Mrs. Johnson's English Site

READING LOG INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS STICKY NOTES: As you read each text, use sticky notes to mark passages that seem noteworthy. Each passage may: • present a conflict • provide character detail (maybe you agree/disagree with a character’s actions, or maybe the passage sheds light on the character’s motives) • seem to foreshadow some future event • create a personal connection • remind you of a similar situation in another book you have read • cause you to question something • set a specific tone or mood • create confusion for you in understanding some aspect of the text • present an important symbol • include a recurring idea/action/event/theme/message • provoke a concrete emotional response such as anger, frustration, amusement, excitement, etc. READING LOG: Once you have read a few chapters or sections of your text, begin writing your reading log. To do this, complete the following steps: 1. Open a blank document in Microsoft Word or some similar word processing program 2. Set margins at ½ inch on all four sides (left, right, top, bottom) 3. Insert a table that has four columns and about four rows 4. Label your columns (see example on attached page): Page/Line #, Chapter/Section, What the text says, What I say 5. Adjust columns, allowing more room for the “What I say” column 6. Type passages in the “What the text says” column, noting the page/line number and the chapter/ section number in the appropriate columns 7. Type your reflection/response in the “What I say” column (refer to the list above for response ideas) 8. Save your work and continue adding to your log as you read 9. To add new rows, simply click in the last “What I say” box and press the tab key; a new row should automatically appear 10. The Indianapolis Marion County Public Library system offers computers for student use. If you are unable to gain access to a computer, you may complete a neatly hand written reading log in the same format. REQUIREMENTS: Your reading log will be graded based on the following requirements: • You must complete one reading log for each required summer reading text • You must have at least 10 entries in each reading log • Selected passages should cover the text’s entirety (you must demonstrate you read and understand the entire text) • Your reading log should be UNIQUE; it should include YOUR OWN thoughts and feelings about the characters, events and ideas in the text. You may use 1st person for this assignment. • Don’t go overboard; try to note only the most important, confusing or noteworthy passages HOW WILL I BE GRADED? Reading logs will be graded based on depth, adherence to the assignment specifications, grammatical and mechanical accuracy, and timeliness. Students will also have a formal assessment (both subjective and objective) over the content of their reading journals. A NOTE REGARDING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Students must complete this assignment without the help of any secondary sources. The purpose of this assignment is to encourage the process of reflection. Thus, students can only “find the answers” for this assignment in their own brains. Selecting random passages or merely summarizing the events that occur in the texts will result in a grade of “C” or “NG”. We are looking for your own unique reflections, not a “correct answer.” QUESTIONS? Message Mrs. Johnson through SchoolRack (I check messages until 9:30 each evening) if you have any questions about the literature selections or assignment. READING LOG SAMPLE UNDER CONSTRUCTION