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Given the nature of the 2011 summer reading program, you had significant autonomy in selecting the books you would read. While you were responsible for completing a proposal, you were not given other assignments to complete over the summer. As indicated on your proposal form, you are required to write a letter to your 2011-12 Language Arts teacher that demonstrates your thoughtful reading of your book. We have chosen to break this down further into three focused "Power Paragraphs" for two reasons, one, to introduce you to the idea of a power paragraph, and two, to assist you in covering all aspects of the assignment.

__ Prompt for Paragraph One - A Reflection of Your Choice __
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Wednesday, 8/24 **

Over summer break I chose to read the book //Looking for Alaska//, because of the reviews others had given it, and my love for the author’s style of writing and methods of story-telling. John Green has written a number of titles from a teenager’s perspective which are both relatable and pleasant to read, and similar traits were supposed to be shown in //Looking for Alaska//, making it the ideal choice. I enjoyed the book because it kept me thinking ahead and predicting what would happen next, and told the story through the eyes of a junior in high school coping with a friend's sudden and tragic death "You can love someone so much...But you can never love people as much as you can miss them" (John Green). The book also explored a variety of different moods and events which kept me interested from start to finish.

Citation:

"John Green Quotes ." //Good Reads//. N.p., 2011. Web. 25 Aug. 2011. .

__ Prompt for Paragraph Two - A Discussion of What You Gained by Reading Your Book __
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Thursday, 8/25 **

//Looking for Alaska// was a mentally stimulating novel as well as a relatable story. Throughout the book the main character Miles often recites the last words of poets and presidents who have died, and philosophical ideas are referred to such as those by Simon Bolivar. The phrase “How will I ever get out of this labyrinth!” by Bolivar is often questioned by Miles and Alaska and becomes a symbol of the book, and before her death, Alaska answers “Straight & Fast” (Green 155). The questions and ideas that were raised were insightful ways of thinking and influenced some of my views and thoughts on the world and life, and the book told and impactful story about the death of a loved one.

Citation:

Green, John. //Looking for Alaska//. N.p.: n.p., 2005. Print.

__ Prompt for Paragraph Three - What to do With it... __ I’ve always enjoyed realistic fiction novels from the perspective of a character my age. The book //Looking for Alaska// is about love and the tragedy of the death of someone close to you, two things that almost everyone has encountered on a personal level. Miles’ thoughts and feelings towards Alaska such as “ if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane” (Green 88) make for an intriguing story that is engaging and easy to connect with. I recommend reading //Looking for Alaska// to anyone who enjoys reading books in general and especially to those who like to connect with its characters. Citation:
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Sunday, 8/28 **

Green, John. //Looking for Alaska //. N.p.: n.p., 2005. Print.


 * Scoring: Your three paragraphs will be given one overall grade, and the timeliness of your posts will be reflected in your "timeliness" grade. **

// An outstanding response to the prompts will include the following: //
 * A strong topic sentence that clearly establishes the focus on the prompt Be sure to have a clear, unique focus on the prompt in every paragraph.
 * Evidence that clearly supports the topic sentence Great quote choices
 * Correct use of internal citations and a properly formatted MLA citation for your book (put this citation at the end of paragraph one)
 * Strict adherence to the Power Paragraph format This is a challenging structure, but it is a great way to limit your responses to only absolutely essential, effective content.
 * Mechanics are clean and do not detract from meaning