Summer Reading 2020
On March 13, 2020, classes were suspended and did not resume for the school year, due to the unprecedented circumstances presented by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. While students were afforded the opportunity to continue their education virtually through Google Classroom and Zoom meetings, nothing is quite as effective as face-to-face engagement with a teacher and one's peers in the classroom setting. Therefore, summer reading is particularly important this year.
To meet this need, students should read the assigned novel over the summer and complete the attached assignments. Assignments differ by class level and are due Tuesday, August 18, 2020. You may contact your teacher if you have any questions.
Wossman High School English Teachers
A. Cooper
M. Jackson M. Manuel
[email protected] [email protected]
J. Overacker M. Soignier
[email protected] [email protected]
English I (all levels):
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo OR
Animal Farm by George Orwell OR
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead OR
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
English II (all levels):
Slay by Brittney Morris OR
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds OR
A Gathering of Old Men by Ernest Gaines
English III (all levels):
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston OR
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon OR
The Street by Ann Petry
English IV Regular:
Beowulf (Raffel translation -- available on PDF)--REQUIRED
Suggested Novels to Read for Fun: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Voltaire’s Candide, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
English IV AP/DE/ Honors:
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah OR
Becoming by Michelle Obama OR
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
*Most books may be found online. Use Google to search for a PDF of the book.
English IV AP/DE/Honors/GT
** Some of these books may contain mature content and language. If you need help making a selection, email your teacher for guidance.
Assignment #1 (Mandatory): Annotate: Engage withthe book by writing questions and comments in the margins. You may also annotate using post-it notes. Your annotations should reflect a CLOSE reading of the book, as you will use them during our class discussions of the text. Your notes should be ANALYTICAL, not personal, in nature. For example, note point of view, ethos, logos, pathos, diction, syntax, character development, setting, etc. Do NOT note “This is like one time when I...”
*Aim to have at least 1 annotation every 2-3 pages. Doing the minimum will earn you a
passing grade, but does not guarantee an A.
*Annotations do NOT have to be in complete sentences, but they must be legible.
*Annotations are SEPARATE FROM highlighting. You may highlight in addition to annotating, but highlighting alone will receive NO CREDIT.
Assignment #2 (Mandatory): Summary and Timeline: Write a bulleted summary at the end of each chapter/ break in the text. Summaries should include major information from the chapter or section. Additionally, create a timeline at the end of the book that includes major life events (minimum 5). Do your own work. Students may take an AR test on these books, but this is not required.
*Students will be required to turn in their annotated and highlighted book on Tuesday, August 18. You may annotate and highlight digitally if you would prefer to do so.
English III
Please read the following assignments carefully. Any assignment plagiarized in whole or in part will receive a 0. DO NOT use Sparknotes, Shmoop, Quizlet, Gradesaver, or any other online sites. We are not interested in what the writers of these sites have to say about this book. We want to know what YOU think! Teachers may choose to assign AR quizzes on these novels.
Regular level students must complete only Assignment #1.
Honors, Pre AP, Gifted, and AP Students must complete BOTH Assignment #1 AND #2.
Assignment #1: ANNOTATIONS -- Mandatory for ALL students --
Annotate the novel, writing questions and comments in the margins. Ideally, you should read the novel once, and annotate the novel upon a second reading. Annotations consist of TWO PARTS:
A. Highlight or mark w/sticky notes specific lines or phrases in the text you wish to comment on. These should be color-coded (see below). Do not mark entire paragraphs!
B. Notes written in the margins of the book commenting on a specific idea such as character, plot, style, etc. You should have at least5 annotations per chapter. This minimum will earn you a passing grade, but does NOT guarantee an “A.” It is a minimum.
Your annotations should reflect a CLOSE READING of the novel. If you have never annotated for a close read before, Google “how to annotate literature” or follow these links:
Five close reading strategies to support the Common Core:
http://iteachicoachiblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/five-simple-close-reading-strategies.html
Annotation Guide: https://www.covcath.org/uploaded/06_Students/Annotation_Guide_AP_Language.pdf
Use the following code to guide your comments:
-
BLUE HIGHLIGHTING/STICKY NOTES: IDENTIFY MOTIFS -- a motif is a dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition. In a motif, you may have any literary element that repeats and forms a pattern that gives the audience a feeling of unity, recognition, or completion. Repeated elements may include but are not limited to characterization, conflict, verbal expression, symbols, action, setting.
-
YELLOW HIGHLIGHTING/STICKY NOTES: IRONY (verbal, situational, dramatic). Where do you see the author using irony, and what kind of irony is being used? What does the reader learn about human behavior? If you do not understand irony, watch this video: What is Irony? Three Types of Irony Lesson
*If highlighting or sticky notes are not available, record your annotations in a journal or Google Doc.
Assignment #2: WRITING TASK -- HONORS, GIFTED, PRE-AP, and AP students --
Write a 500 to 750 word literary analysis that discusses the significance of at least two of the motifs used in the novel. Be sure to include details (evidence) from your annotations to support your claims. This composition should be typed and double spaced, using Times New Roman or Calibri 12-point font. MLA heading should be used, including your full name and the due date.
* All summer reading assignments are due Tuesday, August 18* Late assignments WILL NOT be accepted.
English II
Please read the following assignments carefully. Any assignment plagiarized in whole or in part will receive a 0. DO NOT use Sparknotes, Shmoop, Quizlet, Gradesaver, or any other online sites. We are not interested in what the writers of these sites have to say about this book. We want to know what YOU think! Teachers may choose to assign AR quizzes on these novels.
Regular level classes must complete only Assignment #1.
Honors and Gifted classes must complete BOTH Assignment #1 AND #2.
Assignment #1: ANNOTATIONS -- Mandatory for ALL students --
Annotate the novel, writing questions and comments in the margins. Ideally, you should read the novel once, and annotate the novel upon a second reading. Annotations consist of TWO PARTS:
A. Highlighting or marking w/sticky notes specific lines or phrases in the text you wish to comment on. These should be color-coded (see below). Do not mark entire paragraphs!
B. Notes written in the margins of the book commenting on a specific idea such as character, plot, style, etc. You should have at least5 annotations per chapter. This minimum will earn you a passing grade, but does NOT guarantee an “A.” It is a minimum.
Your annotations should reflect a CLOSE READING of the novel. If you have never annotated for a close read before, Google “how to annotate literature” or follow these links:
Five close reading strategies to support the Common Core:
http://iteachicoachiblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/five-simple-close-reading-strategies.html
Annotation Guide: https://www.covcath.org/uploaded/06_Students/Annotation_Guide_AP_Language.pdf
Use the following code to guide your comments:
-
BLUE HIGHLIGHTING/STICKY NOTES: IDENTIFY MOTIFS -- a motif is a dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition. In a motif, you may have any literary element that repeats and forms a pattern that gives the audience a feeling of unity, recognition, or completion. Repeated elements may include but are not limited to characterization, conflict, structure, symbols, plot, setting, motivation.
-
YELLOW HIGHLIGHTING/STICKY NOTES: IRONY (verbal, situational, dramatic). Where do you see the author using irony, and what kind of irony is being used? What does the reader learn about human behavior? If you do not understand irony, watch this video: What is Irony? Three Types of Irony Lesson
-
GREEN HIGHLIGHTING/STICKY NOTES: THEMES -- a theme is a universal idea of a text: it is the central message and human truth of a text. Possible themes are the character’s sins/virtues.
*If highlighting or sticky notes are not available, record your annotations in a journal or Google Doc.
Assignment #2: WRITING TASK -- HONORS and GIFTED classes only --
Write a 500 to 750 word literary analysis that discusses the significance of at least two of the motifs used in the novel. Be sure to include details (evidence) from your annotations to support your claims. This composition should be typed and double spaced, using Times New Roman or Calibri 12-point font. MLA heading should be used, including your full name and the due date.
* All summer reading assignments are due Tuesday, August 18* Late assignments WILL NOT be accepted.
English I
Please read the following assignments carefully. Any assignment plagiarized in whole or in part will receive a 0. DO NOT use Sparknotes, Shmoop, Quizlet, gradesaver, or other online sites. We are not interested in what the writers of these sites have to say. We want to know what YOU think! Teachers may assign AR quizzes on these.
Regular level classes must complete only Assignment #1.
Honors and Gifted classes must complete BOTH Assignment #1 AND #2.
Assignment #1: ANNOTATIONS -- Mandatory for ALL students --
Annotate the novel, writing questions and comments in the margins. Ideally, you should read the novel once, and annotate the novel upon a second reading. Annotations consist of TWO PARTS:
A. Highlighting or marking w/sticky notes specific lines or phrases in the text you wish to comment on. These should be color-coded (see below). Do not mark entire paragraphs!
B. Notes written in the margins of the book commenting on a specific idea such as character, plot, style, etc. You should have at least5 annotations per chapter. This minimum will earn you a passing grade, but does NOT guarantee an “A.” It is a minimum.
Your annotations should reflect a CLOSE READING of the novel. If you have never annotated for a close read before, Google “how to annotate literature” or follow these links:
Five close reading strategies to support the Common Core:
http://iteachicoachiblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/five-simple-close-reading-strategies.html
Annotation Guide: https://www.covcath.org/uploaded/06_Students/Annotation_Guide_AP_Language.pdf
Use the following code to guide your comments:
-
BLUE HIGHLIGHTING/STICKY NOTES: IDENTIFY MOTIFS -- a motif is a dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition. In a motif, you may have any literary element that repeats and forms a pattern that gives the audience a feeling of unity, recognition, or completion. Repeated elements may include but are not limited to characterization, conflict, verbal expression, symbols, action, setting.
-
YELLOW HIGHLIGHTING/STICKY NOTES: IRONY (verbal, situational, dramatic). Where do you see the author using irony, and what kind of irony is being used? What does the reader learn about human behavior? If you do not understand irony, watch this video: What is Irony? Three Types of Irony Lesson
*If highlighting or sticky notes are not available, record your annotations in a journal or Google Doc.
Assignment #2: WRITING TASK -- HONORS and GIFTED classes only
Write a 500 to 750 word literary analysis that discusses the significance of at least two of the motifs used in the novel. Be sure to include details (evidence) from your annotations to support your claims. This composition should be typed and double spaced, using Times New Roman or Calibri 12-point font. MLA heading should be used, including your full name and the due date.
* All summer reading assignments are due Tuesday, August 18* Late assignments WILL NOT be accepted.