Directions for Independent Reading, 2011-12

• An independent reading assignment is designed to assess how well YOU WRITE about what YOU READ. Do not cheat in any way. Read the book that is on your assignment, i.e., the original source. Do not rely on summaries from your friends, relatives, or Internet sources.
• Your writing can be informal, but it should be for academic purposes. In other words, do not horrify your instructor with text-spell, deliberate inattention to capitalization or grammar, etc.
• You should read about 100-150 pages per week (generally the assignment is given as “read 1/3 of your book this week”). Ideally this means that you read about 30 minutes per day, five or six days a week, and you write your journal entry in about 30 minutes one day per week.
• Head your book’s first entry with the following information:

Title of the book
Author of the book
Publisher
City of publication (if multiple cities listed, choose the first in the list)
Copyright year

• Head all other entries with the title and page numbers that you have read.
• For bloggers:

1. Do NOT use your name—instead use the first two letters of the name you go by and your last name (John Doe would be JoDo).
2. DO NOT identify our school, our town, your classmates, or your teacher by name.
3. DO post your entry at the time you write it, even if the journal will not be graded for two weeks. “Oh, I haven’t posted yet” does not earn you extra points and likely does make you look irresponsible.
4. DO make sure that you email your instructor with your correct blog address (and make sure that you have made the blog public so that your instructor can link it to hers). Identify your full name and period number in your email.

• All entries should be about 350 words. Not more than 1/3 of your entry should be plot summary, though you should use many precise details. The remaining 2/3 should be critical thinking/response to the reading. Remember: via this entry, you prove how well and thoughtfully you have read the text.

I have written an example that is comprised of three entries about one of our summer reading choices.