Reading (including the example Body Map) - Pin Oak Middle School

PIN OAK SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT
6 TH GRADE-2012
All students will read the book SLOB by Ellen Potter.
Students will complete:
(1) Reading Response Question
(1) Body Map
Slob by Ellen Potter
GENRE: Realisic Fiction, Humor, Social/ Issues
LEXILE: 740
Owen -brilliant, overweight, inventor- has the ability to look at
things in a unique way. He forgives the most horrendous
behavior directed towards him on a daily basis until his three
Oreo cookies go missing from his lunchbox. As the story goes
on, we find that there is much, much more to Owen’s past.
Students are expected to read the book and complete the two portions of the assignment before
school starts. We will begin the year by working with the book, SLOB and the two assignments will
be used as the foundation for in class assignments during the first few weeks of the 2012-2013
school year. We hope you enjoy this book and we look forward to talking about it when the school
year starts!
Reading Response Question
Students should choose one of the questions provided to answer after reading Slob. Two questions
are considered “Challenge Questions” as they are slightly more difficult than the other four. Also,
some questions have a “Challenge” portion which is optional and students are not required to answer
the challenge portion (but we encourage you to consider taking the Challenge if you are up to it).
Responses should be six to ten sentences long and students should make sure that they have
answered all portions of the question (“Challenge” optional). Responses can be typed or neatly
handwritten on notebook paper. If you type your answer, please use a plain font such as Arial or
Times New Roman. Please follow the format included in the detailed directions on the next page.
Body Map
Students will use the directions and the character outline of the next two pages to complete a visual
diagram of the character, Owen. Students will explore Owen’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. This
portion of the summer reading assignment allows students to be creative. Make sure that you include
all the information required in directions on your diagram and that it is clear and easy to read. Once
that is done, feel free to decorate Owen in any way you see fit! If you choose to draw your own body
(instead of using the one provided), please make sure that it is done on an 8½’’ x 11’’ sheet of
paper.

Reading Response Question
Choose one of the following questions and respond to it in a well written 6-10 sentence paragraph. Use
specific examples from the story to support your answers. A sample response (from a different book) is
included below.
SLOB Summer Reading Questions
1. Owen changes from the beginning to the end of the story. Describe three specific ways that he
changes from the beginning to the end of the story.
(Challenge: How did these changes affect your opinion of Owen?)
2. Owen is bullied by several characters throughout the book. It is important for victims of bullying to
have an ally or someone who stands up for them. Who is an ally for Owen (he may have more than
one). Why is it important to be an ally?
3. Slob is told from Owen’s point of view, but stories can change when they are told from different
perspectives. Describe how the story might have been different if it had been told from Jeremy’s or
Mason’s point of view (pick one). Include: How do you think they would have described Owen
differently?
(Challenge: Also, pick an event from the book that the other character might have perceived differently
and explain how they would have described the event.)
4. Halfway through the book we learn something surprising about Owen’s past. Why do you think the
author chose to tell us this later in the book rather than at the beginning? What was your reaction to
this revelation? How did this event change your understanding of Owen?
Challenge Questions
5. Throughout the book Owen uses several metaphors (comparisons) to describe himself. Give examples
of how Owen describes himself to the reader? What do Owen’s descriptions of himself make you think
about him? What metaphors would you use to describe Owen (give different metaphors and explain
why you would use them)?
6. Describe Nima and his influence on Owen. What central ideas (theme, universal message about life)
are shown through this character? How does he share these messages and how are they shown
throughout the course of the novel? Use specific examples from the book to support your answer.
Sample Answer
Sally Student Question #: 1
In the book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry changes from the
beginning to the end of the story. At the beginning of the book, he does not think he is
very special or important. He is living with his Aunt Petunia, his Uncle Vernon, and
Cousin Dudley and all of them bully Harry constantly. For example, they make him
sleep in a broom closet and make him do all the chores around the house. This makes
Harry think that he is not very special at all. When Harry learns that he is a wizard he
starts to realize that being different is not bad. He starts to make friends with people like
Ron and Hermonione and he becomes more confident than he was at the beginning. Even
though Harry never would have talked back to his Aunt or Uncle, at the end of the book he
stands up to bullies like Draco Malfoy who picks on him and his friends and he even defeats
the evil Lord Voldemordt and saves the world (for a little while, at least). At the beginning of
the book I felt sorry for Harry but he was not very interesting. However, by the end of the
book, he had become brave and heroic and I wanted him to beat everyone who was trying
to stop him!

Body Map Instructions
Purpose: The body map helps you think about and understand the character’s thoughts, feelings, and
actions.
You will create a body map for the character Owen in Slob by Ellen Potter.
Directions: 1. As you are reading, imagine how it feels to be Owen. Pretend you are him and
imagine what it would be like to be in his situation.
2. Look at the chart and fill in the appropriate information in the right spots.
3. Think about possible reasons why Owen behaves the way he does and says
the things he does.
Feel free to decorate or “dress” Owen in any way you want to as long as you include the
information required! If you would like to create your own body outline, make sure that it
is 8½’’ x 11’’ (a normal sized piece of paper)
See sample Body Map below.
does
weaknesses
struggles
goes
hears
smells
thinks
feels
loves
sees
says
support
goes
strengths
does

Name Body Map Outline