English

Ms. Kirk

Name: ____________________________

English Reading Logs

Rationale:
Living in Canada we have access to an infinite supply of books and
knowledge. It is up to you to appreciate this freedom and take advantage of
the opportunities we sometimes blindly ignore.
There is no greater skill or greater determiner of success in both school
and life than reading. Building up your vocabulary give you the words
needed to become successful speakers and writers as well as confident
readers. Reading opens up a new world and gives you the
opportunity to explore new ideas, visit new places and meet new
characters.
Neil Gaiman, the celebrated British author said this of the
importance of reading:
"And the second thing fiction does is to build empathy.
When you watch TV or see a film, you are looking at things
happening to other people. Prose fiction is something you
build up from 26 letters and a handful of punctuation
marks, and you, and you alone, using your imagination,
create a world and people it and look out through other
eyes. You get to feel things, visit places and worlds you
would never otherwise know. You learn that everyone else
out there is a 'me', as well. You're being someone else, and
when you return to your own world, you're going to be slightly
changed."
Requirements:
For each novel, non-fiction, magazine article, or graphic novel you read
during our silent reading time and at home, you are going to create an
entry. Complete a dated reading record that includes each of the following
pieces of information. Use a single page for each entry.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Title of text
Author
Genre (Science fiction, non-fiction, young-adult etc.)
A brief summary. (No more than three sentences)
A statement of theme (or main learning for non-fiction). (One
sentence)
f) Your opinion of the text. What would you tell a friend? (no more than
three sentences)

So please, oh PLEASE, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away,

and in its place you can install a lovely bookshelf on the wall."
(Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
Assessment:
Criteria

Reading & Viewing

Organize ideas
and information:
1. Summary
2. Title, Author,
Genre
Explain/Support
personal
responses to texts
Analyse and
evaluate literary
text
1. Statement of
Theme
2. Opinion
Use conventions
to enhance
meaning and
artistry of writing:
1. Correct grammar,
word usage,
punctuation,
capitalization &
spelling

Not Yet
Meeting
Expectations
Synopsis unclear or
obviously plagiarized
Title,Author, Genre
(one or more
missing from one or
more books)
Theme explanation
missing
Opinion statement
missing

Original synopsis
included
Title, Author, Genre
present
Theme explanation
included but either
unclear or shows
some
misunderstanding
Opinion statement
vague or confusing
or lacks thought

Errors in conventions
are noticeable and
distract the reader
from the message.

Insufficient.
Must be
revised and
resubmitted.

Wor
k
Habi
ts

Minimally
Meeting
Expectations

Noticeable errors
in
-sentence structure
-punctuation
-capitalization
-spelling/word usage

34
C-

Fully Meeting
Expectations

Exceeding
Expectations

Clear original
synopsis included

Engaging, snappy
synopsis included

Title, Author, Genre

present

Title, Author, Genre

present

Theme explanation
clear and solidly
written

Theme explanation
perceptive and
shows skills of
inference

Opinion statement
clear and shows
understanding

Occasional errors
in
-sentence structure
-punctuation
-capitalization
-spelling/word usage

4+

5-

Opinion statement
well crafted and
supported.
Unique/individual
voice evident
Occasional errors in
complex words or
structures; writing
successfully edited

5+

5
C
C+

B-

B
B+

66

A-

A
A+

Good: submitted on time/attention to detail evident/title, name, date clearly displayed/intention for
success evident throughout
Satisfactory: submitted one class late/some attention to detail/title, name, date partially
displayed/intention for success somewhat evident
Needs Improvement: submitted more than one class late/no attention to detail/title, name, date
missing/intention for success not evident

Student Comments/Explanation

Teacher Response

These will be taken in once per term for a class work mark demonstrating
your ability to comprehend your reading. Students should be aiming to read
at least three different texts throughout the three month term.

Sources:
Gaiman, Neil. "Neil Gaiman: Why Our Future Depends on Libraries, Reading and
Daydreaming." The Guardian. The Guaridan, 13 Oct. 2013. Web