Greenville High School
Summer Reading Program
Students in the Greenville Independent School District for the 2011-2012
school year are invited to participate in a summer reading program.
Greenville High School students should select a book based on their grade
classification for 2011-12. Summer reading projects will be due during the
second week of the 2011-12 school year (Aug. 29—Sept. 2, 2011), and
each student will receive an enrichment grade for his/her project which will
be used to help the student’s average. The summer reading program will
culminate with a “Book Share Day” scheduled during the third week of
school (Sept. 6-9). Students who participate will be invited to enjoy a pizza
party and earn a “Jeans Pass” for dress code.
Book Selection—
Pre-AP and AP English Courses:
Teachers of these courses already have tests and projects planned.
English I Pre-AP To Kill A Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
English II Pre-AP & World Experience The Pearl
by John Steinbeck
English III AP
The Scarlet Letter
English IV AP
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Regular English Courses for 2011-2012:
English I (9th grade) – Students will select a book that follows these criteria:
200 pages in length, 6
th
grade or higher reading level, and school appropriate content.
English II (10th grade) – Students will select a book that follows these criteria:
200 pages in length, 6
th
at least
at least
grade or higher reading level, and school appropriate content.
English III American Literature (11th grade) – Students will select a book that follows
these criteria:
at least 200 pages in length, 6th grade or higher reading level, school
appropriate content, and written by an American novelist. Lists of American writers will
be available, and students will be required to provide proof of the writer’s birth place.
This information can come from an encyclopedia, internet, etc.
English IV British Literature (12th grade) – Students will select a book that follows
these criteria:
at least 200 pages in length, 6th grade or higher reading level, school
appropriate content, and written by British novelist. Lists of British writers will be
available, and students will be required to provide proof of the writer’s birth place. This
information can come from an encyclopedia, internet, etc.
Note: Students enrolled in regular English I-IV may select any novel
from the Pre-AP and AP lists or the suggested list regardless of the
book length.
Projects for Summer Reading—
Select one of the five possible projects for your enrichment grade for the summer
reading program.
#1 Novel CD Project
Materials needed: one empty compact disc case, various materials for decorating the CD
cover, paper for completing the written part of the assignment that will fit in the CD.
Create a name for your singer/band which reflects the content or theme from
your novel. Ex. ―Huckleback‖ for Huck Finn
Provide at least 10 song titles which chronicle some of the major events from
the novel.
Of the ten song titles, three must be selected which will be developed into
poems revealing insight, themes, etc. from the novel.
Each poem must be at least 30 lines in length. The content must be appropriate.
Extensive use of repetition instead of meaningful language will result in grade
reduction. It is your responsibility to make sure that your poems clearly express
meaning and connect to the novel.
It is okay to use existing songs and change the words to fit your novel. Having a
tune helps! Do not take an existing song and only change a few words—no credit
for these shortcuts.
Each CD should be decorated with effort.
Include information such as the name of the producer, record company, and so
on to make the CD appear authentic.
Grading: each song is worth 25 points (75 total) and the creativity of the CD
design is up to 25 points. There will be some sample CD’s in the office for
models.
#2 Movie-Mania
Select a vivid chapter of your novel to bring to life. This project will probably enlist the
help of family and friends. Recreating the scenes with details that make characters
recognizable and the plot understandable is a must. A script must be provided along with
the final movie for the major grade. Upload the movie to a website or put on a DVD/video.
Create a movie of five minute minimum that recreates a chapter from your novel.
Make sure characters and setting fit the descriptions from the novel.
Create a script (2-3 Pages) with lines of the actors and directions for the action.
Grading: 50 points for the finished movie and 50 points for the script.
#3 Two Thumbs-up! (Internet Book Review)
For students who love the internet and blogging, this may be your assignment! Create an
online account with GoodReads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing. Students will be required to
submit a review and post comments about other reviews. Please do not copy and paste
from other sites!
Create your account with your chosen review site and write a 300 word review
concerning your book. This will require literary analysis skills such as understanding
symbolism, themes, imagery, foreshadowing, irony, and others. Your grade will be
based on the quality of your review, so avoid meaningless language, repetition,
summarizing the book. You must reference five literary elements.
Write five comments for other reviewer postings on your book. You must write at
least 50 words for each comment. You may post these on more than one site. Make
sure that you write down where all this information has been posted for your
teacher to grade it. Make a hard copy of all work.
Grading: 50 points for the book review and 10 points for each commentary posted.
#4 Graphic Novel or Cartoon
Students will select a chapter from their chosen book to bring to life in graphic novel
style. Students may present the graphic novel on a large poster board divided into
sections or create a book with pages.
Select a chapter with lots of action and character dialogue.
Break the chapter into ―scenes‖ to plan the images. There must be at least five
panels.
For each image, there must be either a caption at the bottom describing what has
happened or characters with speaking/thought bubbles.
Creativity—make sure that you are able to depict the scenes with accuracy.
Grading: 50 % will be determined by the details and adherence to the novel’s plot.
The other 50% will count for the overall creativity and presentation of the
cartoon/graphic novel. Artistic talent required.
#5 Characterization T-Shirt
Students will create a full-sized t-shirt which involves characterization of one character
from the book. Along with understanding the depth of the character, creativity in the
overall presentation of the t-shirt is also important.
Locate a large t-shirt with fabric suitable for writing and painting.
Brainstorm character traits for your chosen character.
Include a detailed drawing of the character on the front of the shirt. Consider using an
iron-on printout from the computer. You can scan the image. The title, author, and name of
the character must also be on the front of the shirt.
There must be at least ten words or phrases that describe the character around the image
of the character.
On the left sleeve must be listed at least three weaknesses; on the right sleeve must be
written at least three strengths of the character.
On the back of the t-shirt must be an original comparison (simile/metaphor) that brings out
meaning about the character’s role in the novel. In addition, students should include the
character’s two main conflicts, tell if the character is flat/round, static/dynamic, and when
the climax of the story occurs for the character.
Neatness and creativity will be very important.
Grading: Image of character: 25 pts; Descriptions: 10 pts., Character’s
name/Author/title: 5 pts., Weaknesses/Strengths: 20 pts.,
Comparison/conflicts/character traits/climax: 25 pts., Creativity/neatness: 15 pts.