Dear Future 8^th 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 two novels, and an essay based on their reading. The math assignment will consist of a skills packet that is posted below. Please print off a copy and complete. Students must show all work involved in completing the math assignment in order 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 Friday of the school year. 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!

Mr. O’Brien (pobrien@stdots.org)
rs. Callahan (jcallahan@stdots.org)

• Students will read A Night Divided by Jennifer Neilsen, and choose ONE of the following novels below to read additionally.
  • Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
  • The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
  • Numbering the Bones by Ann Rinaldi
  • Truesight by David Stahler
  • Hoops by Walter Dean Myers

• After reading both novels, students will write an essay in response to the prompt below:
  • All of the main characters in these novels are young people faced with extraordinary problems. In an essay, compare and contrast the two main characters. Such a comparison can include physical description, personality traits, and the settings in which they find themselves. In addition, compare the major problems these characters each face and how they resolve (or do not resolve) these problems.
  • The essay should be in MLA format. An MLA guide can be found at the Purdue OWL website: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
  • The essay should be typed in 12 point font, using Calibri, Cambria, or Times New Roman fonts. Essays should be double spaced and approximately 1 ½--2 pages long.