Summer Reading 2016-2017 English 8 – pages 2-8 The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare - ISBN: 978-0547550299 English 9 – page 9 Wonder by R.J. Palacio - ISBN-13: 978-0553509977 English 10 – page 10 Girl at War by Sara Novic - ISBN-13: 978-0812986396 English 10 Honors – page 11 Girl at War by Sara Novic - ISBN-13: 978-0812986396 English 11 – page 12 The Book of Unknown Americans by Christina Henriquez - ISBN-13: 978-0345806406 English 11 Honors – page 13 An American Childhood by Annie Dillard - ISBN-13: 978-0060915186 Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas by Frederick Douglas - ISBN-13: 978-0486284996 English 12 Nonfiction – page 14 Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi - ISBN-13: 978-0375714573 English 12 Book List – pages 15-40 Grendel by John Gardner ISBN-13: 978-0679723110 Beowulf excerpt PDF English 12 Honors Book List – pages 41-45 Othello by William Shakespeare - ISBN-13: 978-0743477550 The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood- ISBN-13: 978-0385490818 English 12 Creative Writing – pages 46-47 Flash Fiction Forward: 80 Very Short Stories – ISBN: 978-0156005746

English 8 – Summer Reading 2016

Welcome to English 8!

This summer, you will be reading The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare - ISBN: 978-0547550299. As you read, you will complete the attached reading packet. Please follow all of the directions. You will turn in a completed packet to your teacher during the first week of school.

English 9 – Summer Reading 2016

Welcome to English 9!

This summer, you will be reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio (ISBN-13: 978-0553509977). As you read, please consider the following questions.

After you finish the book, answer the questions in complete sentences and print your answers to turn in during the first week of school.

1. Why doesn't August believe he is an ordinary kid? What about August is different from

other people?

2. What does August do that most other kids his age do? In those ways, would he be

considered ordinary?

3. What does August believe makes him extraordinary? What is unusual about his

appearance?

4. Why do August's parents think he is extraordinary? How does his sister view him?

5. What makes you extraordinary? Write about a special talent you have or something

special that you experienced that makes you extraordinary.

English 10 – World Literature Summer Reading: Girl at War by Sara Novic

Welcome to English 10 World Literature! Throughout the year, we will explore a variety of international voices, immersing ourselves in classics like Moliere and Shakespeare and experiencing contemporary literature along the way, too. For your summer reading, you will read Girl at War by Sara Novic. ISBN-13: 978-0812986396 “Zagreb, 1991. Ana Jurić is a carefree ten-year-old, living with her family in a small apartment in Croatia’s capital. But that year, civil war breaks out across Yugoslavia, splintering Ana’s idyllic childhood. Daily life is altered by food rations and air raid drills, and soccer matches are replaced by sniper fire. Neighbors grow suspicious of one another, and Ana’s sense of safety starts to fray. When the war arrives at her doorstep, Ana must find her way in a dangerous world…” As you read, please consider the following questions. Type your answers in complete sentences. You will turn in your responses during the first week of class. We will discuss your answers and examine additional scenes as we unpack this powerful, exciting, and emotional narrative work of fiction.

1. Ana’s father tells her the story of Stribor’s Forest after a particularly difficult day for the

family. Do you see echoes of the story’s moral elsewhere in the book?

2. A lot of minor characters help Ana to safety along the way; which one was your favorite,

and why?

3. How would you say Ana changed as a person over the course of the novel?

4. The novel’s conclusion is fairly open-ended. What do you think happens after the final

scene?

English 10 Honors – World Literature Summer Reading: Girl at War by Sara Novic

Welcome to English 10 World Literature! Throughout the year, we will explore a variety of international voices, immersing ourselves in classics like Moliere and Shakespeare and experiencing contemporary literature along the way, too. For your summer reading, you will read Girl at War by Sara Novic. ISBN-13: 978-0812986396 “Zagreb, 1991. Ana Jurić is a carefree ten-year-old, living with her family in a small apartment in Croatia’s capital. But that year, civil war breaks out across Yugoslavia, splintering Ana’s idyllic childhood. Daily life is altered by food rations and air raid drills, and soccer matches are replaced by sniper fire. Neighbors grow suspicious of one another, and Ana’s sense of safety starts to fray. When the war arrives at her doorstep, Ana must find her way in a dangerous world…” As you read, please consider the following questions. Type your answers in complete sentences. You will turn in your responses during the first week of class. We will discuss your answers and examine additional scenes as we unpack this powerful, exciting, and emotional narrative work of fiction.

1. Ana’s father tells her the story of Stribor’s Forest after a particularly difficult day for the

family. Do you see echoes of the story’s moral elsewhere in the book?

2. A lot of minor characters help Ana to safety along the way; which one was your favorite,

and why?

3. How would you say Ana changed as a person over the course of the novel?

4. The novel’s conclusion is fairly open-ended. What do you think happens after the final

scene?

English 11: American Literature Summer Reading

Welcome to English 11: American Literature! Your summer reading assignment is to read the novel The Book of Unknown Americans by Christina Henriquez (ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-0345806406).

Alongside your reading, you will also be asked to keep a reading journal (either in a notebook or in a word document) with a written response for each chapter. Your written response for each chapter should be about a page in length and include the following components:

1)A brief (1-3 sentences) summary of the chapter

2)Commentary (one paragraph)

• What did you think about this chapter? What did you enjoy? What did you dislike? What surprised or challenged you?

• Did what happened in this chapter remind you of anything in your own life or in the world around you?

3)One quote you particularly admired and a brief description of why

4)Two new vocabulary words from that chapter with a brief definition for each.

Your reading journal with a complete entry for each chapter will be due the first week of school in the fall.

Summer Reading English 11 Honors: American Literature

Welcome to American Literature Honors!

Your summer reading assignment is to read the following works:

• American Childhood by Annie Dillard (ISBN-13: 978-0060915186) • Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas (ISBN-13: 978-0486284996)

Alongside your reading, you will also be asked to keep a reading journal (either in a notebook or in a word document) with a written response for each chapter. Your written response for each chapter should be about a page in length and include the following components:

1)A brief (1-3 sentences) summary of the chapter

2)Commentary (one paragraph)

• What did you think about this chapter? What did you enjoy? What did you dislike? What surprised or challenged you?

• Did what happened in this chapter remind you of anything in your own life or in the world around you?

3)One quote you particularly admired and a brief description of why

4)Two new vocabulary words from that chapter with a brief definition for each.

Your reading journal with complete entries for each of the chapters in the summer reading books will be due the first week of school in the fall.

English 12: Nonfiction and Persuasive Writing Summer Reading Assignment

Welcome to English 12: Nonfiction and Persuasive Writing! Your summer reading assignment is to read the graphic novel memoir Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (ISBN-13: 978-0375714573). Alongside your reading, you are asked to write five entries in a reading journal that respond to different sections of the text. Each of your five entries should be about a page long and include the following components: 1)Commentary (2 paragraphs)

• What did you like or dislike about this section? What did you have a strong emotional connection to? What surprised or shocked you?

• What connections could you make between the story and your own life/the world around you?

2)Reflection (2 paragraphs)

• How did Satrapi tell her story in this section? What techniques did she use? What about her writing style jumps out?

• What did you think about how she organized her personal story in this section? What did she emphasize? What did she choose to leave out?

• How did the use of images help Satrapi tell her story?

3)Choose a favorite line from the section, write it down in your entry, and explain what you admire about it.

Your reading journal with your five complete entries will be due the first week of school in the fall.

English 12 - British Literature Summer Reading Students will have TWO (2) summer reading selections to read and reflect upon. Students will read an excerpt of Beowulf (PDF sample provided by teacher) and John Gardner’s Grendel.

Please read Beowulf (PDF packet) first. There are questions to answer before you read Beowulf. After you finish the packet, please answer the second set of questions.

When finished, students will read Grendel by John Gardner. Please answer the questions about you finish reading the novel.

Students will need:

• The Beowulf PDF packet • Grendel by John Gardner (ISBN: 978-0-679-72311-0) • A reading journal OR Word Document

Follow all directions given. These responses will be collected during the first week of school. This assignment is intended to prepare students to jump into British Literature with a strong foundation for understanding Anglo-Saxon literature and its techniques.

English 12 - British Literature Summer Reading Please answer the following questions BEFORE you read the Beowulf packet. Use complete sentences and use citations for any outside sources you use.

1. Research the original Beowulf piece. What type of writing genre is this? When was it written? By whom? What is the poem about? Where does this poem take place?

2. What type of structure does it have? Is there any sort of division of parts? What are the parts? How many parts? Why is it divided in such a manner?

3. Write down several predictions about Grendel based on your background knowledge of the original poem.

AFTER you read Beowulf, answer the following questions using complete sentences. Cite lines of the poems that may help you answer the questions.

1. Who is the Shaper in the story? What is this person's function? Why would a bard be so important to a king's hall?

2. Describe Beowulf. How is he portrayed in the poem? What do people say about him?

3.Describe Grendel. What or who is he? What do you learn about Grendel from the poem?

AFTER you read John Gardner’s novel, Grendel, answer the following questions using complete sentences. You should cite page numbers and use quotations to support your responses.

1. Discuss the character of Grendel. Based on what you learn in the first chapter, is Grendel more animal or human? Why do you feel this way? What evidence is there to support your opinion?

2) What do you imagine Grendel looks like? Why do you think there is very little information given about the exact appearance of Grendel or his mother?

English 12 Honors – in preparation for the AP Literature exam Summer Reading 2016 Assignment

REQUIRED TEXTS:

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood ISBN-13: 978-0385490818

Othello by William Shakespeare ISBN-13: 978-0743477550

Students will read both works and complete the Major Works Data Sheet. Please complete one packet for each text. We will review these packets upon our return. These packets will count for two quiz grades, and they will introduce you to the important concepts of AP Literature and Composition.

***Students should also be prepared for an off-campus field trip in late-September to early-October. We will attend a performance of Othello at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Factory. This will count as a class attendance.

Page 1 AP English: Literature and Composition Name: ___________________

Major Works Data Sheet: Do not cut/paste from a website, which is a form of plagiarism.

Title: Biographical information about the author:

Author:

Date of Publication:

Genre: Historical information about the period of publication

or setting of the novel:

Characteristics of the genre:

Plot Summary: Do not cut/paste from a website, which is a form of plagiarism.

Page 2

Major Works Data Sheet Memorable Quotes at least 3 – more is better

Quotation Significance

Page 3

Major Works Data Sheet Characters

Name Role in the story Significance Adjectives

Page 4

Major Works Data Sheet Setting Significance of the opening scene

Symbols or Motifs (at least three) Significance of the ending / closing scene

Possible Themes – Topics of Discussion (elaborate) minimum of 3

English 12 Creative Writing & Contemporary Literature Summer Reading 2016

This summer, you will read Flash Fiction Forward: 80 Very Short Stories (ISBN: 978-0156005746). After you read the book, please answer the following questions. You must type these answers and turn them in the first week of class.

1. Which story was your favorite? Explain why. What details or stylistic choices stand out to you?

2. Which story was your least favorite? Explain why. What could be changed to improve this story?

3. Why might an author choose to write “flash fiction”? What are the benefits of writing very short stories? What might be lost by writing such short pieces?

You will also spend time browsing Poetry Daily (http://poems.com/). At this site, a new poem is added every day. Your assignment is to read 3 different poems throughout the summer. You may choose which poems you would like to read and examine.

After reading each poem, please complete the following attachment—one worksheet per poem. You will turn these in for a grade during the first week of school.

English 12 Creative Writing & Contemporary Literature Summer Reading 2016

POEM TITLE:

POEM DATE:

POEM LINK:

Complete the SOAPStone chart below:

SPEAKER Who is the speaker of this poem? How do you know?

OCCASION What prompted this poem? What is the context or occasion?

AUDIENCE To whom is this written? Does the speaker address anyone specific?

PURPOSE Why was this poem written? Is the author attempting to entertain, inform, argue, etc.?

SUBJECT In ONE sentence, write what you think this poem is about.

TONE How would you characterize the tone here? What words or images suggest the tone?