TASIS Upper School
Summer Reading Guiding Questions
These are the guiding questions for all courses on the summer reading list except the
following, which are on pages 2-7:
English 9/10 International
English 11 International
English 12 International
IB English B Year 1
IB English A Language and Literature Year 1
IB English A Language and Literature Year 2
Please write a typed or handwritten response (200 words each in the language
relevant to your course) to each of the following prompts on each of the works
assigned for the course(s) you will be taking in 2014-2015:
1. Initial Understanding. What are your thoughts and questions about the
story? You might reflect upon characters, their problems, the title, or other
ideas in the story.
2. Interpretation. Choose two passages from the book that you think indicate
an important change in the main character from the beginning of the story
to the end. What do you think causes this change and how do the passages
show this change?
3. Connection. What does this story say about people or human nature in
general? In what ways does it remind you of people you have known or
experiences you have had? You may also write about stories you have read
or movies, works of art, or television shows you have seen. Use examples
from the book to explain your thinking.
4. Critical Stance. How successful was the author in creating a good piece of
literature? Use examples from the story to explain your thinking.
5. Context. What aspects of the writer's own political, cultural, and social
environment can you see represented in this text?
1 TASIS Upper School
Summer Reading Guiding Questions for English 9/10 International
Catching Fire
Dear Students,
Your summer reading book, Catching Fire, is a 2009 science fiction young adult
novel by American novelist Suzanne Collins, and is the second book in The
Hunger Games trilogy. As the sequel to the 2008 bestseller The Hunger Games, it
continues the story of Katniss Everdeen and the post-apocalyptic nation of
Panem. Following the events of the previous novel, a rebellion against the
oppressive Capitol has begun, and Katniss and fellow tribute Peeta Mellark are
forced to return to the arena in a special edition of the Hunger Games. Before you
read the book, look at the questions below. You will write answers to each
question and then bring the book and your answers to your English 9/10
International class when you start school. Some of you may not have read a book
like this in English before, but do your best!
1. Initial Understanding. After you have read the first three chapters, write
four questions you have about the narrator (the person who is telling the
story), her family, and what might happen in the book.
2. Interpretation. Choose one event from the book that you think was
extremely important in the narrator’s life. Explain why it was so important.
(Guide: 5 or 6 sentences approximately, but you may write more)
3. Connection. What does this story say about people or human nature in
general? In what ways does it remind you of people you have known or
experiences you have had? You may also write about stories you have read
or movies, or television shows you have seen. Use examples from the book
to explain your thinking. (Guide: 5 or 6 sentences approximately, but you
may write more)
4. Critical Stance. How successful was the author in creating an interesting
piece of literature? What did you learn about humans working together?
What did you learn about the power of hope? Use examples from the story
to explain your thinking. (Guide: 5 or 6 sentences approximately, but you
may write more)
5. Questions. After you have read the book, write three or four questions
you would like to ask the main characters about their time in the arena if
you got the chance to interview them.
6. Vocabulary. List fifteen new vocabulary words from the story and write
what they mean in English. Write the page number beside each word.
2 TASIS Upper School
Summer Reading Guiding Questions for English 11 International
Digging to America
Dear Students,
You are about to read Anne Tyler’s novel Digging to America. The book describes
the experience of two young children, each adopted into a different American
family. Before you read the book, look at the questions below. You will write
answers to each question and then bring the book and your answers to your
English 11 International class when you start school. Write thoughtfully, and be
ready to share your ideas during your first week in school. Your written work
will be assessed for its ideas and your engagement with the text. For each
question, aim to answer in 100 – 150 words.
1. Initial Understanding. Two children arrive on the same flight. What are
the differences between the families who receive them? Think ahead, and
write down predictions for what problems or opportunities they will have.
2. Interpretation. Choose either Maryam Yazdam or Dave Dickinson. Choose
a significant event for your character, and explain how this event reveals
their changing feelings and understanding.
3. Connection. What does this story say about people or human nature in
general? As a student moving between cultures, can you understand some
of the feelings experienced by characters in the book?
4. Critical Stance. How successful was the author in creating an interesting
piece of literature? What do you learn, or what is confirmed for you, about
the experiences of immigrants who ‘come to America’? Use examples from
the story to explain your thinking.
5. Questions. After you have read the book, write three or four questions
you would like to ask the author about her opinions and her writing if you
got the chance to interview her.
6. Vocabulary. List twenty new vocabulary words from the story and write
what they mean in English. Write the page number beside each word.
3 TASIS Upper School
Summer Reading Guiding Questions for English 12 International
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Dear Students,
Your summer reading assignment is George Orwell’s celebrated novel Nineteen
Eighty-Four. The novel is about a man named Winston who lives in a futuristic
totalitarian version of London. Before you read the book, look at the questions
below. You will write answers to each question and then bring the book and your
answers to your English 12 International class when you start school. Your
written work will be assessed for its ideas and your engagement with the text.
1. Initial Understanding. Because this novel is a dystopian work that
criticizes totalitarianism, it would be helpful for you to look up these two
important terms. Define totalitarianism and in a paragraph (5-7 sentences)
describe what a totalitarian government might do to keep people under
control. Then define dystopia. Dystopias have become a popular subject in
books, movies, and television shows in recent years. In a paragraph (5-7
sentences) describe another dystopian society you have encountered in the
media.
2. Interpretation. After finishing the novel, choose one significant event from
the book and in 100-150 words describe how it changed life for Winston.
3. Connection. In 100-150 words, write a paragraph answering the following two
questions. What does this story say about society and political power? How
does Winston’s struggle relate to our current society?
4. Critical Stance. How successful was the author in creating an interesting
piece of literature? Does it effectively criticize the way governments can
become corrupt, manipulative, and abusive? Answer in 100-150 words.
5. Questions. After you have read the book, write three or four questions
you would like to ask the author about the book and his political beliefs.
6. Vocabulary. List twenty new vocabulary words from the story and write what
they mean in English. Write the page number beside each word.
4 TASIS Upper School
Summer Reading Guiding Questions for IB English B Year 1
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Dear Students,
Below, you will see four different types of questions to respond to. Your answers
will be collected during the first days of school in September. You may type or
handwrite your responses. Write 200 words for each of the four questions.
1. Initial Understanding. What are your thoughts and questions about the story? You
might reflect upon characters, their problems, the title, or other ideas in the story.
2. Interpretation. Choose two passages from the book that you think indicate an
important change in the main character from the beginning of the story to the end.
What do you think causes this change and how do the passages show this change?
3. Connection. What does this story say about people or human nature in general? In
what ways does it remind you of people you have known or experiences you have
had? You may also write about stories you have read or movies, works of art, or
television shows you have seen. Use examples from the book to explain your thinking.
4. Imaginative Response. Using one of the following text types, produce a piece of
creative writing (200 words) that gives the reader a deeper insight into the life of a
lesser-known character in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four:
Interview
Article
Introduction to a debate, speech, talk, presentation
News report
Review
Blog/diary entry
5 TASIS Upper School
Summer Reading Guiding Questions for IB Language and Literature Year 1
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Dear Students,
Below, you will see four different types of questions to respond to. Your answers
will be collected during the first days of school in September. You may type or
handwrite your responses. Write 200 words for each of the four questions.
1. Initial Understanding. What are your thoughts and questions about the
story? You might reflect upon characters, their problems, the title, or
other ideas in the story.
2. Interpretation. Choose two passages from the book that you think
indicate an important change in the main character from the beginning of
the story to the end. What do you think causes this change and how do
the passages show this change?
3. Connection. What does this story say about people or human nature in
general? In what ways does it remind you of people you have known or
experiences you have had? You may also write about stories you have
read or movies, works of art, or television shows you have seen. Use
examples from the book to explain your thinking.
4. Imaginative Response. Using one of the following text types, produce a
piece of creative writing (200 words) that gives the reader a deeper
insight into the life of a lesser-known character in George Orwell’s
Nineteen Eighty-Four:
Interview
Article
Introduction to a debate, speech, talk, presentation
News report
Review
Blog/diary entry
6 TASIS Upper School
Summer Reading Guiding Questions for IB Language and Literature Year 2
The Reader
Dear Students,
Below, you will see four different types of questions to respond to. Your answers
will be collected during the first days of school in September. You may type or
handwrite your responses. Write 200 words for each of the four questions.
1. Initial Understanding. What are your thoughts and questions about the
story? You might reflect upon characters, their problems, the title, or
other ideas in the story.
2. Interpretation. Choose two passages from the book that you think
indicate an important change in the main character from the beginning of
the story to the end. What do you think causes this change and how do
the passages show this change?
3. Connection. What does this story say about people or human nature in
general? In what ways does it remind you of people you have known or
experiences you have had? You may also write about stories you have
read or movies, works of art, or television shows you have seen. Use
examples from the book to explain your thinking.
4. Imaginative Response. Using one of the following text types, produce a
piece of creative writing (200 words) that gives the reader a deeper
insight into the lives of the two main characters.
Interview
Article
Introduction to a debate, speech, talk, presentation
News report
Review
Blog/diary entry
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