English 3/4 Honors Summer Assignment
2015-2016
Due Date:
The beginning of the 1st semester
Objective:
Students will be able to create and defend their interpretation of a literary work through textual evidence.
Requirements:
Read A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry and complete the two-part assignment explained below.
Common Themes:
 Injustices Throughout the World
 Place Shaping Identity
 American Dream
Essential Question:
How does injustice affect the hopes and
dreams of people who are different?
Literacy Standard 3 Writing and Composition
Master the techniques of effective informational, literary, and persuasive writing: Write informative/explanatory texts to
examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection,
organization, and analysis of content.
Literacy Standard 2 Reading
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn
from the text. Literary and historical influences determine the meaning of traditional and contemporary literary texts
Assignment 1: Dialectical Journal
Keep a TYPED Dialectical Journal as you read. You will be responsible for turning in 10 DJ’s on the first day of school.
You need to address the following SIFTT elements: Symbolism, Imagery, Figurative Language, Theme, and Tone as
seen throughout the novel. You should address each element at least once. Each one of your DJ’s needs to be 2
sentences in length; you connote the quote in the first sentence and explain the author’s purpose in the second.
Your DJ’s need to be set up using the following format:
Quotation
Example:
1) “…a feeble little plant
growing doggedly in a small
pot on the windowsill,” 39.)
Connotation (Context, SIFTT element, and the quotation’s importance)
1) While the plant is feeble, it manages to grow
through the absorption the only light the
apartment coming into the apartment
through the one small window. Lorraine
Hansberry, Raisin in the Sun, portrays
Mama’s love and dreams for her family
symbolically through the little plant.
Turn the page for Assignment 2 
English 3/4 Honors Summer Assignment
2015-2016
Assignment 2: Creative Project:
Pick ONE of the following projects to complete in order to creatively reflect your understanding of the reading. Be
prepared to present and display your project for class. Each project requires creating a product and defending it. Be sure
to explain your defense through the use of textual evidence from A Raisin in the Sun.
1. ARTWORK: Create a new and original work of art (painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, etc.) that relates to
a character and/or event in the play. The size of the artwork should be enough to be seen and understood from
across a classroom. Type up a one page explanation of your creative process plus a description of the
connection between your project and the play.
2. DREAM POETRY PORTFOLIO: Write 4 poems, songs, or raps that relate to the main characters’ dreams in
the play. Your pieces may be typed or written in a creative style, i.e. calligraphy. Type up a justification for
each piece to defend the connection you created between your lyrics and the character. Be sure to have one piece
for each character.
 Walter
 Ruth
 Mama
 Beneatha
3.
ECONOMICS POSTER: What is $10,000 worth today? In 1959, when the play was produced, $10,000 was
worth much more than it is worth today. Look up inflation rates each year since 1959 and use that information to
calculate how much $10,000 would be worth today. Display the results on a poster-sized graph and
commentary. In a typed up written response (displayed on the poster), discuss if each character would be able to
pursue their dreams with the amount of money that 10,000 would be worth today.
4. WRITE A NEW SCENE: Write a scene to the play that answers one or more of the following questions:
 What happens when the Youngers move into their new house?
 Does Beneatha marry Asagai?
 Does Beneatha become a doctor?
 Does Beneatha practice in Africa?
 Does Walter ever get to go into business?
 Does Walter ever find Willy Harris?
 Does Ruth have her baby?
 How does Travis fit into his new neighborhood?
Be sure to use stage direction to begin the scene by establishing the setting. All of the action of your scene should
take place at one time and in one location. Type up your scene in play form, approximately 3 pages in length.
5. SOCIAL ISSUES POSTER: Create a tri-fold poster to present one of the social issues discussed in the play.
Choose one issue (abortion, discrimination, poverty, assimilation vs. cultural pluralism, changing roles of
women) and find a current article that relates to the concept. Read the article and follow these steps to create
your tri-fold display:
1. Type up and post a summary of the article.
2. Create and post a chart demonstrating the issue’s evolution or stagnation over time
3. Type up and post several discussion questions that relate to your issue
4. Add graphics, photos, or illustrations