Chapin High School

2016-17 Summer Reading Pre AP II

Pre-AP English Teacher: Mrs. Mata & Mrs. Morales
Email: aamata@episd.org
samerrel@episd.org
Novel:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Students are encouraged, but not required, to purchase their own copies of books so that they may annotate (mark the
text) as they read. Books are available for checkout from the bookroom beginning June 13th and must be returned by July
1st.
Expectations About Reading:
a. Students are expected to have the book completed by August 22, 2016 (first day of school)
b. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO READ THE BOOK REQUIRED-NOT DEPEND ON CLIFFS NOTES,
SPARK NOTES OR OTHER GUIDES FOR UNDERSTANDING.
Assignment: (can be accessed through Teacher site: coachsmoralesenglishwebsite.com or School website:
http://chapin.episd.org/teacherpages/index)
A. Dialectical Journal
1. A dialectical journal is a written conversation with yourself about a piece of literature that encourages the habit of
reflective questioning. You will use a double-entry form to examine details of a passage and synthesize your
understanding of the text. There is to be NO collaboration with other students. Any assistance from the
Internet, movies, or secondary sources such as Sparknotes or Cliff Notes will be viewed as cheating.
2. For the novel, you will complete a dialectical journal for analysis of Scouts character. Identify quotes from each
chapter that help you to understand Scouts character as she faces a conflict in her life and has a new awareness
about herself, others, or the world around her.
3. I will provide the journal template for you to download and type/write in your responses.
a. In the left hand column (include chapter and page number) and a brief context should be provided, giving
details of the event that surround/relate to the quote.
b. In the right hand column, provide commentary that should explain why you found the passage compelling or
explain what it helped you understand about the character. The commentary should not simply paraphrase
the quote or summarize the plot in the novel.
c. Example from The Secret Life of Bees
Evidence and Context
Commentary
Evidence: My first and only memory of my mother was
How unfortunate for Lily to not only live in a tense
the day she died. I tried for a long time to conjure up an
environment without her mother present, but to also have
image of her before that, just a sliver of something, like
her death as the sole memory. It is understandable then
her tucking me into bed, reading the adventures of Uncle
why she desperately tries to recollect a pleasant moment
Wiggly, or hanging my underclothes near the space heater together, which would not only provide a connection with
on ice-cold mornings (Chapter 1, p. 5)
her mother, but also memories other than her mothers
death.
Context: Lily has just experienced an invasion of bees in
her room, and her father scolds her that she made it up just
to get attention. She begins to recall memories of her
mother.
d. When you turn in the dialectical journal, add a cover page with your name and date clearly written on the
front. Place in 3 prong folder and please write the title of the novel at the top of the first response page. The

dialectical journal should be written in blue or black ink or typed. Journals emailed to me will not be
accepted.
B. Due Date
Extra Credit: Submit summer reading assignment by September 26, 2016 (no extra credit if handed after this
date)
Final Due Date for summer reading assignment: October 3, 2016 at 4:30 pm.
There will be an exam over the novel [TBA during the first week of school]
Late assignments will not be accepted.
C. Grading
9=95-100; 8=90
Meaningful passages, plot, and quotation selections.
Thoughtful interpretation and commentary about the text; avoids clichs.
Coverage of text is complete and thorough. Journal is neat, organized and professional-looking.
Demonstrates a consistent command of conventions (minor errors).
Student has followed directions in creation of journal.
7=85; 6=80
Less detailed, but good quote selections.
Some intelligent commentary.
Adequately addresses all parts of reading assignment.
Journal is neat and readable and demonstrates an adequate command of the conventions (some errors that create
few disruptons)
Student has followed directions in the organization of journal.
5 = 75

Few good details from the text.

Most of the commentary is vague or plot summary / paraphrase.
Addresses most of the reading assignment, but is not very long or thorough.
Journal is relatively neat, but may be difficult to read; demonstrates a partial command of conventions (some
distracting errors)
Student has not followed all directions for organization; no columns; no page or chapter numbers; etc.

4 = 70; 3= 65
Hardly any good details from the text.
All notes are plot summary or paraphrase.
Limited coverage of the text; way too short.
Did not follow directions in organizing journal
Difficult to follow or read with little or no command of conventions (serious and persistent errors)
No page or chapter numbers.
2=60; 1=55
Makes some attempts to respond
Ideas lack clarity, organization or supporting evidence
0= Did not complete or plagiarized (NOTE-ANY PORTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT THAT IS PLAGIARIZED WILL
RESULT IN THE ENTIRE ASSIGNMENT RECEIVING A 0)
Helpful Links for Insightful Commentary
http://www.slideshare.net/stmiller555/what-is-commentary
Dialectical Journals (This is just a guide to help with commentary. DO NOT follow directions in this handout for the
actual journal.)