Summer Reading
Reading is a life long skill, and many life decisions are made through knowledge gained by reading. Studies have indicated that reading skills and critical thinking skills improve when students read year around, and that literacy gains made during the regular school year are maintained when students read over the summer. With this philosophy in mind, the Upper Perkiomen High School will continue a summer reading program for all students in the high school during the summer.
Our goals are to have students academically involved during the summer, to enjoy reading good literature, and to be prepared for the opening day of classes. All assigned books will be related directly to the theme and subject matter of each student’s English course. To reach these goals, the following guidelines have been established for the Summer Reading Program:
Summer Reading: Annotation Guidelines
Objectives for Annotating: Basic Reasons for “Marking” the Text
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ACTIVE READING: Be an active reader; conduct a dialogue with the text for greater comprehension.
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FOCUS: Maintain attention while reading.
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IDENTIFICATION: Find key passages of the text quickly.
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ANALYSIS: Begin to interpret the meaning of the text on your own.
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EVIDENCE: Leave signs of your reading experience (to receive credit for reading the text).
Methods for Annotating
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Margin Notes: Brief comments recorded on the “outside border” of the text, often forming an abbreviated outline of the text’s meaning AND reader’s thoughts.
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Shorthand Notations: Symbols (i.e. punctuation marks) used to mark the “inside” of the text.
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Underline/Circle (Avoid underlining/circling without comment.)
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Punctuation Marks (especially the QUESTION mark)
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Abbreviations (Use for literary devices, parallels, and juxtapositions.)
Reader Response- These are suggestions. There is no need to address all of the items listed below. Annotating is meant to enhance the reading experience, not detract from it! If you feel like your comprehension is being disrupted, DO LESS. There is no need to annotate every page. However, be sure to review the individual requirements for your course via the links provided below.
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Unclear passages or ambiguities in the text (use a question mark or write “why”)
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Understandings or “ah-ha” moments
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Connections to other passages in the text, as well as outside texts, films, and life in general.
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Striking passages that are powerful or meaningful
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Connections (text-to-text, text-to-world, text to self
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Literary Elements & Devices
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Characterization
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Narration / Point of view
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Setting
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Plot
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Conflict
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Irony
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Figurative Language (simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole)
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Style: (imagery, diction, repetition, tone)
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Symbols
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Allusion
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Themes
Vocabulary - Annotate words whose meanings are unclear or need definition.
| Summer Reading Annotation Rubric Link |
| Annotation Rubric |