8th Grade Outside Reading

Overview

The main idea is that you need to always have (at

least) a book you are reading on your own outside
of class. What you must understand above all,
however, is that reading is a very important part
of this class and my evaluation of your work as a
student.

Guidelines
You must read 900 pages if you are in English 8
and 1,200 pages if you are in Honors. This will
likely add up to 3-6 booksdepending on the
length. Half will be due December 10, and the
remainder will be due May 2/3.
Books you will read later at SFC do not count nor
do books you have already read.
You must always have a book you are reading
outside of class.
I expect you to always have your book with you at
school.
Do not save your outside reading until the due
date.
You must write a Twitter Review for each book
completed, and you will create a commercial for
ONE book
There will be quarterly check-ins, in which you will
complete a task.
They must be books appropriate to your age,
interests, and ability.
Parent permission is required.

Why do we have
Outside Reading?
The philosophy behind the
outside reading requirement
is quite simple:
The more you read, the
more you know.
Reading is fun, especially
if you choose what you
read.
The more you read, the
better your vocabulary,
the higher your test
scores, the better you
think in all your classes
and situations.
You need to choose your
own books whenever
possible, guided only by
your interests and needs
at the time.
It is okay to abandon a
book if it is dull or too
difficult and get another
onejust talk to me first.
If you love to read you
will never be bored!

Outside Reading Projects:

1. EACH NOVEL: Twitter Review (see pg 3)
2. CHOOSE ONE NOVEL: design a commercial (see pg 4)
3. EACH SEMESTER: TBD In-class assignment (written
response, literature circle discussion, etc.)
1

Book Ideas
This list below does not even scrape the surface as to the authors you can choose. Go to
http://www.teenreads.com/authors/index.asp for more ideas. Please note that not all of the books on this site are
recommended for your outside reading projectbut it is merely a resource to get you started. Also, go to your
public library and go to the young adult section (there is a public library at Earl Warrenright down the
streetit has an awesome young adult section!!!)
Choose your book by ______________ and have your parent sign the release form below.

Some ideas:
Austen, Jane. Any Book
Bradbury, Ray.
Bronte, Emily. Any Book
Christie, Agatha. And then there were none
Dickins, Charles
Funke, Cornelia.
Kadohoata, Cynthia.
Kipling, Rudyard.
*Lewis, C.S. Any Book.
LEngle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time
London, Jack.
Lowry, Lois. Any book but The Giver.
Patterson, James.
Paulson, Gary. My Life in Dog Years.
Peck, Richard.
Peck, Robert. A Day No Pigs Would Die.
Rang, Ayn.

Rawls, Wilson. Where the Red Fern Grows

*Rivers, Francine. Redeeming Love & others
Sacher, Louis.
Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation, Chew on This
Speare, Elizabeth George.
Spinelli, Jerry. Stargirl, other books
Tolkein, J.R.R. The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings series
Twain, Mark. Adventures of Tom Sawyer*no honors
Verne, Jules. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,
Around the World in Eighty Days,
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Wells, Herbert George.
Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief, I am The Messenger,
*Books by Christian authors are encouraged

Permission Slip

I, ____________________________________ give my child, ___________________________

Parent name

childs name

permission to read __________________________________________________________ and

title of first book

__________________________ and __________________ by ___________________________.

title of second book*

title of third book (optional)

author of books

I understand that if my child chooses to switch books, I will email Mrs. Burkholder to let her
know that I have approved this change.
____________________________________
Signature of parent

______________________________
Date

*How many pages do ALL books add up to? ______ Is this less than the required amount? (circle one)

YES

NO

Twitter Book Reviews

Challenge yourself to write a book review in 140 characters (that includes spaces).
Don't forget to hashtag the title and author (as well as any other hashtags you
would like to create).This is a useful link that will count characters for you
http://www.webworldindex.com/countcharacters.htm See Mrs. Bs examples
below:
Epic battle
with fish
leavesDragons,
Christ-like battles,
figure bleeding 55
Epic sea journey to the ends of the earth
to save
Narnia.
kidnapping, illusion, spells, etc. Rich in biblical allusion.
(138 characters)
and exhausted.
Rich in biblical allusion
#TheVoyageoftheDawnTreader #CSLewis

Dystopian world. Oppressive leader force teens to battle to death.Even still, love is
confusing for strong teen girl while trying to survive (140 characters)
#TheHungerGames #SuzanneCollins

1._______________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
4._______________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
5._______________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
6._______________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

Commercial Project
Once this year you will design a
commercial/advertisement for a novel of your
choice. It must be a book you ENJOYED! The
purpose of this is to share book ideas with your
peers and encourage your classmates to read a
book you enjoyed.

You can create a video using iMovie iMotion,

Movie Maker, etc.
or
You can design a presentation using Prezi or
Google Slides
Notes/Questions/ Ideas:

Sign-up sheet is on the board above the Student

Supplies shelf.

Project
Requirements
2-3 minutes long
Should include:
Hook, title,
narration or text,
images & music,
credits page.
Must include
major plot
elements,
characters, etc.
DO NOT give
away the
ENDING!
Show creativity
and effort
Ultimately, make
people WANT to
read the book
Must be shared
with me/emailed
to me prior to
class the day you
present.

My date is: ___________

Outside Reading
Log Semester 1
Book Title

A+

A-

B+

B-

C+

C-

English
8

450+

425

400

375

350

325

300

275

250

225 <200

Honors

600+

575

550

525

500

475

450

425

400

375 <350

Author

Pages

Student
Initial

Parent Signature

Title of book:
Theme(s):
Title of book:
Theme(s):
Title of book:
Theme(s):

*Before turning in, check the following list:

I recorded the pages I read.
I have a parent signature.
I wrote a prcis for each book I read.
I have been honest in my recording.

Total
Pages

Outside Reading
Log Semester 2
Book Title

A+

A-

B+

B-

C+

C-

English
8

450+

425

400

375

350

325

300

275

250

225

Honors

600+

575

550

525

500

475

450

425

400

375

Author

Pages

Student
Initial

Parent Signature

Title of book:
Theme(s):
Title of book:
Theme(s):
Title of book:
Theme(s):

*Before turning in, check the following list:

I recorded the pages I read.
I have a parent signature.
I wrote a prcis for each book I read.
I have been honest in my recording.

Total
Pages