Summer Reading: CP 12 European Literature
Read this book
Freakonomics by Stephen Levitt and Stephen
Dubner
Choose one book
You will choose a book from the Pulitzer Prize list (winners or finalist)
or National Book Award list (winner or finalist) from the year 2000
until present. The following categories are acceptable: poetry, novel,
non-fiction, drama, biography/autobiography, and young adult fiction.
Choose a book that you have not read or have been assigned in a
previous class. Explore the Pulitzer Prize website www.pulitzer.org and
National Book Award website www.nationalbookaward.org to find a
book you will enjoy reading.
Be able to define what the book says about you as a reader in a one
minute argument. (See assignment below)
Do not choose a book previously covered in a Batavia High School
English class
The Reading:
Scenario: Have you ever been “that kid” in class that, when the teacher expounds on the symbolic levels of the river in the
text and all your other classmates are nodding vigorously in their understanding of the said symbolic river, is woefully
wondering… “What river?????” Then, Freakonomics written by journalist Stephen Dubner (for you English academics)
and economist Steven Levitt (for you math and science enthusiasts) is the book for you. And don’t worry…if you were the
“vigorous nodder” in the above scenario, then you too will find enough depth as the two authors promise to explore “the
hidden side to everything” from cheating teachers to perfect parenting to build upon your analytical prowess. In all
seriousness, the book will provide a framework for learning to think “Freakonomics” style and to understand one of the
underlying themes of American literature: the way incentives drive morality.
Assignment:
1. For the book:
 As you read Freakonomics, make a set of notes/quotes that will help you participate in a graded Socratic
seminar the first week of school. Note specific pages where you find interesting quotes, paragraphs, studies,
examples, statistics, anecdotes, etc. You will also need these notes readily accessible for a major paper
assigned within the first two weeks.
 These notes should be typed so that you can turn them in after the seminar for a grade.
 One of the guiding topics of our seminar will be morality. As you read, consider how the authors connect
things like conventional wisdom and incentives to morality.
 Remember that strong speakers in a Socratic seminar explore the complexities of a work and always refer to
specifics in a text to support their opinions. A close reading will allow for a strong contribution.
2. For the book you choose:
 Come to class prepared with your completed “Argumentation Sheet”.
 This will help you prepare and practice your one minute verbal argument you will share on day one.
 Choose your book wisely as this will be our first introduction to you.
On the first day of class, bring the following:
1. Typed Freakonomics notes/quotes as preparation for the Socratic seminar
2. The books
3. Your completed “Argumentation Sheet”
4. Original one minute verbal argument based on your completed Argumentation Sheet
***Note that you will take an objective test over the details of the book during the first few days of class in addition to the Socratic seminar. I look
forward to hearing what you have to say about the summer readings.
***Please note: the summer reading texts (and CP World Literature curriculum in general) may include adult themes and language.
Argumentation Sheet
Directions:
Complete the information below and use your answers to shape your one minute verbal argument to be presented on the
first day of class. This completed sheet is part of your summer reading grade. Your focus for the argument should be:
Does the book merit the recognition and award it received? As you answer, consider the criteria you used to evaluate the
book, and try to reconcile it with the merits the book has received.
I.
Beginning: hook in your listener – write out one riveting sentence from the book or one riveting sentence
about you.
II.
What is your thesis (your argument in brief)? This should be your overall claim plus your overall evidence. It
should include the author and title of your book. It should be one sentence.
III.
List three claims that support your argument in brief.
1.
2.
3.
IV.
List one piece of evidence for each of your claims. Evidence can include: quotes and paraphrases from the
book, personal anecdotes about you to emphasize your connection to the book, recognition of counterclaims,
needed definitions, and compare/contrast.
1.
2.
3.
V.
Reasoning: Write out your chain of reasoning that links your evidence to your three claims.
VI.
Ending: Write out why your reasoning leads us (the listeners) back to proving your argument in brief.
VII.
Compile all of the above into a one minute verbal argument. It does not need to be memorized. You can use
this sheet to guide you. Bring this completed sheet to class on Day 1.
Obviously, you will not use every piece of evidence in your one minute argument. Your goal is to concisely make your
argument in one minute, while giving enough detail to support your claims. Practice your argument and try to get as
close to one minute as possible.