Precis

For each book, you will write a précis. The word précis means summary. The key to writing a good précis is to stay concise, organized, and specific in your word choice. Because a précis is only seven sentences long, you must follow a structured format to complete it correctly. You will review and apply the following terms in your précis: setting, character, plot, conflict, resolution, and opinion. You can find the definitions for the terms below.

Setting: the time and place in which events in a story occur.

Character: a person, animal, or natural force in a literary work.

Plot: the sequence of events or actions in a story.

Conflict: the problem(s) in the story.

Resolution: outcome of the story.

Opinion: Give your opinion about the novel.

Format for the Précis

Top line: Title of novel and author (Remember to underline or italicize book titles.)

Skip a line. (You must write the précis in single-spaced paragraph form. Indent the first sentence. If you

are handwriting, use blue or black ink. If you are typing it, use a standard font size and type.)

1st Sentence: Discuss the setting.

2nd Sentence: Tell about the main character/characters.

3rd Sentence: Discuss the main conflict.

4th Sentence: Discuss the plot.

5th Sentence: Discuss more of the plot.

6th Sentence: Tell about the resolution of the story.

7th sentence: Give your opinion about the novel.

Sample Précis

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The story takes place in the English countryside during WWII. The main characters are sibling Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie. The conflict begins when the children discover the magical land of Narnia and encounter an evil White Witch who has cast a spell on the land and has taken away Christmas. Edmund betrays his siblings and must forfeit his life to the White Witch. In turn, the White Witch murders Aslan, the lion who represents all good things and who sacrificed his own life so that Edmund can live. The story ends with Aslan coming back to life and defeating the White

Witch and her force. I enjoyed this novel because I love to read about imaginary places.

'Twas The Night Before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
Twas the Night Before Christmas Quiz

Imagine you opened your own restaurant. Tell the name of your restaurant. Explain what the restaurant looks like, who works there, and what you serve.

"Scrooge" the movie

Christmas Carol- animated

Imagine you woke up and saw a dinosaur in your backyard. Write a story telling what you see and do.

Whitnie:  How to make spaghetti

Madi:  How to throw a proper temper tantrum

Sara:  How to prepare a horse to ride

Nick:  How to survive a zombie invasion

Danyon:  How to be the ultimate sniper in Battle Front

Tony:  How to ride a dirt board

Mavrick:  How to defeat the Ender Dragon

Kira:  How to make a super-fiesty cat purr.

Nicole:  How to make rice-crispy treats

Jaxon:  How to hit a baseball

Michael:  How to shoot a basketball

Mattie:  How to crochet

Ally:  How to sing properly without hurting yourself (one approach)

Izaleah:  How to do the splits

Kylie:  How to take care of a dog

Adam:  How to dribble

Ellie: How to make Christmas cookies

Quincee:  How to makecarmelitas

Bryce:  How to play soccer

Gavynn:  How to survive Team Death-Match in Nuketown on Call of Duty Black Ops

Mikaeli:  How to make goody-bars

Makiah:  How to make a snowman

How To Write a Thank You Letter

How to Write a Thank You

Step 1:  Greet the Giver.  Ex:  Dear Aunt Sally…  Call them by name!  It makes people feel good.

Step 2:  Express your gratitude.  Thank them SPECIFICALLY for what they gave/did.  Ex:  Thanks so much for listening to me this weekend when I was so upset.  OR  Thank you for the camo snuggie you gave me. 

Step 3:  Say something nice about the item and how you’ve used it, or why you appreciate the favor they did for you.  Ex:  For the past 3 nights I’ve gotten into that snuggie and worn it while I do my homework.  OR  It was a huge relief to get those feelings off my chest, and I’ve felt better ever since.

TIP:  Don’t lie.  If you hate the gift, find something nice to say about it that’s true, like “you must have worked so hard on these slippers” or “they’re such a pretty color”.

Step 4:  Say something that makes them feel safe in your relationship.  Ex: I can’t wait to see you at Grandma’s Christmas party!

Step 5:  Say thanks again, and then say goodbye.

What’s not there:  Any news about your life.  Now is not the time.  The whole purpose of the letter is to say thank you.  That’s it.

Your choice! :)

If you could cook any meal for your family, what would you cook? Describe the meal and tell how you would make it.

Describe one time when you were brave.

Tom Sawyer- Questions

             Tom looked on the activity of whitewashing the fence as work, yet he was able to convince the other boys that the same activity was fun. In fact, not only did they think it would be fun, they were so willing to do the whitewashing that they were willing to pay for it. What is it that can make the same action either work or fun? (Especially focus on the interaction between Tom and Ben.) Answer the question using RARE. Use specific examples from the story to back up your reason. Use additional examples from real life to help prove your point.

             Tom learned something valuable that day about work and play, drudgery versus enjoyment.  He was able to see things from a new perspective.  What did he learn that would be valuable to him (or you as the reader) when approaching “work”?  Give a RARE answer for this question. (Restate the question, answer the question, give the reason for your answer, and cite specific examples from the text).