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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 __ Over the summer I choose to read //Purple Heart// because my friend said it was a good book and he said it described a lot about the climate and war over in Iraq. I liked this book because of the fact that it gave me a better picture in my head about the type of war over in Iraq and believed that it was even better than I had originally thought it would be. The author, Patricia McCormick, describes the typical war zone and climate in Iraq by writing “Machine gunfire, explosions and the roar of heavy vehicles. That was all you heard in the field—as you stood out under a harsh, unforgiving sun” (McCormick 128). The many writing techniques that Patricia McCormick uses are a great way to picture and get a feel for the life over in Iraq.
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Wednesday, 8/24 **

McCormick, Patricia. //Purple Heart//. New York: Balzer + Bray, 2009. Print.

__ Prompt for Paragraph Two - A Discussion of What You Gained by Reading Your Book __ While reading //Purple Heart// I learned a lot more about the hospitals and how they run, trying so hard to get soldiers back in the combat. Even though Matt had TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury, the Meds rushed to get him back and ready to go fight when, in my opinion, they should have rested him until he was one hundred percent or even sent him home. The first hours after being injured in battle the doctors came over to Matt and told him to “Get better – and get back out there” (McCormick 5). //Purple Heart// taught me alot about why doctors stationed in battle push people to get back out a fight and more how the hospital works on a day to day basis.
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Thursday, 8/25 **

McCormick, Patricia. //Purple Heart//. New York: Balzer + Bray, 2009. Print.

__ Prompt for Paragraph Three - What to do With it... __ I believe that //Purple Heart// would be best suited for a boy who likes military topics and or who has had, or currently has a loved one in service. The reader should probably be about 12 years old because the language and topics are sometimes very mature. When Matt tells his little sister to “Have everybody come to the side door (McCormick 59), this allows the reader, if they are the right age where they would understand this to get a deeper meaning. I do believe this is a great book and would recommend it to any boy interested in the military or who has had family in the war.
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Sunday, 8/28 **

McCormick, Patricia. //Purple Heart//. New York: Balzer + Bray, 2009. 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 Good job getting right to the prompt in the topic sentences
 * Evidence that clearly supports the topic sentence You have chosen good quotes, be sure to include the analysis/explanation of why they fit
 * 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
 * Mechanics are clean and do not detract from meaning Be sure to give yourself time to edit and polish your work and take note of spelling/grammar check feedback