook was suggested by a very good friend who knew the kind of books I liked to read". She knew that I would love Graceling and I did. Kristin Cashore because one of my favorite authors and I will keep on reading her books over and over again. Nice strong sentences and support. Remember that in a power paragraph the first sentence should address the prompt. __ Prompt for Paragraph Two - A Discussion of What You Gained by Reading Your Book __ From reading //Graceling//, it changed my views of how an outsider or someone different than you feels. Katsa, the main character, is different from other people. She has special and unnatural powers that normal humans don't have. I have always been included in my group of friends. I read about what Katsa felt and saw from the side of being different. It changed how I thought and treated people who I thought were "weird". //Graceling// was very mind opening and it showed me how someone who was always pushed aside felt. Could you begin with a response to the prompt? Perhaps something like, "//Graceling// challenged my ideas about outsiders..."

__ Prompt for Paragraph Three - What to do With it... __

//Graceling// is the perfect book for people who enjoy adventure and fantasy books with a lot of suspense. This book is most likely to be enjoyed by both girls and boys in the young adult category. If you also enjoy adventitious plots, interesting and unique characters, and enjoy cliff hangers at the end of each chapter than this book is perfect for you. You can also connect with the main character, Kasta, because is courageous even though she is often thought badly of. //Graceling// is a wonderful book for those people who love fantasy, cliff hangers, and a character that's strong, edgy, and has a great attitude. Great last sentence. Try to use this same style in your opening sentences.


 * 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