English 8 Resources:

Helpful reading
1. The Elements of Style-Strunk and White (You will have your own copy).
2. American Heritage Dictionary  (You will have your own copy).
3. Princeton Review SSAT
4. Barron's SSAT Review

Useful Websites

1.  Dictionary.com

Don't have a dictionary with you?  Go to dictionary.com and look up words you don't recognize in your reading.  This site is also useful for vocabulary and spelling assignments.  There is no excuse for skipping words you don't know!

2.  Thesaurus.com

Improve your writing and build your vocabulary by finding stronger, more descriptive words with thesaurus.com.  Be careful, however, because context matters when you are searching for synonyms.  In other words, you can't simply choose any match that thesaurus.com generates for you.   Plug the word you select into your writing to make sure that it makes sense in context.

3.  http://www.thebeatmuseum.org/

San Francisco is a city full of literary fame.  Check out San Francisco's Beat Museum here.  Every Spring, the 8th grade will field trip to this museum to enjoy our rich, poetic history.

4.  http://www.sparknotes.com

Need help with MacBeth?  Sparknotes gives extra information which can aid with mastery of understanding.  Remember, this site can only be used as as a supplement.

Summer Reading, SSAT PREP,  and Autobiography Requirement

Switch Day is tomorrow!  And with this, we will be discussing the following in class on Friday:

 1.  Summer Reading (Erik Weihenmayer's, Touch the Top of the World)

2.  Flash Cards for SSAT prep

3.  The rough draft of the autobiography

4.  8th grade English-an overview

 Each boy with receive a small packet which I have also attached below.

 1.  Required Book:

Weihenmeyer, Erik. Touch the Top of the World. 

Get ready for Yosemite by reading Erik Weihenmeyer's moving memoir, Touch the Top of the World.  A true story, Erik relives his goals and dreams, despite impossible odds.  In this powerful text, Erik pushes past the limits imposed on him by losing his sight at the age of twelve and learns to "see" the world-as a hiker of the seven summits. 

**There is no summer reading report for this book; however, you should be ready for a quiz when you return to school.  Make sure you mark your book as we have done throughout the year (no hi-lighting).**

(This is the only required book.  It is highly recommended that each boy reads other books for pleasure.  A reading list is being sent home on Switch Day.)

2.  SSAT Summer Prep:

Each rising 8th grader is required to make flash-cards for the two lists of words handed out on "Switch Day."  These lists ("Back for More" and "The Hit Parade") should be reviewed thoroughly during the summer to insure adequate, preliminary, SSAT preparation.

3.   Autobiography

1^st draft autobiography due the day you return!

During your week in Yosemite you will live outdoors in a new environment with foreign experiences and stresses, similar to Sequoia, the Pinnacles and Mr. Weihenmeyer's own.

Often, it is during trying times, when we uncover the most about who we are and what we want to become. 

Overcoming adversity can give us new insight and perspective.

Of course, your trip, like Erik's, will give you moments to reflect and record aspects of your journey. 

But, right now, at this very moment, you have already had experiences and challenges that have helped sharpen your character, broaden your skills, and hone your abilities.  Let's call them "Ah-ha" moments.

Now, we want to know what these "Ah-ha" moments are.

Who are you?  What makes you tick?  What are your personal passions?  What do you want everyone to know about you?  What makes you most proud?  Ponder these questions and make up your own. 

Maybe you will write about a unique event in your life when you discovered more about yourself.  It might be when you scored the winning goal, got your first guitar, lost at chess to your kid-brother, or finally learned how to execute that 360 on the slopes.  Perhaps, you will write about a personal best, challenge, or possible defeat that makes you proud or gives you valuable knowledge.  Be yourself.  Tell us about you.

Take joy in writing and reflecting with this assignment.  There are no wrong answers.  This is the first draft of your autobiography and should give a stranger or even a good friend new insight about you.  (Hint: You will have to do this sort of reflecting for your high school applications.  With this essay, you are getting a jump start!)

Typed.  12 point.  Times New Roman.  Double-spaced.  1-2 page essay.    Again, this is due the first day you return back to school!

Good luck and enjoy the summer.

Next year will be a monumental year!

 Sincerely,

 Mr. Morgan