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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 __ ** click edit and paste your response here ** I read the Harry Potter series this summer, which was an entirely rewarding experience. I knew that I would love the books once I read them, but I was surprised by just how consumed I was in them. In my Summer Reading Proposal, I said that I had "always wanted to read the books but [had] never had the time". I'm extremely glad that I finally found the time to experience the magic that is J.K Rowling's writing. Good job following the power paragraph format. Can you say why you wanted to read the books?
 * *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 __ ** click edit and paste your response here ** Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 2007. The Harry Potter series impacted the way that I look at the people I idolize. In the seventh book, Harry deals with the realization that Dumbledore, his hero, was imperfect. “He had thought he knew Dumbledore quite well” (Rowling 21) but after Dumbledore died, Harry realized that he “had barely known him at all” (Rowling 21). As Harry pieces together more and more of Dumbledore’s controversial past, he feels more and more betrayed by the man who inspired him. Harry’s journey changed the way that I looked at the people I idolize and whether they are choice people. Great use of evidence for your point. I would like you to think about your topic sentence though. Did the book make you change the way you "look at the people you idolize" or did you question idolatry is a whole?
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Thursday, 8/25 **

__ Prompt for Paragraph Three - What to do With it... __ ** click edit and paste your response here ** One of my favorite things about the Harry Potter Series is the versetile audience; people with different interests from different ages and walks of life are enthralled with the story. The genius of J.K Rowling is that she combined humor and intensity in a manor which allows us to both explore our imaginations and confront our fears, to laugh and to cry. For instance, in //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,// when Albus Dumbledore says, “ Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” (Rowling 723) the reader cannot help but consider where the line lies between imagination and reality. There is something in the series for anyone who stumbles upon them (action, adventure, romance, comedy to name a few), but the people who will most enjoy them are those who are not afraid to welcome complicated ideas into their minds. Be sure to proofread, "versatile" and "manner," for example. I encourage you to consider your overall message in this paragraph. Your topic sentence is supposed to set the focus of your paragraph; is this really the strongest idea? Do you truly find the universal appeal of the books to be one of your favorite aspects of the works?
 * *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