Note taking assignment for 8th grade literature summer ...
Note taking assignment for 8th grade literature summer reading Name: Ms. Kinlock Literature Date: Welcome to 8th grade literature! We will spend the next school year learning to analyze and discuss literature, both classic and contemporary. As an introduction to this course, over the summer you must read and take notes about TWO (2) books. You must choose ONE book from the following: Coming of Age Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery or any of the books in the series (unabridged) Any ONE of the books in The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle Any ONE of the books in The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling AND the SECOND book from the following: Fantasy/Adventure/Science Fiction The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (unabridged) The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (unabridged) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (unabridged) Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson (unabridged) Directions: Once you have chosen one coming of age novel and one fantasy/adventure/science fiction novel, you must read both and take notes on both. Your notes must be handwritten on loose-leaf paper in blue or black ink. YOU MAY NOT USE ANY SOURCE TO COMPLETE THIS ASSIGNMENT OTHER THAN THE NOVEL AND YOUR BRAIN. The notes will be collected for a grade on the first day of class. Your notes need to be detailed. They should include explanations of any conclusions drawn and specific details from the novels. You should use the following questions as a guide for your note taking: Questions for note taking: Plot What conflicts are involved in the story? Are they physical, intellectual, moral, or emotional? What is the main conflict? What is the story’s climax or turning point? Are the events believable or probable? Is there use of coincidence and chance? What use does the story make of surprise and to what effect? Setting When and where is the story set? How crucial is the setting to the story? Which details create a sense of historical era? How specific is the time setting? What season(s) are describe and how? Character Who is the protagonist (main character) of the story? Why is he or she the protagonist? What is that character like? Is his or her emotional state constant or changing? What events or moments of self-revelation produce changes in the main character? Is the behavior of the characters believable? Is it consistent with their natures? Is it adequately motivated? Theme What is the purpose of this novel? What are the major themes? What general thoughts does the author develop about life and human beings? What commentary is the author making about the four different areas of thematic concern: the nature of humanity, the nature of society, the nature of humankind’s relationship to the world, and the nature of our ethical responsibilities? Do the themes reinforce or oppose popular notions about life or humans? Do the themes furnish a new insight or refresh and deepen old ones?
ABOUT THE NOVELS
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery When orphan Anne Shirley comes to live at Green Gables with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, they get more than they bargained for. The Cuthberts thought they were adopting a boy who could help them on their farm. Instead, they get Anne. The smart, red-haired, freckled girl bursts into their home and changes their lives forever. Any ONE of the books in The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander A classic adventure/fantasy series, these books follow the trials and tribulations of Taran, the Assistant-Pig keeper. After chasing a run-away pig, who happens to be enchanted, into the forest, Taran finds himself battling powerful and magical forces in order to defend the world in which he lives. The books in this series are: The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran the Wanderer, and The High King.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle “Fifty years ago, Madeleine L’Engle introduced the world to A Wrinkle in Time and the wonderful and unforgettable characters Meg and Charles Wallace Murry, and their friend Calvin O’Keefe. When the children learn that Mr. Murry has been captured by the Dark Thing, they time travel to Camazotz, where they must face the leader IT in the ultimate battle between good and evil—a journey that threatens their lives and our universe. A Newbery Award winner, A Wrinkle in Time is an iconic novel that continues to inspire millions of fans around the world.” Synopsis taken from Amazon.com Any ONE of the books in The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling Join Harry in his journey to Hogwarts, a school for magic. Along the way, he battles evil and learns the value of true friendship. Each book in the series follows Harry through one year of school at Hogwarts.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum “The story chronicles the adventures of a young girl named Dorothy Gale in the Land of Oz, after being swept away from her Kansas farm home in a cyclone. The novel is one of the best-known stories in American popular culture and has been widely translated.” Synopsis taken from Amazon.com
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells “A Victorian scientist develops a time machine and travels to the year 802,171 AD. There he finds the meek, child-like Eloi who live in fear of the underground-dwelling Morlocks. When his time machine goes missing, the Traveler faces a fight to enter the Morlocks' domain and return to his own time.” Synopsis taken from Amazon.com Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll “ . . . Tells of a girl named Alice falling through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre. Its narrative course and structure, characters and imagery have been enormously influential in both popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre.” Synopsis taken from Amazon.com. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson “The young orphan David Balfour is sent to live with his Uncle Ebenezer. When he discovers that he may be the rightful heir to his uncle’s estate, he finds himself kidnapped and cast away on a desert isle.” Synopsis taken from Amazon.com
ABOUT THE NOVELS
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery When orphan Anne Shirley comes to live at Green Gables with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, they get more than they bargained for. The Cuthberts thought they were adopting a boy who could help them on their farm. Instead, they get Anne. The smart, red-haired, freckled girl bursts into their home and changes their lives forever. Any ONE of the books in The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander A classic adventure/fantasy series, these books follow the trials and tribulations of Taran, the Assistant-Pig keeper. After chasing a run-away pig, who happens to be enchanted, into the forest, Taran finds himself battling powerful and magical forces in order to defend the world in which he lives. The books in this series are: The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran the Wanderer, and The High King.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle “Fifty years ago, Madeleine L’Engle introduced the world to A Wrinkle in Time and the wonderful and unforgettable characters Meg and Charles Wallace Murry, and their friend Calvin O’Keefe. When the children learn that Mr. Murry has been captured by the Dark Thing, they time travel to Camazotz, where they must face the leader IT in the ultimate battle between good and evil—a journey that threatens their lives and our universe. A Newbery Award winner, A Wrinkle in Time is an iconic novel that continues to inspire millions of fans around the world.” Synopsis taken from Amazon.com Any ONE of the books in The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling Join Harry in his journey to Hogwarts, a school for magic. Along the way, he battles evil and learns the value of true friendship. Each book in the series follows Harry through one year of school at Hogwarts.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum “The story chronicles the adventures of a young girl named Dorothy Gale in the Land of Oz, after being swept away from her Kansas farm home in a cyclone. The novel is one of the best-known stories in American popular culture and has been widely translated.” Synopsis taken from Amazon.com
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells “A Victorian scientist develops a time machine and travels to the year 802,171 AD. There he finds the meek, child-like Eloi who live in fear of the underground-dwelling Morlocks. When his time machine goes missing, the Traveler faces a fight to enter the Morlocks' domain and return to his own time.” Synopsis taken from Amazon.com Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll “ . . . Tells of a girl named Alice falling through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre. Its narrative course and structure, characters and imagery have been enormously influential in both popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre.” Synopsis taken from Amazon.com. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson “The young orphan David Balfour is sent to live with his Uncle Ebenezer. When he discovers that he may be the rightful heir to his uncle’s estate, he finds himself kidnapped and cast away on a desert isle.” Synopsis taken from Amazon.com
