Summer Reading
Grade Advanced English
Topic: Individual vs. Society
10th
Students taking Advanced English 10 should read the following four works. Annotating in the margins as well
as underlining key passages is strongly encouraged. Additionally, students are to complete a Discussion Prep
Sheet for these selections by the first day of school. These will be collected day one. *This is an individual
assignment and should not be completed collaboratively.
Daisy Miller
The Glass Castle
**The Scarlet Letter
The Call of the Wild
by Henry James
by Jeannette Walls
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
by Jack London
ISBN 0486287734
ISBN 9780743247542
ISBN 9781580495950
ISBN 9780486264721
*Dover Thrift
*Scribner
*Prestwick House
*Dover Thrift
*Advanced 10th English teachers prefer these versions of the text for the sake of consistent page numbers, but
they are not required.
**Students are not required to read “The Custom House” (introduction to The Scarlet Letter)
Please note the following: Because Advanced Sophomore English is a “feeder” course for both the junior
classes of Advanced 11th and AP English Language, as well as the senior AP Literature and Composition,
this reading list contains works that are mature reading and intellectually challenging.
Students should fill out the DISCUSSION PREP SHEETS, which follow, for the works. Please follow
directions carefully. Student-generated question stems and teacher-generated “Questions to Consider” follow
the prep sheets. Print out and have with you on the first day of school.
*It is understood that students will not use Spark Notes and other such aids in lieu of reading actual works.
Name_____________________________
Discussion Preparation Sheet: Daisy Miller
You will not be allowed to participate in the discussion without this prep sheet completed.
STEP 1: Teacher-Generated Question
 Choose one of the prompts from the “Questions to Consider” handout and write its number in this box
 Answer the prompt in the space below, using specific examples from the text to support your answer.
STEP 2: Quotations
 Write down at least three lines, quotes, excerpts, or phrases you found interesting, important, confusing, or just caught
your attention. Cite in MLA (#). Put the page number.
Quotations
1.
2.
3.
STEP 3:Student-Generated Questions: Refer to the question-stems that follow for explanation of the types of questions.
Level 1 (Comprehension Question)
Possible Answer
Level 2 (Interpretive Question)
Possible Answer
Level 3 (Application Question)
Possible Answer
STEP 4: Complete the Sentence (Explore the deeper meaning/themes of the text in a generic statement about
humanity.).
Daisy Miller is really about…
Discussion Preparation Sheet: The Glass Castle
You will not be allowed to participate in the discussion without this prep sheet completed.
STEP 1: Teacher-Generated Question
 Choose one of the prompts from the “Questions to Consider” handout and write its number in this box
 Answer the prompt in the space below, using specific examples from the text to support your answer.
STEP 2: Quotations
 Write down at least three lines, quotes, excerpts, or phrases you found interesting, important, confusing, or just caught
your attention. Cite in MLA (#). Put the page number.
Quotations
1.
2.
3.
STEP 3:Student-Generated Questions: Refer to the question-stems that follow for explanation of the types of questions.
Level 1 (Comprehension Question)
Possible Answer
Level 2 (Interpretive Question)
Possible Answer
Level 3 (Application Question)
Possible Answer
STEP 4: Complete the Sentence (Explore the deeper meaning/themes of the text in a generic statement about
humanity.).
The Glass Castle is really about…
Discussion Preparation Sheet: The Scarlet Letter
You will not be allowed to participate in the discussion without this prep sheet completed.
STEP 1: Teacher-Generated Question
 Choose one of the prompts from the “Questions to Consider” handout and write its number in this box
 Answer the prompt in the space below, using specific examples from the text to support your answer.
STEP 2: Quotations
 Write down at least three lines, quotes, excerpts, or phrases you found interesting, important, confusing, or just caught
your attention. Cite in MLA (#). Put the page number.
Quotations
1.
2.
3.
STEP 3:Student-Generated Questions: Refer to the question-stems that follow for explanation of the types of questions.
Level 1 (Comprehension Question)
Possible Answer
Level 2 (Interpretive Question)
Possible Answer
Level 3 (Application Question)
Possible Answer
STEP 4: Complete the Sentence (Explore the deeper meaning/themes of the text in a generic statement about
humanity.).
The Scarlet Letter is really about…
Discussion Preparation Sheet: The Call of the Wild
You will not be allowed to participate in the discussion without this prep sheet completed.
STEP 1: Teacher-Generated Question
 Choose one of the prompts from the “Questions to Consider” handout and write its number in this box
 Answer the prompt in the space below, using specific examples from the text to support your answer.
STEP 2: Quotations
 Write down at least three lines, quotes, excerpts, or phrases you found interesting, important, confusing, or just caught
your attention. Cite in MLA (#). Put the page number.
Quotations
1.
2.
3.
STEP 3:Student-Generated Questions: Refer to the question-stems that follow for explanation of the types of questions.
Level 1 (Comprehension Question)
Possible Answer
Level 2 (Interpretive Question)
Possible Answer
Level 3 (Application Question)
Possible Answer
STEP 4: Complete the Sentence (Explore the deeper meaning/themes of the text in a generic statement about
humanity.).
Call of the Wild is really about…
Questions to Consider: Teacher-generated Questions for Discussion
1. How did you experience the story? It’s not always helpful to talk about whether or not you liked the story, but rather how you felt
as the story was unfolded. Were you pulled effortlessly into the story or did you have difficulty getting into it? Why? Did you find
yourself amused, intrigued, enthralled, disturbed, fearful, irritated, angered, or impatient?
2. Are the characters convincing - Do they come across as believable human beings with underlying motivations? Are they fully
developed as emotionally complex individuals? Or are they one - dimensional, with little emphasis on their inner lives?
3. Which characters do you admire or dislike - and why? What are their primary characteristics; how would you describe them? In
what ways do the characters interact with others?
4. What motivates the actions of a given character? To what degree does the character’s past play a role in his or her present actions?
Are those actions justified or ethical?
5. Which characters grow or change over the course of the novel? Which character in particular comes to learn something about
himself or view the world differently? What is the specific lesson learned? Which character(s) is static, unchanging from beginning to
end? What prevents this character from experiencing a change?
6. What is the central conflict of the plot? Is the conflict internal to the character (a psychological conflict)? Or is it external, having
to do with character vs. character? Character vs. society? Character vs. nature? (Most novels have a combination of both internal and
external conflict.)
7. Is the novel plot-driven? In other words, does the plot unfold quickly, focusing more on action than on the inner lives of the
characters? Which do you prefer?
8. Is the plot well-developed? Is it believable or is it forced? Is it suspenseful or more contemplative? Does it unfold naturally, or do
you feel manipulated along the way by coincidences, odd plot twists, or cliffhangers?
9. Is the ending satisfying? Predictable or not? Does it wrap up the ends neatly? Is it too neat, cliché even? Does it leave some issues
unresolved, questions unanswered? If you could change the ending, would you; if so, how would you change it?
10. What central ideas might the author be exploring (the novel’s themes)? Consider ideas about the nature of love, the requirements
of goodness, the meaning of justice, the burden of the past, basic human issues that are at stake in the book.
Student-generated Questions: Question Stems
What type of questions should I ask during the seminar?
There are three levels of questions.
 Level I (Comprehension Questions): Questions that help you understand the story.
You may use the following question stems:

Can you state, in your own words…

Can you describe…

Can you defend your position…

Can you summarize the information…

Level II (Interpretive Questions): These are critical thinking questions that require examples and evidence from the text.
You may use the following question stems:
 Explain how …
 Explain why …
 Interpret the reasons …
 Compare and contrast …
 Connect and explain …

Level III (Application Questions): These are critical thinking questions that connect the text to the outside world.
You are encouraged to use the following question stems:
 Imagine …
 What if …?
 Hypothesize …
 Theorize…