English 12
Summer Assignment
Student Name: ________________________
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Assignment 1: Student Blog/Journal
Personal Reflections (6 – 1 per week with 2 off weeks):
Each week, you will write a personal reflection that is 300-500 words long responding to the questions
below:
1. Your responses will be due each Friday. After the Friday of each week the assignment will be locked.
2. You have 6 responses and 8 weeks total, so you may choose two off weeks.
Grading:
Your writing should be of the same quality that I expect in class. While this is a more relaxed atmosphere
and there is some room to be creative, creative and poor quality are not the same thing.
You will be graded on the following.
____The response addresses the question.
____The response is new and thoughtful (it does not repeat someone else or remain superficial).
____The response has been edited for spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
____The response meets length requirements without being repetitive, superfluous, or off topic.
Assignments:
1. July 1 – 1st written response
Choose and explain something that you wish you had done better on this year/ know you
will need to improve on before you get to college.
Did you forget about deadlines/wait until the last minute? Did you let assignments stack up or not put in the work
necessary? Do you still need to work on reading? Asking for help?
2. July 8 – 2nd written response and 2 comments on other scholars’ work
Read a newspaper this week and react to an article.
The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The LA Times, The Independent, The Guardian etc. –
Please include a link to the article in your response. No link = no credit this week, regardless of how lovely your thoughts
are.
3. July 15 – 3rd written response and 2 comments on other scholars’ work
Choose, watch, and react to a Ted Talk.
http://www.ted.com/ - please include the link in your response. No link = no credit this week, regardless of how great
your thoughts are.
4. July 22 – 4th written response and 2 comments on other scholars’ work
Listen to and react to a podcast this week.
http://www.techinsider.io/38-best-podcasts-in-the-world-2016-3 - please include the link in your response. No link = no
credit, regardless of how beautiful your thoughts are.
5. July 29 – 5th written response and 2 comments on other scholars’ work
Watch the video in the link found below. What is your system for managing stress, and how
could it improve?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fL-pn80s-c
6. August 5 – 6th written response and 2 comments on other scholars’ work
Research, explain, and share an example of someone/something that improved the world
that inspires you.
Please include a link to a video/article about this person. No link = no credit, regardless of how beautiful the
inspiration.
GO ON ----
7. August 12 - 2 comments on other scholars’ work, written response if you took an off week
React to one of the books you read this summer.
8. August 19 –written response/comments if you took any off weeks
Choose and explain a quote, an idea, a goal, etc that will inspire and motivate you this year.
What is it that’s going to inspire you to apply to your “reach” schools? What’s going to keep your grades up in January?
What will still keep you working in June to make sure you finish the year strong?
Responses to Me/Your Peers (12 – 2 per week with 2 off weeks):
Each week you will also choose two posts to respond to with a comment that is at least 50 words long.
Grading:
______Comments are positive or constructive.
______Comments are specific.
______Comments are new and thoughtful (without repeating others or the original poster)
Suggestions:
Agree or disagree and explain why.
Compare it to your own experience.
Ask clarifying questions about the response.
Assignment 1: Student Blog/Journal
Getting Started:
Go to https://edmo.do/g/6jk3kn - you will then get the following screen.
Make sure you are trying to sign into a student account. Provide the following information (email is
optional).
Your assignment for the week goes in the assignments tab. You can write the response directly in the
box or type a word document and attach it.
Under each assignment that is turned in, you can type a reply – this is where your responses to
classmates will go.
Due Dates
By June 17 (this year!!!!) – sign up for an edmodo account and have me confirm that you have joined the
group. (+5 bonus points if this is done by June 10).
Summer Dates
July 1 – 1st personal reflection
July 8 – 2nd personal reflection and 2 comments on other scholars’ work
July 15 – 3rd personal reflection and 2 comments on other scholars’ work
July 22 – 4th personal reflection and 2 comments on other scholars’ work
July 29 – 5th personal reflection and 2 comments on other scholars’ work
August 5 – 6th personal reflection and 2 comments on other scholars’ work
August 12 - 2 comments on other scholars’ work, reflection if you took an off week
August 19 – reflections/comments if you took any off weeks
Assignment 2: Summer Reading
Required reading this summer is both novels Animal Farm and The Lord of the Flies.
You should annotate, take notes, summarize for yourself, etc.
Grading
In your first week back at school next year you will have a test on both of the novels. During the test you
may use any notes or annotations that you take on the book. So, while there is no official assignment that
goes with the text for the summer, it would be smart to annotate or keep a book journal.
Smart things to look for
________Main Characters
________Summary of the plot
________Major Themes
________Symbols and Motifs
Plagiarism:
I am only concerned with your responses. You cannot improve your reading or thinking
skills if you rely on others to do the thinking for you. Do not take someone (person or
internet) else’s ideas or analysis and try to pass them off as your own ideas.
If you use another source to support your thinking or as an inspiration point, you must
give the source due credit by citing it properly using MLA style. Additionally, the source
must then be supported and explained by your own thinking.
If you use another source to complete your summer work and do not credit it properly or
attempt to pass it off as your own work, you will receive a failing grade and be suspended.