MOON VALLEY LANGUAGE ARTS

Transcription

1 Welcome, MOON VALLEY LANGUAGE ARTS You are among the special students selected to participate in the Honors English Program at Moon Valley High School. You should be aware by now that literature reading it, talking about it, writing about it is central to any study of our language. Indeed, it is central to our lives. Through their works, the artists that we call writers give us glimpses of their perceptions of what it means to be human. Then they let us react as we wish; we can agree with them, argue with them, enlarge upon their perceptions, assimilate their ideas into our lives, let our lives be enriched by them, simply be entertained by them or bored or dismiss them as entirely unworthy of our attention. It's up to us. In order to become truly involved in what our writers have to say to us, we have to understand what they are doing and how they are doing it. That understanding has been central to your experience in English ever since someone read nursery rhymes to you, and each year your teachers have built upon the skills of understanding and analysis that you have previously acquired. To help you get a head start in that understanding, Moon Valley's Honors English program includes summer reading to ensure that those inquisitive and sharp minds are prepared for the coming school year. Of course, you are always welcome to sharpen that mind even further through your own additional reading. Ask anyone for suggestions. Attached you will find a specific list of books which you must read before the school year begins. Please note the specifics for your particular grade level. You must read the books and do the dialectical notebooks as given for the class you are entering, as the reading that you do will be the basis for a number of activities at the beginning of the school year. The books can be purchased through most valley bookstores or checked out through the public library. Most of all, we hope that you will find delight in the reading. Books are meant to give delight in some way. The better we understand them, the greater our delight. Have a happy summer; we eagerly anticipate working with you in the fall. Elizabeth Fairbanks Freshmen English Jenna Serafini Sophomore English Kimberly Fisher Junior English

2 Incoming Sophomore and Junior Assignment Honors English consists of extensive and intense reading, discussion, and analytical writing. We hope this experience will enable students to develop strong personal standards of conduct, to make wise and rational judgments, and to become self-regulated thinkers and self-actualizing adults. Due to the nature of district honors and national advanced placement standards, summer reading with assignments is a requirement. As you read, draw inferences (analyze) from the elements of literature in the works: characterization, detail, diction, figurative language, imagery, irony, mood, organization, point of view, symbolism, syntax, tone... Keep a dialectical notebook of your reading. A good dialectical notebook will include a variety of the following types of entries. An example of appropriate entries is attached. Speculate on a character or on plot development Clarify unfamiliar vocabulary or symbols. You may predict what you think they mean. Copy short phrases and explain their impact or significance. Note reactions to a point of view. List words that create a mood. Close read. Make entries at least once every five pages, noting page numbers in the notebook. Both assignments will be collected on the first day of class. Quizzes on the readings will follow. The summer reading assignments are the following: Honors English 3-4 The Good Earth And Then There Were None By Pearl Buck By Agatha Christie The Scarlet Letter* The Red Badge of Courage Honors English 5-6 *Note: Begin on Chapter 1. The Custom House Preface is not required. By Nathaniel Hawthorne By Stephen Crane

3 Incoming Freshmen Honors Assignment Honors English consists of extensive and intense reading, discussion, and analytical writing. We hope this experience will enable students to develop strong personal standards of conduct, to make wise and rational judgments, and to become self-regulated thinkers and self-actualizing adults. Due to the nature of district honors and national advanced placement standards, summer reading with assignments is a requirement. As you read, draw inferences (analyze) from the elements of literature in the works: characterization, detail, diction, figurative language, imagery, irony, mood, organization, point of view, symbolism, syntax, tone... Read both The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Lord of the Flies and complete the following Reading Analysis Form for each book. After you have completed the above you need to apply your knowledge of the books to the attached project. Both Reading Analysis Form assignments will be collected on August 16, The Project (ABC Literacy Scrapbook) will be due on Tuesday, September 9, Quizzes on the readings will follow. Honors English 1-2 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Lord of the Flies By Mark Twain By William Golding

4 Name: Teacher: Summer Reading Analysis Form Honors English 1-2 Directions: Answer the following using complete sentences in blue or black ink. Neatness and correct editing count! Title of Novel: Author s Name: 1. Main Character (5 points): Give the main character(s) name. Describe what this person/people looks like. Then describe this person s personality (What s the person like? What kind of person is he/she?) You must explain why you chose the traits you did. Be specific. Paragraph of 6-8 sentences 2. Minor Character (4 points): Select one significant minor character. Name and describe this person. Explain why this character is important to the story. Then, describe this person s personality (see #1 for details). You must explain why you chose the traits you did. Be specific. Paragraph of 4-6 sentences.

5 3. Setting (4 points): Select two main settings in the novel. For each, describe the setting (time/place) using specific details and explain why/how the setting is important to the plot overall. Be specific. Paragraph of 6-8 sentences. 1 st setting: 2 nd setting: 4. Plot (10 points): Summarize the main events of the plot. Explain the main conflict the main character faces in the novel. Explain in detail how the conflict begins, how the character attempts to resolve the conflict, how the character feels as he/she tries to solve the problem, and ultimately how the conflict is resolved. Then describe what happens after the conflict ends, how the character feels, and how the book comes to a close. (This is basically the Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action and Resolution of the novel). Be specific. Paragraph of sentences.

6 5. Theme (4 points): Explain what lesson you think your character learned in this novel. Then, explain the author s view of society/people; what truth or reality about life, living and human nature does the author want you to understand through reading the novel? (i.e. What aspect of human behavior or society does the author seem to be making a comment about?) Be specific. Paragraph of 3-4 sentences. 6. About the Author (10 points): Describe 3 important facts about the author. Give specific details about each fact and explain why you chose those facts. Discuss who do you think the author intended to read this book and why you think that way. ). You will need to do your own research on the author in order to answer this question. Be specific. Paragraph of 9-12 sentences. 7. Evaluate the novel (3 points): Rate the novel from 1 to 4 stars (4 stars being the best). Explain whether you would recommend this novel or not. Explain reasons for your rating, using specific examples and details from your reading ot support you opinions. Be specific. Paragraph of 4-5 sentences. Honors English 1-2 Summer Assignment

7 Requirements: Complete a project (Due: Tuesday, September 9, 2011) Part 1: The Reading Log for each book Always use complete sentences and write in either blue or black ink. Complete the attached forms. Part 2: The Project Requirements: o Project must be neat, creative and colorful. Use pictures, titles and make things look appealing to the eye. o Project must include the title and author of the book. o You will do a 3-5 minute presentation of your scrapbook on Tuesday, September 9, o Project must be turned in on Tuesday, September 9, 2011 NO LATE PROJECTS WILL BE ACCEPTED! The Project: You will make an ABC literacy scrapbook of your book. The ABC literacy scrapbook will consist of twenty six entries (one entry per page, in alphabetical order) encouraging you to focus on different aspects of the book you chose to read. The entries listed below are selfexplanatory but are only a minimum requirement for what information should be included on each page. Your work will be assessed on quality of thought put into your entries, accuracy of information, and your effort to be creative. Work hard and have fun! Entries: A ntagonist(s) B ook (short summary the book) C limax D escription of main character(s) E xposition F igurative language (include one example of each of the following literary terms: simile, metaphor, and hyperbole) G ive an alternate ending (in paragraph form and no less than 6 sentences in the P.OV. o fteh book) H eart to heart (write a five to six sentence letter to a character of your choice giving them a piece of your mind) I llustrations (draw one illustration, that does not already exist, that could be placed on the cover of each of the book) J ustify why this book is a must read for all teens (in paragraph form and no less than 6 sentences) K now your books (provide five questions worth asking about the book and include the question s answers) L essons learned (include one lesson you learned from the book) M aking personal connections (explain two personal connections you were able to make) N arration (the point of view in which the story is told) O bituary (for one character of your choice) P rotagonist Q uotes (two of your favorite quotes from the book and be sure to give the author credit by including the title and page number in which you have borrowed this information.) R esolution S ensory details (quote a descriptive passage that appeal to the senses. Be sure to give the author credit by including the title and page number in which you have borrowed this information.) T op song (choose a character from the book and create a top song list that would be found on their ipod. You must include the lyrics for the song choice and explain how this song applies to the character) U ndercover mission (go on an undercover mission to reveal and write three facts about the author.) V isiting your favorite character (what five questions would you ask, and explain your reasoning for each question) W hy would you or would you not recommend this book to your peers? (explain your choice in paragraph form in no less than 6 sentences) X enophobia (tell which character experiences xenophobia (prejudice). Y ou get to create page based on your own ideas! (kind of like a freebie, just be sure to stick to the book) Z inger (describe at least one zinger and explain why it was unexpected to you.)

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