English

Welcome to English 8A and 8B!

For English 8A, YOU choose your own books.  You are to have a book in your possession at all times.  If you don't like a book you are reading, feel free to abandon it and choose another.  Please be sure the books you choose meet with your parents'/guardians' approval.

Reading:  We believe (and research supports) we learn to read and improve by reading.  Therefore, we expect you to read for a minimum of a half-hour each night.  We will be reading every day, and also reading in class at least one period per week plus the school wide sustained silent reading during TAP.  All students are aiming at reading at least thirty (30) books this school year.

Journal entries:  We expect a minimum of five entries per week.  All entries should include the following information:

                                                                                        Date

                                                                                        Title of Book

                                                                                        From page ___ to page ___

Your written response in the log should be in response to the book you are reading.  What you write in this journal should be what you want to preserve/remember as a reader and a writer.  Written entries are your thoughts, reactions, interpretations, questions to what you are reading, including observations about the author’s craft.  Your comments may also be in response to the author’s process as a writer, and your process as a reader, writer, and learner.

    If you are stuck, consider the following:

Quote or point out:  Quote a short passage of the book or something you read that you think is an example of good writing.  What did you like about the quote?  What makes you feel this is good writing?  Why do you want to save it?

Experiences or memories:  How does this book make you think or feel?  Does the book remind you of anything?  What comes to mind?  What kinds of ideas does this book generate for you?

Reactions:  Do you love/hate/cannot stop reading this book?  What about the writing/book makes you feel this way?  How does this book affect your ideas on the topic, yourself, the world?

Questions:  What confuses you in this book?  What don’t you understand?  What is causing confusion?  Why do you think the author does something in a particular way?  What would you have done differently if you were the writer?

Evaluation:  How does this compare to others you have read? Characters, setting, conflict, description, writing style, format, and more. What makes it an effective or ineffective piece of writing?  How is your reading progressing with this book?

Response to your journal entries:  During the year you will be analyzing your reading responses and observations.  You will be sharing your journal with me (teacher), your peers (of your choosing), and sometimes a parent/guardian.  The response to you is meant to “affirm what you know, challenge your thinking, and extend your learning” (Atwell 1987).

Use your journal to capture ideas about your reading and for your writing.

Links to reading and note-taking documents are below, if needed.

Class novel note-taking sheet (double-entry format)