1. art and entertainment
2. humor

Incoming 8th Grader’s
Summer Reading Program 2015
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Required Reading:
1. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (IPAD APP – FREE BOOKS)
by Mark Twain
And
2. Mark Twain, A Biography (IPAD APP – FREE BOOKS)
CHAPTERS: VII, IX, XI,XII, and XIII ONLY
By Mark Bigelow Paine
PLUS
One (1) book of your choice at or above grade level.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Parents: I am asking that you complete the following
information verifying that your child completed the summer
reading. Please have your student bring this sheet to class
FRIDAY, August 14, 2015.
Thank you,
Mrs. Richardson
______________________________________________________
(Print Student Name)
______________________________________________
(Title of Book – Your Choice)
________________________________________________________________
(Parent Signature)
_____________________________________
(Author)
8th Grade Cornell Note/Discussion Assignment
As you read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Mark Twain, A Biography, you
will answer the attached questions on the CORNELL NOTE formatted sheets. In
preparation for high school, you must be able to think critically about the material
you are reading. This means you go beyond the surface of the plot and look for the
themes and messages contained within the piece. To begin this process, you will
answer the following questions in CORNELL NOTE format and be prepared to
participate in a class discussion on Monday, August 17, 2015. The exam for all novels
and readings will include objective and essay questions.
 Note taking is an individual skill you develop to best suit your ability to
remember information. Complete your notes so you may fully participate
in the class discussion, as points will be awarded on your participation.
As many of you know, Lexington Catholic gives their Freshman Placement
Exam on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Therefore, I have told the students they
need to read at least 20 minutes every day to maintain their present levels –
additional minutes per day and difficulty of material can increase their reading
levels Please help your child find a reading schedule, which fits with the family’s
summer plans.
For those students who wish or need to read novels more than one time in
order to comprehend the information, I have provided a list of the novels in the
order we will be reading them for 8th grade next year.
8TH Grade Novels for 2015-2016*
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Out of the Dust (ISBN:0-590-37125-8)
To Kill a Mockingbird (ISBN:0-446-31078-6)
Witness (ISBN:0-43945230-9)
Animal Farm (ISBN:0-451-52634-1)
Yellow Star (ISBN:10:0-545-07101-1)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (ISBN:0-385-75106-0)
The Outsiders (ISBN:0-14-038572-X)
The Time Machine (ISBN:0-590-12061-1)
*Substitutions or additions are possible as the year progresses.
Topic
The Adventures of Tom
Sawyer
and Mark Twain, A
Biography
Name:
Teacher:
Class:
Date
Questions/Main Ideas:
Notes
Directions:
Directions: In this area, you write the answer to the
questions. Use bullets and dashes to help organize your
ideas. Also, use symbols and abbreviations to help you take
notes more efficiently.
1. Compare and
contrast Tom and
Huck.
You may want to divide this part of your NOTES into two
sections.
Tom:
ALIKE?
Huck:
DIFFERENT?
Topic
Name:
The Adventures of Tom
Teacher:
Sawyer and Mark Twain, A
Biography
Class:
Date
Questions/Main Ideas:
2. Describe the relationship
between Becky and Tom.
3. Give three (3) examples
of Twain’s use of humor.
Notes
Topic
Name:
The Adventures of Tom
Teacher:
Sawyer and Mark Twain, A
Biography
Class:
Date
Questions/Main Ideas:
4. Where is the climax of
the story? Defend your
choice using examples from
the text.
5. How is Injun Joe the
epitome of evil? Why is the
character of Injun Joe
important in the book?
Notes
Topic
Name:
The Adventures of Tom
Teacher:
Sawyer and Mark Twain, A
Biography
Class:
Date
Questions/Main Ideas:
6. Discuss Twain’s
depiction of church and
school. Are they agencies
of spiritual and intellectual
growth, or producers of
conformity and inhibition,
or both?
Notes
Topic
Name:
The Adventures of Tom
Teacher:
Sawyer and Mark Twain, A
Biography
Class:
Date
Questions/Main Ideas:
7. Choose three (3)
different scenes from
Tom’s adventures.
Describe each briefly and
tell how each relates to
Mark Twain’s life.
Notes
Topic
Name:
The Adventures of Tom
Teacher:
Sawyer and Mark Twain, A
Biography
Class:
Date
Questions/Main Ideas:
8. Define the concept of a
BILDUNGSROMAN.
(Cite your SOURCE)
Notes
BLANK – MAY USE TO MAKE ADDITIONAL COPIES
Topic
Name:
The Adventures of Tom
Teacher:
Sawyer and Mark Twain, A
Biography
Class:
Date
Questions/Main Ideas:
Notes