Welcome 5th graders to

Middle School

Language Arts 2012-2013

Exciting Changes

Setting Teachers Responsibilities

Ms. Reinert

Breakdown Let’s look at an example

Tuck Everlasting

Summer Reading Assignment:

Overview

A few Book Choices

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

By: Lewis Carroll Fantasy Humor Strange characters

speaking nonsense!

Bridge to TerabithiaKatherine Paterson

Adventure Best friends Magical lands

A few Book Choices

Walk Two MoonsBy: Sharon Creech

Family Funny friends Traveling across

America with crazy grandparents

Discovering yourself

The HobbitBy: J.R.R. Tolkien

Fantasy Adventure Wizards, dragons,

trolls, and giant spiders…Oh My!

Hidden treasure

A few Book Choices

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

By: Mark Twain Suspense Murder Dark caverns Pranks Love & friendship

What will my project

look like?Make a Poster

“A window” into your book. Each pane will address a different

aspect of your book.

Materials 1 poster board (standard 22” by

28”) materials to write, draw, and

decorate scissors glue a template to trace (square)

The “window” 6 openings

Box 1

Basic Information Title Author An illustration

No copying and pasting

Example Tuck Everlasting

By: Natalie Babbitt

INSERT ILLUSTRATION

HERE

Box 2

Main Character Analysis:

One example of Direct Characterization

Example

In the novel, the author describes Winnie’s personality when she states, “Winnie had her own strong sense of rightness” (p.118). The author directly states that

Winnie has strong ideas about what it right and wrong. She has morals she holds true to.

Box 2

Main Character Analysis: One example of

Indirect Characterization

Example In the novel, the author indirectly

presents Winnie as someone who is gentle and caring .

In one scene the novel reads, “And then Miles caught a fish. …suddenly Winnie wanted to weep. “Put it back Miles,” she said, “Put it back right away…will it be alright?” asked Winnie, feeling foolish and happy (p.88).”

The author uses Winnie’s speech and actions to characterize her as gentle and caring.

Box 2

Main Character Analysis:

One Important Quotation

Example “…it doesn’t matter.

Tell your father I want to help. I have to help. If it weren’t for me, there wouldn’t have been any trouble in the first place” (p.115).

Box 3

A Synopsis A statement

including:1. Major characters2. Setting3. Events

Conflict Resolution

Example The main characters are… The setting is vague in

regards to the exact time… Events: The story begins

when young Winnie sees Jesse…

The novel contains many conflicts such as…

The resolution to the story is …

Box 4

Theme Explain the author’s

Main Message Point? Teach?

Example The most important theme in

the story is the idea of “making tough choices.” Winnie is presented with one tough decision after another…

Winnie must make the choice between drinking from the spring and living forever, or accepting mortality…

The novel brings up an important point that the greatest changes in life are often brought on by our most difficult choices.

Box 5

Author’s Style Find Quotations

Pop! Voice shines Examples:

Word choice Metaphor/Simile Imagery

Quotation Marks + Page #’s

Example Word Choice:

“Life’s got to be lived, no matter how long or short” (p.54). Figurative Language:

“The sky was a ragged blaze of red and pink and orange, and its double trembled on the surface of the pond like color spilled from a paint box. The sun was dropping fast now, a soft red sliding yolk, and already in the east there was darkening to purple” (p.60).

Box 6

Personal Response

Respond: Stem of Choice! This book really made me

think about… This story changed the way

I see… Overall, the story is… I can tell the time or place

the author lived affected the story…

The author was (wrong/right) to…

Example This book really

made me think about life and death. It made me analyze the cost of living forever…

The book made me think about what I would do if I had been Winnie…

Your Guide: Rubric

Category 4 3 2 1

Title Page:

Illustration

The student created an illustration that adds meaning and reflects a deep understanding of the theme.

An illustration that illuminates an important character, event, or idea is included.

There is an illustration, but it is poorly developed or does not relate to the story in any clear way.

There is no illustration, or the title and author are not clearly recorded.

Main Character: Analysis

The character analysis reveals impressive understanding to how an author “paints” a character by using both indirect and direct characterization.

Includes author’s direct description of the character, an action or thought that indirectly reveals character, and a line of dialogue that does the same. The student then wrote a character description based on the evidence.

What is written does not reflect an understanding of what characterization is or how characters are created. Important elements are missing or incorrect.

No attempt at character analysis was made.

Character, Events, Setting: Synopsis

The synopsis is an extremely well developed piece of writing. Everything that should be there, (and nothing that shouldn’t) is presented in the writing. Transitions are used to sequence events clearly.

A clear and concise synopsis (3 or more paragraphs) includes all main characters and events, and identifies the central conflict that the main character faces, as well as its resolution.

The synopsis refers to some of the characters or plot points, but some key ideas are missing.

The synopsis does not focus on the main character or characters, or is missing key plot points. The writing is ineffectively sequenced, and the events that actually occurred are not clear.

Main Message: Theme

The reader’s ability to determine the theme of what is written is quite evident in the writing. He or she really put all the elements together to figure out the meaning of the story.  

There is a statement of theme that identifies the story’s main message, or universal idea. The whole POINT of the story is obvious to the reader and it shows.

An attempt was made to identify the theme, but it is evident that the reader missed the author’s point.

There is no evidence that the reader understands what theme is or how an author reveals it.

Notable Quotations: Style

The reader senses the art behind the writing. The response shows an understanding of how authors leave fingerprints on their writing in the way that they use words.

The reader was able to identify use of sensory words, figurative language, and word choice with strong connotation.  

It’s clear why some of the quotations were selected, but not all.

It’s not really clear why the quotations selected were included. They lack artful use of language.

Question Stems: Reader Response

The reader’s response is artful. It synthesizes the analysis of theme, style, characterization, and plot effectively to make new, personal meaning.

The student wrote a statement (2 or more paragraphs) in response to one of the question stems. It includes evidence from the text to support the reader’s conclusions.

The statement clearly refers to the question stem, and reflects some ability to draw a conclusion, but is not backed with evidence or is too short.

The statement does not clearly refer to the question stem, or does not reflect an understanding of what is required in a reader’s response.

Categories1. Title Page2. Main Character Analysis3. Synopsis4. Theme5. Author’s Style:

Quotations6. Reader Response: Stems

Grading 4-3-2-1

6th Grade Summer Reading Assignment Rubric (2012)

Teacher Notes: _____________________

Directions

Typed or hand-written Length requirements Book choices

Other

Questions or Concerns

How to enjoy working on your summer

project:

Go outside Sit by the pool. The floor A favorite chair A friend’s house.

Do you have any places that you work on school work?

Where do you like to curl up with a good book?

So excited about next year Don’t stress, do your best Relax and enjoy your book Have a safe and fun

summer!!!

Last thoughts…