Summer Reading Assignment 2016-2017
GN/CP English 10
In order to expand your knowledge of the novels you will be reading over the summer, and to
build off your study of Literary Genres from this past year, you will be completing the following
projects. Log in to your pvipanther.net Gmail account and create a folder in your Google Drive
called “English 10.” Save your summer assignments in this folder. You will submit both
assignments during the first day of class. Each assignment is to be completed in a different
word document.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Hinko – [email protected]
I. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
Characterizing Narrator
Step 1: Open a Word or Google Doc, save it as: [Your Last Name]BTSummer. Format your
document with a proper MLA Header: MLA Formatting Guide
Step 2: The Book Thief can be described as having a 1st person, omniscient narrator in the
character of Death. On your Word or Google Doc, define the following. You MUST include
proper in-text citations (see Purdue Owl guide) for the source you use for each definition:
1. 1st person narrator
2. Omniscient narrator
Step 3: On the same document as your definitions, write a 1 - 2 paragraph character analysis of
Death as the narrator that answers and explores the questions provided below. You are only
writing 1 - 2 paragraphs in total for all four questions. You must include 2 quoted examples
from the novel (with proper MLA in-text citation) to illustrate and support your answers:
1. What is Death’s role in the story and/or how does he connect or interact with the other
characters?
2. What is Death’s personality? What are his likes/dislikes? What is his tone as the narrator?
3. How does Death view the events of the war and the people involved in the conflict?
Could he be characterized as either a good or bad character?
4. How does the combination of the two types of narrators you defined above contribute to
the impact on the novel?
These are to be written in your own words (no matches to internet sites or your friends’
assignments).
Step 4: Type up a proper MLA Works Cited page for the version of the novel that you used in
completing this assignment. See Purdue Owl guide for how to cite a novel with one author: MLA
Basic Citations
When done, save your completed document in a Google Drive folder that you can access on
your school laptop on the first day of class, Wednesday August 31. You will be submitting it
on that day. This will count as a Quiz grade for 1st Quarter. You will be using the above
information in class to complete a major assignment later in the Summer Reading Unit. Do not
print a hard copy. This is purely a digital submission.
II. Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury
Exploring Dystopia
For reference: A dystopia in literature can be defined as the following: A futuristic, imagined
universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained
through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control. Dystopias, through
an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or
political system (www.readwritethink.org).
Step 1: While reading the novel, annotate and make notes, either in your book or on a separate
sheet of paper, on the role of the following elements of the society:
o Politics
o Law enforcement
o Entertainment
o Personal relationships
o Censorship
o Knowledge/Education
o Technology
o Security/Comfort
Step 2: Open a Word or Google Doc, save it as: [Your Last Name]451Summer. Format your
document with a proper MLA Header: MLA Formatting Guide
Step 3: Choose one of the elements of the society and make a list of 4 significant quotes from
the novel that best illustrate and exemplify it.
● Once you have your quotes, write out each quote with proper MLA in-text citation.
●
Below each quote, write a two sentence explanation that provides proper context for the
quote (i.e. what portion of the novel the quote is taken from) and explains what that
particular quote shows about that element of society (Does it display corruption of that
element? A fair use of it? etc.)
Example: Knowledge/Education: “‘You think too many things,’ said Montag, uneasily”
(Bradbury 9). Montag is speaking with Clarisse, who has just spoken about her amazement at
how people do not truly know what things look like. He is both intrigued and confused by her
curiosity and desire to understand.
Step 4: Type up a proper MLA Works Cited page for the version of the novel that you used in
completing this assignment. See Purdue Owl guide for how to cite a novel with one author: MLA
Basic Citations
When done, save your completed document in a Google Drive folder that you can access on
your school laptop on the first day of class, Wednesday August 31. You will be submitting it
on that day. This will count as a Homework grade for 1st Quarter. You will be using the above
information in class to complete a major assignment later in the Summer Reading Unit. Do not
print a hard copy. This is purely a digital submission.