Varina High School Summer Reading Honors English 9 2013-2014 2013-2014 Honors English 9 Summer Reading Assignment You are to read one of the following books this summer to prepare for your year in English. Henrico County Public Schools strongly encourages parents/guardians to work with their children as they choose their summer reading books. The books are items that are often found on the AP Composition and Literature tests, and are related to the texts we will delve into this year. The books can be found in any bookstore. Please use online stores like Amazon, Books-amillion, or Barnes and Noble to purchase the text. It is strongly suggested that you buy the book so that you can write in it and refer to it throughout the year. Selection 1: To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee Selection 2: Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck Selection 3: The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd Selection 4: A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry Please complete the attached chart based on your novel of choice. The chart should be completed in great detail, filling each blank space. You will complete all three charts based on the beginning, middle, and end of the novel. Please take the number of chapters and divide by three. This will give you an even number of chapters for the beginning, middle, and end. For example, if there are twenty one chapters, the first seven will be the beginning, the next seven the middle, and the last seven the end. You may opt to keep an electronic copy, but please use Word and make sure you back up everything on a jump drive (my computer crashed, etc. are no longer excuses you are now in an honors no excuses accepted class). And, as this is a composition class, detailed charts are important and symbolism/quotes are vital to your success (don t skip the description/significance items on the chart and remember to document the pages you found the quotes/info). The analysis charts are due on Monday, September 16 th. Feel free to use story guides online (like Spark Notes or Litcharts.com) for assistance with understanding your selection. The Varina English Department uses the Total Points grading system so no one assignment can destroy your grade. You will receive two grades for your summer reading during the first nine weeks: (1) Story Chart (worth 54 total points 18 points for each chart and one point for each correct item on the chart) and (2) Character Archetype Project using summer readings (to be completed during the 1 st nine weeks). We will also use the summer reading to work on rhetorical analysis and multiple choice practice throughout the entire school year (in other words you can t get away with never doing the work). **Assignment Due Dates: Story Charts (3) are due Monday, September 16 th Character Archetype Project is due Monday, 14 th
Story Analysis Chart #1 The Beginning Please complete the following chart in its entirety based on the assigned reading. Title: Author: Pages/Chapters: Setting: Describe the time period and place. Include quotes to visualize the setting. Theme: What life lesson does this novel teach you? Choose a theme and explain it. Remember, your theme should be universal. Major Characters: Make a list of at least three characters from this part of the story and explain their significance to the story. Provide a quote that describes them. Are they protagonist/antagonist/flat/round/static/dynamic? Why/How? Do they change? How? What is their significance to this part of the story? Character Quote & Description Conflicts: Tell what type of conflict takes place in this part of the story. Describe it. Who does it involve? What happens? How is it significant to the plot? Literary Devices: Make a list of literary devices used in this part of the story. (i.e. simile, metaphor, alliteration, personification, imagery, irony, onomatopoeia, etc.) For each device, list the example/quote, explain what literary device is used, how the literary device is used, and describe its effect on and significance to the story. Literary Device Example and Pg # Explanation and Significance
Symbolism: A symbol is anything that stands for or represents something else. An object that serves as a symbol has its own meaning, but it also represents abstract ideas. List at least one symbol that the author uses in this part of the story. Symbol Example and Pg # Explanation and Significance Memorable Quotes: Make a list of at least five significant quotes from this part of the story. In the right column, provide a 2-3 sentence analysis of the significance of the quote. Quote and Pg # Explanation and Analysis 4. 5.
Story Analysis Chart #2 The Middle Please complete the following chart in its entirety based on the assigned reading. Title: Author: Pages/Chapters: Setting: Describe the time period and place. Include quotes to visualize the setting. Theme: What life lesson does this novel teach you? Choose a theme and explain it. Remember, your theme should be universal. Major Characters: Make a list of at least three characters from this part of the story and explain their significance to the story. Provide a quote that describes them. Are they protagonist/antagonist/flat/round/static/dynamic? Why/How? Do they change? How? What is their significance to this part of the story? Character Quote & Description Conflicts: Tell what type of conflict takes place in this part of the story. Describe it. Who does it involve? What happens? How is it significant to the plot? Literary Devices: Make a list of literary devices used in this part of the story. (i.e. simile, metaphor, alliteration, personification, imagery, irony, onomatopoeia, etc.) For each device, list the example/quote, explain what literary device is used, how the literary device is used, and describe its effect on and significance to the story. Literary Device Example and Pg # Explanation and Significance
Symbolism: A symbol is anything that stands for or represents something else. An object that serves as a symbol has its own meaning, but it also represents abstract ideas. List at least one symbol that the author uses in this part of the story. Symbol Example and Pg # Explanation and Significance Memorable Quotes: Make a list of at least five significant quotes from this part of the story. In the right column, provide a 2-3 sentence analysis of the significance of the quote. Quote and Pg # Explanation and Analysis 4. 5.
Story Analysis Chart #3 The End Please complete the following chart in its entirety based on the assigned reading. Title: Author: Pages/Chapters: Setting: Describe the time period and place. Include quotes to visualize the setting. Theme: What life lesson does this novel teach you? Choose a theme and explain it. Remember, your theme should be universal. Major Characters: Make a list of at least three characters from this part of the story and explain their significance to the story. Provide a quote that describes them. Are they protagonist/antagonist/flat/round/static/dynamic? Why/How? Do they change? How? What is their significance to this part of the story? Character Quote & Description Conflicts: Tell what type of conflict takes place in this part of the story. Describe it. Who does it involve? What happens? How is it significant to the plot? Literary Devices: Make a list of literary devices used in this part of the story. (i.e. simile, metaphor, alliteration, personification, imagery, irony, onomatopoeia, etc.) For each device, list the example/quote, explain what literary device is used, how the literary device is used, and describe its effect on and significance to the story. Literary Device Example and Pg # Explanation and Significance
Symbolism: A symbol is anything that stands for or represents something else. An object that serves as a symbol has its own meaning, but it also represents abstract ideas. List at least one symbol that the author uses in this part of the story. Symbol Example and Pg # Explanation and Significance Memorable Quotes: Make a list of at least five significant quotes from this part of the story. In the right column, provide a 2-3 sentence analysis of the significance of the quote. Quote and Pg # Explanation and Analysis 4. 5.
Character Archetype Project due Monday, October 14 th Who is the character from your novel that you most admire? Brainstorm as many examples of the following as time allows: animals, plants, colors, shapes, numbers, gems/minerals, nature elements (any form of fire, air, earth, water). Choose your most liked character from your novel and answer each of the following questions, listening carefully to the wording of the question: a. What animal is your character most like? b. What plant is your character most like? c. What color is your character most like? d. What shape is your character most like? e. What number is your character most like? f. What gem or mineral is your character most like? g. What natural element is your character most like? 4. Fill your answers into the chart below. In the first column, fill in your character s sun images. In column two, write one adjective describing the sun image for that row. In the third column, write an antonym for the adjective in column two. Fill in the final column with an image that exhibits the quality written in column three. These are your character s shadow images. Most Like: Character s Sun Images : Adjective(s) Describing Image in Column 1: Antonym(s) of Adjective(s) in Column 2: The answers to these seven questions are called sun images. Most Like Column 3: These are Character s Shadow Images : animal animal plant plant color color shape shape number number gem/mineral gem/mineral natural element natural element
5. Write a sentence for each of the sun images, making sure you observe and model your work on the following syntactical pattern. (Character Name) is like the (image) because he/she. Example: John is like the cat because he is graceful. John is like the oak because he is tall and sturdy. John is like the color blue because he is serene and peaceful. John is like the triangle because he is balanced. John is like the number seven because he cannot be divided into two equal parts. John is like the opal because his moods change often. John is like the fire because he is intense. 6. Write sentences for each of your character s shadow images, using the following pattern: Inwardly, (Character Name) is like a because. 7. Poem: Use ideas from your fourteen sun/shadow explanatory sentences to write an original poem. Your poem should be a sophisticated, thoughtful creation reflecting understanding of metaphors/archetypes and the prewriting work on your images. Your poem must be at least 20 lines, include appropriate diction, natural syntax, concrete imagery, strong nouns, and vivid verbs. Use repetition, figures of speech (similes, metaphors, personification), and sound devices (alliteration, onomatopoeia) where possible. Also, be sure to include a poem title! 8. Drawing: On a piece of paper (no larger than 8.5x11), within the framework of a circle, using color, pictures, and shapes, but no words, draw or symbolize all of your character s sun and shadow images. Arrange them in any way that you like. 9. Frame the drawing with two sentences: Write a single sentence using all of your character s sun images. See how you can weave all of these images together in one sentence. Then weave your character s seven shadow images into a sentence. Write both sentences around the outside of your circle. 10. Write your poem somewhere on the paper outside of your circle. 1 Staple all of your work together with your drawing on top.