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CP English 7Th Grade Summer Reading Assignment Code Talker

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CP English 7Th Grade Summer Reading Assignment Code Talker CP English 7th Grade Summer Reading Assignment Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac ​ ISBN: 978-0-14-240596-3 What is the book about? This summer you will be reading Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac. Code Talker is about a ​ ​ ​ ​ Navajo boy who grows up to be one of the US Marine WW2 code talkers. The story follows him from his life as a boarding school student through his participation in the Pacific during WW2. Pay attention to his strengths as well as the challenges he faces as he defends his native land. How will I be graded? Your summer reading assignment is broken up into four categories: Vocabulary, Annotations, Writing Response, and a Comprehension Quiz (This will be taken on the first day of school). Points will be divided as followed: Vocabulary- 15 points ​ Annotations- 15 points ​ Writing Response- 45 points ​ Comprehension Quiz-25 points ​ Total Grade= 100 What do I do? Vocabulary: Definitions and Original Sentences First, define the following vocabulary words with the correct part of speech. (Page numbers are located in parentheses to help you find the appropriate definition as it is used in context.) Second, in an original sentence of at least ten words, use each word in the same context as that of the word in the text. Your sentence may be based on similar events in your own life, similar events in Code Talker, or similar events in other stories ​ ​ (written stories, TV shows, movies, plays, etc…). The first word is completed for you as an example. 1. Chaos (104) - complete disorder and confusion When Ned and Georgia Boy were attacked by the Japanese on Blue Beach, they found relief from the surrounding chaos of bombs bursting and machine guns firing when Ned dug a foxhole for them. 2. Crucial (135) 3. Defiant (25) 4. Deployed (151) 5. Distorted (153) 6. Embark (89) 7. Furloughs (69) 8. Harmony (139) 9. Humble (82) 10. Pathetic (97) 11. Priority (95) 12. Retreated (127) 13. Reverberated (47) 14. Shrapnel (117) 15. Stealthily (124) 16. Surged (117) Annotate Chapter 15 for the following: *Setting in orange (Where is Ned? This may change during the chapter. Highlight all.) ​ ​ *Characterization in pink (Concentrate on Stormy and Gene-gene. Highlight the words and ​ ​ phrases which allow the reader to directly and indirectly characterize each.) * Theme in blue (Find examples of both humor and respect in the chapter. Highlight each in ​ ​ blue.) * Questioning in yellow (Highlight one thing you don't understand or would like to know more ​ ​ about in yellow. In the margin, develop and write a question about what you have highlighted.) Written Response: Select three of the following four to answer. Answer each in a well-constructed paragraph with ​ ​ at least three supporting details as well as a topic sentence and concluding sentence.The ​ response should be typed in Times New Roman 12 point font with MLA heading. Check ​ for writing conventions (capitalization, spelling, punctuation, and sentence variety). Print the assignment and bring to class on the first day of school with your annotated book and vocabulary. ❖ Ned survives both the hardship of boarding school and the trauma of war. How is Ned able to get through these difficulties? Which of his personal qualities do you think help him most during these hard times? (List and defend at least three personal qualities. Give text evidence for each quality.) ❖ Imagine you are a soldier in a situation similar to Ned’s in the Pacific. List and defend ​ five items you would want in a military ration. ❖ Ned carries a pouch of corn pollen with him. What does this pouch mean to Ned? Describe what you think are the three most important times he uses the corn pollen in the story. Explain why each is meaningful. ❖ Ned Begay is telling his grandchildren the story of his time as a code talker. What are three important lessons you think Ned’s grandchildren might learn from his story? Explain each. What do I do if I don’t understand? If you have any questions about the assignment, please email me at [email protected]. I will be sure to answer as quickly as I can. ​ Looking forward to a great school year! Ms. Bumgardner The following questions are available to help you study for the comprehension quiz. I will not take them up. Making sure you can answer them will help you do well on the quiz the first day of class. Introduction - Chapter 1 ❖ To whom is the author of Code Talk speaking? ❖ Why is he writing the book? (What is his purpose?) ❖ Why did Kii Yahzi’s parents dress in their best clothing and accessories when his uncle came for him? ❖ Why did Kii Yahzi’s uncle tell him his purpose in attending school was? ❖ Describe the Long Walk. (Why did it happen? Where did they go? What impact did it have on the Navajo?) Chapters 2 - 4 ❖ When the Navajo children arrived at school, why were they dressed in their best clothing and accessories? ❖ What did the principal and teachers expect of the Navajo children as soon as they arrived at school? ❖ Why did having their hair cut upset the Navajo children? ❖ What happened to the valuable jewelry belonging to the Navajo children? ❖ Why was it shocking to a Navajo to be renamed Washington or Lincoln? ❖ Why do so many Navajo today have the last name Begay? ❖ What happened to Navajo children who spoke Navajo within hearing of the teachers? ❖ An excellent student, what two subjects did Kii Yahzi excel in especially? ❖ How was Ki Yahzi able to keep and expand his knowledge of the Navajo language? ❖ Reread the last paragraph of Chapter 4. It is an example of foreshadowing. Chapters 5 - 6 ❖ Kii Yahzi states that one of his teachers patted him on the head like he was a pet monkey. Several teachers would remark that he was almost as smart as and did school work almost as well as a white child. What reaction to you have to these remembrances of Kii Yahzi? ❖ “I worked hard with that goal in mind. Because I took such interest in my studies and in that good goal of becoming a teacher, time no longer crawled by like a snail trying to get on top of a big stone. The hours and days, the weeks and months and even the years, grew legs and began to run like an antelope.” What literary devices does the author use in these sentences? ❖ Kii Yahzi feels sorry for the people of which country? Why? What is ironic (opposite of what is expected) about the Navajo support of the foreigners? ❖ “Strong words outlast the paper they are written upon.” Tell why you think this quote is true or false. Give at least one example to defend your opinion. ❖ Why was Kii Yahzi distracted from enjoying time with friends on the day of the Pearl Harbor attack? Chapters 7 - 10 ❖ How did the first Navajo volunteers feel after going to military recruiting stations? Why? ❖ Kii Yahzi’s parents would not let him volunteer to serve when he first asked. What did the 29 Navajo who did join accomplish? ❖ Describe the US Marine who spoke to the students. ❖ What was the purpose of Blessingway? Give three details about the actual ceremonial day. ❖ After his first encounter with Georgia Boy, what three things did Kii Yahzi/Ned Begay realize? Give text evidence for each. Chapters 11 - 12 ❖ Where was Kiwi Yahzi/Ned Begay and what was happening when he first heard the term code talker? ❖ In the last two paragraphs of Chapter 11, the narrator makes a point of explaining that Major General Vogel did not develop code. Why do you think he includes this information? ❖ What significance did Kii Yahzi/Ned Begay ascribe to the first alphabet word in the new code alphabet? ❖ How does the reader know the Navajo in code talking school still identify as young playful individuals? ❖ Pick out two phrases or sentences in Chapter 12 which indicate troubled times ahead. Chapters 13 - 14 ❖ Why was Ned Begay being shipped out to Hawaii? (Who was there? Why? To help Ned do what?) ❖ What simile did people use to describe Hawaii? How did Ned actually find Hawaii and the other tropical islands to be? ❖ What two opposing reasons explain why the Navajo never advanced beyond corporal in rank or even received dress blue uniforms? ❖ Traditionally in the United States, many cafeterias served fish on Fridays in deference to Roman Catholics who traditionally don’t eat meat on Fridays. What problem did that cause for Navajo in the military mess halls? ❖ What made the speed with which the Navajo could send code look good in comparison? ❖ Explain the circumstances which led to this quote: “When we saw them,” Sam added, “we realized that our enemies were just human beings.” Chapters 15 - 17 ❖ What trick did the Navajo play on Stormy in the Big Island desert? ❖ Who was Gene-gene? Describe Ned’s most touching encounter with him. ❖ What explanation does Ned give for giving submarines and bombers names like Oscar and Washing Machine Charlie? ❖ To want three things does Ned compare the initial bombing of Bougainville? Look for three similes. ❖ How does Ned predict the Blue Beach landing will be different than that of Guadalcanal? ❖ How does Georgia Boy let the reader know Ned is tough? ❖ Who are the only non-Americans Ned sees on his first day on Bouganville? Is the person Georgia Boy actually speaks to friend or enemy? How do you know? Chapters 18- 19 ❖ “You felt like you were inside a stew pot with the lid on.” Explain this simile.
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