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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 __ This summer I read //Glory Road// by Don Haskins and Dan Wetzel. The book was about the 1966 Texas Western basketball team and their journey to winning the national championship. I liked the book because it was nonfiction and it was about sports and beating adversity. The adversity in the book was when Coach Haskins started five african americans and no one in the country believed that they could win any games “I played my best players” said Coach Haskins (Wetzel 121). The team silenced all the doubters by beating Kentucky in the national championship. They showed everyone that with hard work they could overcome adversity and win at the highest collegiate level, and race did not matter. Be sure to focus on the prompt - why you chose the book.
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Wednesday, 8/24 **

__ Prompt for Paragraph Two - A Discussion of What You Gained by Reading Your Book __ While reading //Glory Road// I learned that back in the 1960’s it wasn’t common for African Americans to play basketball at a division I college. African Americans were treated like second class people back then. Every time I read the book I would try to relate to what that was like. People judging me by the color of my skin, not how I played basketball. Today, it is different. The number of African Americans playing division I collegiate basketball now is larger then ever. Today, the best players play! The 1966 Texas Western team helped pave the way for African Americans to receive a fair chance to play basketball and it contributed to equal opportunities for all races.
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Thursday, 8/25 **

Nice insight.

__ Prompt for Paragraph Three - What to do With it... __ I believe that //Glory Road// is a great book for anyone that likes sports or likes seeing the underdog win. All ages groups would enjoy //Glory Road.// Although, it probably boys would like this book more than girls. I had never read books by Dan Wetzel, but I enjoyed //Glory Road// and other nonfiction books about sports teams or players. //Glory Road// will opens your mind to the discrimination that was happening in the 1960’s with African American athletes. They were not treated fairly by everyone. If you were white you could go play collegiate basketball, but if you were black you were treated poorly and had a hard time getting into a college to play any sports. If you likea book that shows overcoming adversity in the 1960’s with African Americans and beating all odds bywinning the national basketball championship, then pick up //Glory Road// and read it today. Remember, "you" and "your" refer to your reader (in this case, me).
 * *Must be posted to the WIKI by midnight on Sunday, 8/28 **


 * 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 clear topic sentences that focus on the prompt.
 * Evidence that clearly supports the topic sentence
 * 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 Edit your work.