IB Literature (HL) – Summer Reading & Essay Assignment
“Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain
“[Mark Twain] is surprisingly relevant right now. When you look at how much he
wrote and the breadth of the subjects he wrote about, you know that if he were alive
today, he would totally be a blogger.”
— Rebecca Fitting, an owner of the Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, quoted in the 2010 New
York Times article “Mark Twain’s Autobiography Flying Off the Shelves.”
In ''Green Hills of Africa,'' after disposing of Emerson, Hawthorne and Thoreau, and paying off
Henry James and Stephen Crane with a friendly nod, Earnest Hemingway proceeded to
declare, ''All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called
'Huckleberry Finn.' . . . It's the best book we've had. All American writing comes from that.
There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since.''
(In 1884…) “The Springfield Republican” judged it to be
no worse than ''a gross trifling with every fine feeling. . . .
Mr. Clemens has no reliable sense of propriety,'' and the
public library in Concord, Mass., was confident enough to
ban it: ''the veriest trash.'' “The Boston Transcript”
reported that ''other members of the Library Committee
characterize the work as rough, coarse, and inelegant, the
whole book being more suited to the slums than to
intelligent, respectable people.''
Directions: - Select one of the essay topics on the next page,
and after reading and annotating The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn, write an essay in response to your chosen
topic. I would suggest you read over the attached IB Essay
Rubric for guidance. This is the writing rubric we will come
to know – and love – so well this year!
Specifics:
Due the first day of school, September 1, 2015; turnitin.com will be completed first day of class.
900 – 1100 word count; place your word count on the last page.
MLA format (Times New Roman, 12 point, double space)
Original title
Parenthetical Citations and works cited page for Huckleberry Finn textual support; you should
have no additional sources.
 Please do not use outside sources; this is your analysis, your interpretation. Use textual support
from the novel not to pad, but complement & support your ideas.
 Place your word count at the end. (I know I said it before, but it bears repeating!)
 Be certain to have a clear, specific, original thesis statement – which should be the last sentence
of your first paragraph.
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Questions to choose from among (it should be clear from your essay which you selected).
1. The story, set in the early 1800's, revolves around Huck and his developing friendship with a
runaway slave, Jim, who is trying to escape to freedom in the north. While its critics say the book
promotes a negative image of black people (Jim speaks in a crude dialect; the N- word is used over 200
times) – yet others contend that Huck serves as an example of emerging racial tolerance; he grows by
the end of the story and sees Jim as a human being; Huck is overcoming the prejudiced values of his
era. Discuss the development of the relationship between Huck and Jim. What is accomplished?
Where do they stumble? Or fail? What must they overcome? What does their future hold? What
choices are made by Mark Twain as he portrays their relationship?
2. Much has been made about the use of the Mississippi River in this novel. It’s rather easy of course to
call it “symbolic.” But what does it represent? Does the symbolism ebb and flow, shift and change like
a current throughout the novel? Does it represent something different for different characters? What
strategies are used by Mark Twain to make the most of his setting?
3. American literary critic Lionel Trilling once claimed Jim is Huck’s true father. Agree? Disagree?
Defend or refute this statement, while also commenting on the other potential “father” figures within
this novel.
4. One of the frequent criticisms of another legendary American novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is that
Scout sounds far older and wiser than her 7 years. The same has been said of Huck. he has been
accused of knowing more than a fourteen-year-old. boy could possibly understand. Citing specific
evidence from the novel, discuss this statement while taking a position.
5. From the outset of the novel, Huck and Tom are monetarily rich, although Huck is unable to use
his money because of Pap. How are many of the characters and events shaped by economics? During
the escape and adventure with Jim, Huck encounters people of every socio-economic level. How does
he come to view wealth? How does Jim define wealth? How have money and the pursuit of wealth
driven Huck’s story along the Mississippi?
Name ________________________________________
Score _____/44
IB Essay Rubric
Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding – How effectively has the student used the topic and the essay to show
knowledge and understanding of the chosen work?
Score
0
1-2
3-4
5-6
Level Description
The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptions below.
The essay shows some knowledge but little understanding of the work used for the
assignment.
The essay shows knowledge and understanding of, and some insight into, the work used for
the assignment.
The essay shows detailed knowledge and understanding of, and perceptive insight into the
work used for the assignment.
Criterion C: Appreciation of the Writer’s (Author’s) Choices – To what extent does the student appreciate how the
writer’s choices of language, structure, technique and style shape meaning?
Score
0
1-2
3-4
5-6
Level Description
The work does not reach a standard described by the description below.
There is some mention, but little appreciation, of the ways in which language, structure, technique and
style shape meaning.
There is adequate appreciation of the ways in which language, structure, technique and style shape
meaning.
There is excellent appreciation of the ways in which language, structure, technique, and style shape
meaning.
Criterion D: Organization and Development – How effectively have the ideas been organized, and how well are
references to the works integrated into the development of the ideas? (The word count minimum is 900 and maximum is
1,100. Points will be deducted for significantly over and significantly under the required word count.)
Score
0
1
2
3
4
5
(OVER)
Level Description
The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptions below.
There is some attempt to organized ideas, but little use of examples from the works used.
Ideas are superficially organized and developed, with some integrated examples from the works used.
Ideas are adequately organized and developed, with appropriately integrated examples from the works
used.
Ideas are effectively organized and developed, with well-integrated examples from the works used.
Ideas are persuasively organized and developed, with effectively integrated examples from the works used.
Criterion E: Language – How clear, varied and accurate is the language? How appropriate is the choice of register, style
and terminology? (“Register” refers, in this context, to the student’s use of elements such as vocabulary, tone, sentence
structure and terminology appropriate to the task.)
Score
0
1
2
3
4
5
Level Description
The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptions below.
Language is rarely clear and appropriate, there are many errors in grammar, vocabulary and sentence
construction, and little sense of register and style.
Language is sometimes clear and carefully chosen; grammar, vocabulary and sentence construction are
fairly accurate, although errors and inconsistencies are apparent; the register and style are to some extent
appropriate to the task.
Language is clear and carefully chosen, with an adequate degree of accuracy in grammar, vocabulary and
sentence construction despite some lapses; register and style are mostly appropriate to the task.
Language is clear and carefully chosen, with a good degree of accuracy in grammar, vocabulary and
sentence construction; register and style are consistently appropriate to the task.
Language is very clear, effective, carefully chosen and precise, with a high degree of accuracy in grammar,
vocabulary and sentence construction; register and style are effective and appropriate to the task.
Total ______/22 X 2 = ______/44
Turnitin.com submission required; we will do this together when you return to school.