Longview High School Summer Reading Requirements
PreAP English I / 9th Grade IS
2010 - 2011
Mrs. Nancy Coots / Ms. Rochelle Ceballos
Due the first day of school
Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
To All Incoming PAP English I /9th Grade International Scholar Students,
Along with your summer reading, you will be required to complete particular types of
writing assignments connected to The Last Lecture. Exams will be given over Five
People You Meet in Heaven and The Hot Zone. In addition to this, work will be
completed in your English, geography, and biology classes over the book The Hot Zone.
All assignments will be placed within a bracketed folder with a cover sheet. All writing will be
typed and double-spaced for this project using size 12 Times New Roman font! A heading in
large print should be on the outside of the folder with your name, ID number, and class period. A
table of contents page must be created and placed in the front of the folder; therefore, all pages
will be numbered. This is a formal assignment; use formal language – not slang! Your writing
assignments for each book MUST be put together in the following order:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Explain the significance of the title to the meaning of the book. Authors
do not choose a title randomly; usually, it is symbolic in some way or
some type of narrative hook. (1/2 - 1 page)
Describe the setting – time period, location, etc. – and explain why it is
important to the book (why the story is set where it is).
Identify the main conflict (*type and *category) and describe in detail
(1/2 page).
*Type – internal or external conflict
*Category – man vs. man; man vs. himself; man vs. nature; man vs.
society
Identify and discuss the main character(s). Identify all major
components of characterization the author used to describe this
person(s).
Characterization Techniques – physical appearance, dialogue, inner
thoughts, actions, and what others say about them. Remember these are
the details the author uses to help the reader get to know the main
character(s) as a person.
5.
6.
7.
Describe what event caused a major change in the main character(s) and
explain how the character(s) changed. These changes may have been a
consequence of a choice, a conflict, a display of some outstanding trait
like courage, or even a result of events that occur during the novel. (1/2
– 1 page)
Identify three truths about human nature from the book, give an
example from the story that illustrates each, and briefly discuss. Don’t
forget to use transitional words in your writing and to employ complete
sentence construction.
In a dialectical journal (two column style) copy ten of your favorite
sentences from the book in the left column. In the right column explain
how your quote relates to the book and add a personal response to the
quote (what you think about it, why you like it or don’t like it, how it
makes you feel.) THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE AS YOU READ THE
BOOK! We recommend you divide your book into 3-4 sections and
pull quotes from each section.
Be prepared to write thematic analyses of your books in class! Get started now! Don’t
procrastinate! Annotate as you read! Objective exams will be given over the books.
Remember - no written work is required for The Hot Zone. English, science, and
geography teachers will be implementing this book into their own classroom
curriculums. This applies also to Five People You Meet in Heaven; however, you
must be prepared to take exams over them in your English class along with other
assignments.
Any questions this summer concerning this assignment may be directed to us at
[email protected] or [email protected].
More information will be posted on the LHS website. A summer reading link has been
created on our teacher websites with writing examples for you to peruse. Check it out!
Books can be purchased at local bookstores and online. Google “used books” and many
websites will pop up. You may be lucky enough to find some books for a penny! It is
imperative you purchase your own copies of the books so that you can make notations
in them as you read. This is an important part of the writing process.