Summer Reading 2007  

Requirements and Blogging Information    

All English Classes - Choose a book from the summer reading list for your grade level next year and read it before school starts in August.  You may choose to participate in the online blog discussion for extra credit.             

 AP Juniors Only must read The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne in addition to the selection from the 11^th grade list.  See Mrs. Clement or Mrs. O’Neill for your assignment.

IB Juniors Only are exempt from summer reading due to the extra courses they will take this summer.

AP Seniors Only must read Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini in addition to the selection from the 12^th grade list.   See Mrs. Schlich or Ms. Osterman for your assignment.

Advanced English Only - You will be required to participate in a book discussion group as one of your assignments for summer reading.  You will be coming to the library sometime during the last two weeks of August with your Advanced English class and joining others who read the same book.  Your job is to be prepared to offer comments.  Participation in the discussion is how you get credit for this part of summer reading.  Making notes during or just after you read will help you to remember discussion points.  Participating in the blog will also help you be prepared.

Blogging Information:

Participation in the online blog discussion about your book is optional.  If you choose to blog, you will be given extra credit in your English class and you will be entered into a drawing for a prize courtesy of the library staff.  We encourage you to join in! 

If you need help with registration or getting access to a computer, see Mrs. Tongate or Mrs. Prall in the library.  They will be back to work two weeks before school starts and you are welcome to come in. 

The library phone number is 381-3644.  We recommend that you call first to make sure we don’t have a prior commitment that day.

Getting on to the blog:

If you did not register last year, you must first register your Fayette County username and password in “The Point”.  This is the same username and password that you use in the library or computer labs.

From the 2007 TCHS Summer Reading page:

• Click on the button that says “Register”.
• Enter your regular TCHS username and password in the yellow boxes at the upper left corner on the screen. 
• Click “Log In”.
• You will already be recognized as a Fayette county student.  Scroll down and enter the following information in the appropriate boxes:
  • First Name (Will not be displayed to others)
  • Last Name
  • Display Name (the name you want others to see when you post a comment)
  • Your SCHOOL e-mail address:     (firstname.lastname@stu.fayette.kyschools.us)
  • Make sure your schools is “Tates Creek High”
  • You can leave the Teacher Selection blank for now.
  • Click on “Save Information”
  • Click on “Logout”

You are now ready to post comments about your book on the TCHS blog site.

• Go back to the 2007 TCHS Summer Reading page and scroll down to find the book you read.
• Click on the link for your book.
• Log in using the TCHS username and password you just registered. 
• Click on the “More Details” link on the left for directions about what to include in your response.  (You can print this if you want to.)
• When you are ready to blog, click on the “Comment” button.  A new screen will appear that you can type in.  Change fonts and colors if you want to.
• Be sure to click “Save” when you are finished!

If you want the extra credit for your class, print out the comments you made on the blog (including your display name at the bottom) and turn it in with your full name, your teacher’s name and the block you have English written on the top.

Advanced English Students – Bring it to the book discussions and give it to your discussion leader

General, AP or IB English Students – Give it to your English teacher.

 Blog Entry Guidelines

Here are your guidelines for a quality summer reading blog response.  Remember that only thoughtful responses will be given extra credit. (It is up to your English teacher to decide.)  Plot summaries do not count as thoughtful responses.  Remember, you are talking to others who have also read the book!

What to include in your blog:

Part 1:  Book Review

• Rate the book on a scale of 1 (didn’t like it at all) to 5 (one of my new favorite books).
• Explain what you liked and/or didn’t like about the book.  Be sure to support your response with SPECIFIC details from the book.
• Do you recommend this book for next year’s summer reading list? Why or why not.  If not, give another title you think would be better and explain why.

Part 2:  Personal Reaction (Choose 1 of the following to write about.)

A.  Give a reaction to a previous comment someone else has made.  Do you agree or disagree with their ideas?  Be sure to explain why and give details to support your position.  (Keep the tone of your response academic.  Any personal, negative comments will be removed from the blog and you will be disqualified for extra credit and the prize drawing.)

B.  Talk about the characters in the story.  Here’s some ideas:  Did any of the characters resemble you or someone you know?  In what ways?  How did the main characters change over the course of the story?  Did your opinions about any of the characters change as you read the book? How?

C.  Describe an experience you have had that resembles an event from the book.  How did you react when you read about the similar situation in the book?

D.  How would you describe the author’s writing style?  Did you like it?  Why or why not?  Pick a quote from the book that you think supports your opinions.