Cedar Ridge High School

Pre-AP English 1 Summer Reading 2015-2016

Raiders Read. Congratulations for accepting the challenge of a Pre-AP course at Cedar Ridge. In order to be a successful Pre-AP student, it is vital for you to be intellectually engaged (especially during those long summer months of unstructured time) in order for you to continue to grow as a scholar as well as an individual. This year, we will use the summer to begin our study of the novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

Book Selection Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, according to Ernest Hemingway, was the "one book" from which "all modern American literature" came. It is considered one of the greatest American works of art, and is very controversial. Read it for yourself, and decide what you think of this American icon of literature. Assignment

1. Read the first 21 chapters of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. (You may read the entire novel, if you wish, but only use the first 21 chapters for your journal. We will complete the novel in class.)

2. At the end of each chapter, write a 1-2 sentence summary of the chapter. Give the chapter a title. (This will help you remember the plot of the novel.)

3. As your read, keep a dialectical journal. Write 1 entry for each chapter or two, selecting important phrases or moments from the text (your completed journal should not consist of more than 20 entries). See the attached instructions/example for formatting and content of your dialectical journal.

4. Bring your book, notes, and dialectal journal in on the first day of English class.   Ask questions, comment, and connect with us & your new classmates!

classroom.google.com Enter class code: cozey1 @Eng1CRHS

Huck Finn Online: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/76/76-h/76-h.htm#c22

Dialectical Journal Instructions: Content Focus

Entries should include examples from all of the following categories. Reactions should answer the question for the given category.

1. Characterization – How does the author introduce and develop the major and minor characters? Consider: ● Physical descriptions ● Thoughts and actions ● Character’s place in society ● Other character’s reaction to the character ● Relationship between/among characters ● How characters change ● Foils (a character who by his or her contract serves to accentuate another character’s qualities) ● Conflicts (internal and external)

2. Setting – How does the setting contribute to the character development, conflicts, theme?

Consider: ● Clock time - can be used to provide suspense or create certain moods or feelings ● Calendar time - the day, month, or year provides an understanding of what takes place in the literature ● Seasonal time – the seasons or a span of time associated with a particular activity that is important ● Historical time – the historical context that establishes a psychological or sociological understanding of

behaviors or attitudes ● Physical environment - including weather conditions, may be specifically described ● Non-physical environment – cultural influences such as education, social standing, economic class, and

religious belief

3. Literary Elements – What is the impact of the technique on the overall work? Consider: ● Point of view – the perspective from which a narrative is told ● Tone – the writer’s attitude towards a subject conveyed through the author’s choice of words and details ● Diction – word choice intended to convey a certain effect ● Symbol – any object, person, place, or action that has both a meaning in itself and that stands for

something larger than itself ● Personification – giving human qualities or characteristics to something nonhuman ● Metaphor – a comparison of two things by implying that one object is another ● Simile – a comparison of two things using “like” or “as” ● Hyperbole – a deliberate exaggeration ● Allusion – a reference to a well known literary, historical, biblical, mythological source/idea ● Imagery – vivid sensory description which allows the reader to experience the passage at a deeper level

4. Connections (may only have 3 max)

Evaluate the characters, conflicts, style of writing in the story and make a connection to any of the following: another writer, movie, TV Show, famous person, another culture, another novel

5. Questions (may only have 3 max) Ask a specific question about the story or about why an author wrote the way he/she did. You should attempt to answer your question during your reading

    

 Dialectical Journal Example, using The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton:  

   

Evidence/Context/Page (Provide a direct quote or paraphrase, & a

parenthetical citation.)

Reaction/Effect/Purpose (Why do you find this passage interesting or

important?) 

Characterization: “Darry is six­feet­two, and broad­shouldered and muscular. He has dark­brown hair that kicks out in front and a slight cowlick in the back – just like Dad’s – but Darry’s eyes are his own. He’s got eyes that are like two pieces of pale blue­green ice. They’ve got a determined set to them like the rest of him. He looks older than twenty – tough, cool, and smart. He would be real handsome if his eyes weren’t so cold” (6­7). 

The description of Darry is significant because it shows how he is really strong, but cold. He reminds Ponyboy of his father, but his eyes are "ice". Whereas Ponyboy would get love from his dad, his brother's coldness limits the bonds of their relationship.

Setting: “The park was about two blocks square, with a fountain in the middle and a small pool for the little kids.  The pool was empty now in the fall, but the fountain was going merrily. Tall elm trees made the park shadowy and dark... Nobody was around at two­thirty in the morning… I couldn’t have gotten much cooler without turning into a popsicle” (53). 

The setting in the park suggests tension in this scene because of the different images : empty pools and merry fountain; kids, but no one around; popsicles and coldness. The setting, at two in the morning, indicates something bad will happen. 

Literary Elements: Symbol: “Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold…” (148).    Metaphor: “Greasers will still be greasers and Socs will still be Socs” (117).  

Johnny telling Ponyboy to stay gold is important because Johnny wants Ponyboy to continue to be a good person, and not let the greasers and the socs influence in his future. Gold is a positive, pure symbol.

The metaphors of greasers and socials simplifies the identity and relationships between the characters. The label “greasers” indicates a dirty, working class person. The label “socials” indicates a sophisticated, upper-class person.  

Connection: “I had a long walk home and no company, but I usually lone it anyway, for no reason except that I like to watch movies undisturbed so I can get into them and live with them the actors” (1­2). 

Ponyboy establishes himself as a lone hero and a dreamer, which reminds me of Harry Potter, who, at the beginning of the series, was by himself but dreamed of what it would be like in a different world. 

Question: “I wonder why the narrator hates telling people his name for the first time.  How bad could it be?  Does this imply the character is weak?” (1)  

Ponyboy, right before the rumble, is questioning his place in the world and whether he should be proud to be labeled a greaser. He is struggling with his identity and why the world must label him in this way. 

 Evaluation Criteria

 The grading on student journals will be based on the following standards:

● Quotes reflect a thorough, careful reading of the text ● Reaction is thorough, specific, and clearly explained ● Demonstrates excellent text analysis ● Journal is neat, organized, and professional-looking; the student has followed directions