Summer Assignment 3: Where Have You Been?

3: Where Have You Been?

      English Language Arts is a subject that you have learned about every year, and one that you will take right through high school.  You have read, written, and learned many things up to this point in your career.  I want you to take some time to reflect what you have achieved in English so far.

First, purchase yourself a notebook or journal to house your writing.  You’re going to need one for class in the fall, so start it out now.  Get one that you will love!  A simple marble one works great.

Now, build a catalog page.  Try remembering and listing every book you’ve read in middle school, and as many as you can from the last few years of elementary school.  It’s also fun to add a few of the earliest books you ever read.  My two earliest favorites were The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss and The Sailor Dog by Margaret Wise Brown.

Create a second catalog page for your writing.  List as many of your written creations as you can remember. What are the best (and worst) pieces of writing you have created throughout middle school and late elementary school?  What made them good or bad? How long were they?  What is the earliest thing you remember writing?

Reflect on what reading and writing means to you.  What role does it play in your life?  How often do you do each?  What makes your writing strong?  What makes a book an interesting read?  What are your reading goals?  What are your writing goals?  What is your usual process for writing?  How, when, and where do you read?  What is the importance of language arts in your life?

Now write an essay of at least two pages, typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font.  In the essay discuss the role of reading and writing in your life so far.  Again, the content is up to you, but the reflection questions above should guide you.  Have the essay done for the first class.  If you would like to e-mail me a draft of it in advance (by the second week of August) I will be happy to comment on it and give you some suggestions.   You can reach me through the blog or at my school e-mail, mckeebym@averillpark.k12.ny.us