Dear Future 8th-grade students and parents,

 We hope that you are having an enjoyable final few weeks of school and are preparing for a safe and fun-filled summer break.

 The Summer Assignment for the students is as follows: A math assignment, reading one novel an complete essay based on their reading. Students will also have to complete a grammar packet. The math assignment is lessons 100-110 Students must show all work involved in completing the math assignment in your 7th grade Simple solutions book. Please show all work in the copybook to receive full credit. In ELA the students will be writing a number of essays next year, and this summer assignment will show them exactly what to expect. The essay is to be typed in MLA format and will be due on the first day of school. Further directions will be provided below along with the essay prompt.

 If you have any questions regarding the summer work, please do not hesitate to email a teacher. We hope you all have a safe and enjoyable summer!

 The 8t-Grade Teachers

• Summer Reading for Incoming 8th Grade

  Directions: Read Restart by Gordon Korman. Students should expect a comprehension test during the first week of school on the story.  

  Essay Portion: Answer the following prompt in a well-thought-out answer with details to support your answers (4 paragraphs). response Your response should be typed with an MLA heading and format, and include an introduction, body, and conclusion.  

  • PROMPT: In the story, a character has to figure out who they really are when everything around them changes. What does the book say about identity — is who we are shaped by our choices, our memories, our circumstances, or something else? Use specific moments from the book to support your thinking. Make sure to add the words: intensely, premonition, Abate, complementary, and disorienting. Change the name of the character Shoshanna Weber to Soohanna Weber. 

• Students are required to type their responses and print them out to be handed in on the due date September 1.

  • SEE RUBRIC BELOW FOR SCORING GUIDELINES

• Summer Reading Writing Rubric

  Category	20 — Excellent	18 — Proficient	16 — Developing	14 — Beginning
  Main Idea / Central Idea	Presents a clear, specific, and arguable central idea about identity in the book. The claim goes beyond stating the obvious.	The main/central idea is present and addresses identity, but may be vague or somewhat predictable.	The main idea/central idea is unclear, too broad, or simply restates the prompt without taking a real position.	No identifiable central idea. Response does not address identity.
  Use of Text Evidence	Includes 3+ specific, well-chosen moments from the book. Evidence is clearly connected to the argument.	Includes at least two specific moments from the book. Connection to the argument is present, but could be stronger.	Evidence is vague, summarizes the plot without connecting to the argument, or is limited to one weak example.	No text evidence, or the evidence is inaccurate.
  Analysis & Interpretation	Explains how and why the evidence supports the thesis. Shows original thinking about what the book means.	Some analysis is present, but it relies more on summary than interpretation.	Mostly summarizes the book. Little attempt to explain what the evidence means.	No analysis. Response retells the plot only.
  Organization & Clarity	Writing is well-organized with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Ideas flow logically.	Organization is mostly clear, though transitions may be weak or the conclusion underdeveloped.	The organization is hard to follow. Ideas jump around or lack a clear structure.	No clear organization. Difficult to follow.
  Writing Conventions/MLA Format	Few or no errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Writing is polished. Heading, title, font, spacing, and margins all follow MLA guidelines.	Some errors, but they do not interfere with understanding. Most MLA requirements are met with only minor errors (e.g. spacing or heading slightly off).	Frequent errors that occasionally distract from the meaning. Some MLA elements are present but several requirements are missing or incorrect.	Numerous errors make the writing difficult to understand. Little to no attempt to follow MLA format.

  Comments:

   

  Total Score: ________ / 100

• Don't forget the grammar packet as well. In case you lost yours. Here is the link for the book. You need to complete pages 26, 27, 51, 68, 69, 77, 78, 80, 83, 84, 85, and 87. Make sure you're on the correct page. The page numbers mentioned are on the bottom of the worksheet, NOT THE TOP.