Summer Reading 2023

There are two parts to the Summer Reading Assignment for all rising UD1, UD2 and SY students in the Boys Prep Division. The first part is a MANDATORY Vocabulary.com assignment that includes terms from each subject, and for the UD2 level an additional list of common SAT words. The second part of the assignment is RECOMMENDED and consists of reading a book from a staff-recommended Summer Reading List. Students who read at least one book from the list will be invited to a Summer Reading Celebration in late August and be entered into a raffle for some wonderful prizes! All important links, sign-up information, assignment details and class-specific Google Classrooms can be found through the Summer Reading Website btton below:

 

Click here to download view rest of the Summer Reading assignement
for the Girls Prep Division

2023 FY Summer Reading

Boys Class of 2027 Google Classroom (Class code: 6zbdf6t)

Nothing is “required.” Everything is a “choice.”

The world is run by those who can read and write. Those who aspire to be Benedict’s men aspire to be readers and writers. 

Read one of the six books listed below. The book you read is your choice. Choose a book from the list that interests you. Use the information provided here to guide your decision. Record your thoughts about the book as you read it. Write down any questions, observations, complaints, praises, evaluations of the book as you read. Write down any and every reaction you have to the book as you read it piece by piece, not all at once. Read for as long as you like each time; read as many pages at a time as you like - but after each reading record your reactions. Read and record your reactions to the entire book. 

Your recording should be ongoing as you read the book you have chosen, and should be typed in a Google Doc and updated on a regular basis as your reading of the book progresses, but know this…

• You are expected to submit your work via Google Classroom (Class Code: 6zbdf6t) by 11:59 pm on Saturday, July 29th. No submissions will be accepted after this date.

• Your submission will be graded as your first assignment in FY (first year) English: 100 for complete, 0 for incomplete or missing. In addition to that...

• Your completed recording is expected to respond to the entire book.

• A major part of your final grade for FY English will be based on a portfolio of written work you choose to submit for that teacher’s final evaluation. Your “summer reading” is your first opportunity to prepare work for that portfolio.

• NEXT, there is a vocabulary assignment that is also part of your summer reading commitment. Instructions for this part of the assignment are on the last page of this document.

Book List

Choose a book from the list below:

Part 1: Writing Assignment

Your writing should be ongoing as you read the book you have chosen, and should be typed in a Google Doc and updated on a regular basis as your reading of the book progresses. The format of your document should follow the instructions below:

• Google Doc should be titled:

  • Last Name, First Name - Summer Reading Assignment
    
     

• The  left-aligned heading on the first page should be:

• Each response/reaction to the reading should:

  • Indicate the chapter(s), page(s), and/or excerpt(s) from the novel to which you are responding.

  • Use 12-point Times New Roman font throughout the document

You are free to write anything you want about the book you are reading. There is no right or wrong “thing” that you can write, so long as it is your writing, based on your reading. There is no specific word count requirement on your writing, but you are expected to respond - in writing - to the entire novel that you chose to read. If you need help, feel free to use the questions below to help you, but only if you do not know what to write. You do not have to answer these questions. Nothing is “required.” Everything is a “choice.”

• Who is the story about? What is their story? 

• What is the protagonist (the main character) trying to do?

• Have you ever tried to do something like this?

• What people or forces work against the protagonist?

• What is the story’s setting? Where does the plot (the story) take place? Does the place have a name? What does it look like, feel like, smell like, sound like?

• Do you like this setting? Why or why not? Have you ever been to a setting like this? Would you like to visit a setting like this? Why or why not?

• Who are some of the characters in the story? What sort of things do they do? What does that tell you about their personality? 

• Have you ever been to a place like this?

• What do you think will happen next?

• What do you know that the main character (the protagonist) does not know?

• Write about something that you knew was going to happen.

• Write about something that surprised you.

• What is wrong with the story?

• Do you admire anyone in the story? Who? Why?

• Do you have bad feelings about anyone in the story? Who? Why?

• Does anything happen in the story that makes you mad? Afraid? Worried?

Part 2: Vocabulary

In addition to the reading assignment described above, you are expected to learn a number of words that will be useful for you to know as you start your Freshman year. This assignment is to be completed on Vocabulary.com on the same date as the reading assignment - August 26, 2023.

Step 1: Here is the link to a video that will explain how to set up your account on Vocabulary.com:

Getting Started as a Student (Video)

Step 2: Once you have set up your account, here is the link to join the summer reading vocabulary class that has the actual assignment:

https://vocab.com/join/2DYPKE4

 

Summer Reading: 8th Grade

Due Date: July 30, 2023. 11:59 PM

How to submit: Make a google doc. Answer all questions on the google doc. Before July 30 (probably right before – sorry), I will invite you to my google classroom. The first assignment there will be summer reading. Submit your google doc on that assignment.

If you have questions or need help, contact Mr. Kane, dkane@sbp.org.

Directions: Read the first 2 chapters of Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. In my edition, this is the first 140 pages. If you would like to order a copy, here is the link on amazon. You can also take a copy out of the library, but you will need to bring it to school for the first 2 weeks of Summer Term.

Answer the following questions. Each answer should be one paragraph (3-5 sentences). Sentences should be grammatically correct and proofread for spelling, punctuation, and usage errors. For many questions, I asked for a quote from the text to support your answer. When quoting, put the quote in quotation and marks the page number of the quote in parentheses. If you quote incorrectly, the highest grade you can receive is a 50.

Example: How have different places shaped Woodson’s identity? Give a quote that defends your answer. Answer: Woodson feels a connection to many different places. She was born in Ohio, spent her early years in South Carolina, then moved to New York. Each of these places was important to someone in her life, and therefore became important to her. She said “I was born in Ohio but / the stories of South Carolina already run / like rivers / through my veins” (13).

Notice, I included the quote in my paragraph. I did not put it separate. Because Brown Girl Dreaming is a poem, I put a forward slash (/) after each line. If you do not do this, or do it wrong, that is fine. We will go over how to do it correctly in class together.

Questions:

1-In your opinion, why did Woodson write her memoir as a series of poems rather than more standard (prose) chapters?

2-Compare the Ohio Woodson was born in to the South Carolina she visited (and eventually moved to). Use 2 quotes from the text, one that describes Ohio and one that describes South Carolina.

3-Why do you think Woodson’s mother left her father? Use a quote from the text to support your argument.

4-Give one way the south is changing in the time Woodson lives there. Use a quote from the text that supports your answer.

5-Characterize (describe what kind of person someone is) one person from the book aside from Woodson herself. Include a quote that helps you understand the person’s character.

6-Describe one example of inequality that Woodson faces in her childhood in South Carolina. Include one quote that supports your answer.

7-How do you think Woodson feels about leaving South Carolina? Include one quote that supports your answer.

8-What do you think is going to happen to Daddy (Woodson’s grandfather)? Include one quote that defends your answer

Students will read Vignettes 1-10 from the Book, “The House On Mango Street” by Sandra Cisnero. (Book may be purchased on Amazon for $10.49)

List of Vignettes
The House On Mango Street
Hairs
Boys and Girls
My Name
Cathy Queen of Hearts
Our Good Day
Laughter
Gil’s Furniture Bought and Sold
Meme Ortiz
Louie, His Cousin, & His Other Cousin

After you read each vignette, write an essay introduction for each vignette with a thesis statement. A thesis statement is the main point or claim of an essay. It explains what an essay will be about. The introduction should be 3 to 5 sentences. This includes the thesis statement, which is usually only one sentence. In other words, you will be writing 10 introductory paragraphs in total.

This assignment is due on Tuesday July 25, 2023.

WHERE: The completed work will be due to Ms. Pineda during English class.

HOW: All students have the option of completing the assignment on loose leaf paper or typing it. If you decide to complete the assignment on loose leaf, penmanship must be neat and easy to read. Wrinkled assignments will not be accepted.

WHY: When you start school in July, we will continue to work with the book, “The House on Mango Street.” This assignment will give you the opportunity to work on essay introductions. This includes working on thesis statements.

NOTES:

● You are not writing essays- you are working on writing thesis statements/introductions only. The introductions are your own creation and based on thoughts you have about the vignettes.