8th Grade ILA Summer Assignment
8th Grade Summer Reading Assignment
Students entering 8th grade in the 2022-2023 school year must complete the ILA summer reading assignment and turn it in on Monday, August 29, 2022. All students are responsible for completing this assignment. New families should contact Mrs. Wilbur if the student has been registered less than two weeks before the due date.
Choice Books: Each student must read one book from this list.
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (or the Graphic Novel version)- a futuristic, cautionary tale about censorship and choices…
- The House of the Scorpion (or The Lord of Opium- the sequel) by Nancy Farmer- a tale of what it might be like to discover you are a clone...
- The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill - how do you deal when given magical powers accidentally?
- Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer- when an asteroid hits the moon and brings it closer to Earth, life in Northeastern Pennsylvania will never be the same again...
- Scythe (or Thunderhead/ The Toll if you’ve already read the first book) by Neil Shusterman- What happens when a group of people is given the power to maintain population control by killing whomever they choose?
- Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Some mature themes/ content) “THEY KILLED MY MOTHER. THEY TOOK OUR MAGIC. THEY TRIED TO BURY US. NOW WE RISE.”
Part 1: After reading one of these books, students will write a Subject.
In the first paragraph, discuss the setting of the story (the time and place in which the events occurred). Use context clues to make an educated guess if specific details are not given. Introduce the main characters in the second paragraph. Give a sentence or two about each character, including important information about their personality.
In the third paragraph, explain what the main problem or conflict is that the main character or characters have to deal with. Explain how it impacts their lives. *This entire section (the Subject) should end up being one page long. DO NOT WRITE A SUMMARY!
Part 2: Next, you will need to discuss what you believe the Theme of the story is. State the theme in a complete sentence and find examples in the book to support your thoughts. A theme can be a statement such as, “Even though it can be difficult, it is always important to do the right thing.” You may want to use sticky tabs to locate examples of your chosen theme throughout the book while reading. These examples can be actions of a character, things a character said, or a description from the narrator.
You must use at least 3 direct quotes (IQCE) to prove the theme. It is a good idea to discuss one example from somewhere in the beginning, middle, and end of the story. Explain them thoroughly. Each quote should be in its own paragraph. Remember in each paragraph to introduce what is happening in the scene, quote the sentence word for word, cite where the quote came from and then explain the meaning and why the quote chosen supports the theme.
Part 3:
Finally, you may write a Symbolism section about the various symbols used within the book you chose. You must discuss three different symbols, and explain their importance and meaning. These three symbols should each appear in their own paragraph in IQCE format.
OR
You may write a Figurative Language section. You must give three examples of similes, metaphors, hyperbole, personification, etc. You may not use the same type of imagery more than once. You’ll need to use quotes from the book and explain what kind of imagery is being used. Each quote should appear in its own paragraph in IQCE format.
IQCE Format:
Remember- when giving a direct quote, Introduce a little bit of background to the event or topic you are getting ready to quote.
Put the Quote in quotation marks, word for word.
Cite the author and page number properly (Last Name pg #) ex: (Taylor 87)
Explain the connection between your quote and the topic you are discussing. (Why your quote is a great example of the theme.)
Your paper should be typed in Times New Roman, size 12, double spaced.
Have a great summer, and I look forward to reading your papers in August!