Ninth Grade Summer Reading Assignment
Bunker Hill High School
English Department
Purpose: The intentions of your summer reading assignment are to get you familiar with the
terms, skills, and activities we will be working with throughout the semester. As a student, it is
important to be proficient reader; learning never stops. We hope that this summer reading
assignment helps foster a love for reading that will continue long after you have finished.
Expectations: On the first day of school, this novel and assignment will be used as a jumping
off point for the semester. There will be several activities tied to the assignment and novel; not
reading will put you at a disadvantage. Because of a lack of understanding, you will not be able
to participate in classroom activities and discussion until the novel and assignment are finished.
Completion of the assignment and reading of the novel will be reflected in your grade.
The chosen books have been selected because of high interest. Past students have raved about
this book. We hope you love it just as much or more.
Assignment:
Part I: To Kill a Mockingbird Portfolio Assignment: Worth 100 Points
Part II: To Kill a Mockingbird Project & Essay Worth 100 Points
Part III: Research Paper : What Does It Mean to be a an AIG/Honors Student. Worth 100 Points
If you have questions, you may email me at [email protected]
All assignments are DUE August 24th 2015!
Please Email ALL ASSIGNMENTS TO ME BY THIS DATE!!
[email protected]
Regardless of the semester you are taking Honors English! No Exceptions!
First Assignment
To Kill a Mockingbird Portfolio
You must READ To Kill a Mockingbird and choose ONE component from EACH section to
complete based on the novel TKAM. You will turn in a total of 4 assignments, each for 25
points, totaling 100 points. These can be hand written or typed. You do not need to turn in a
rough draft or outline for any of these assignments. You will be graded on grammar, spelling,
content, and accuracy of your answer. These assignments must be stapled together or in a folder
at the beginning of the hour on the due date.
CHARACTER- Article MUST be at least 100 words in length; check grammar and spelling!
1. Reflect on your reactions to the main characters in To Kill A Mockingbird - Scout,
Atticus, Jem, Bill, Calpurnia, Tom Robinson, Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell, and Boo
Radley. Which of these did you find most likeable? Least likeable? Explain your opinions
2. Literary characters are considered to be "flat" when they are presented by the author as
one-sided and behaving in ways that are predictable. Characters are considered "round"
when they are depicted as having greater complexity and depth, some weaknesses and
some strengths, and a wide range of human emotions. Which characters in the Harper Lee
novel struck you as being more "flat" or more "round"? Why might an author create flat
characters in a given work? Are the minor characters in To Kill A Mockingbird - e.g. Miss
Maudie, Calpurnia, Aunt Alexandra, Miss Fisher (the schoolteacher), Nathan Radley,
Mrs. Dubose, Mr. Cunningham, Sheriff Tate, and others - one dimensional, or do some
have "round" qualities?
3. An important part of the novel is Harper Lee's characterization of the three children Scout, Jem, and Dill, who gain life experiences and mature as they face different
problems and interact with the adults in the novel. Think about your childhood and the
way you viewed the other children and the adults in your environment. Discuss how your
impressions of people changed or did not change as you gained experience and came to
know people better over the years. How do these people relate to the characters in the
novel?
4. Many of the characters in the novel are depicted by the author as classifying each other
according to rigid categories. They hold stereotypes about how individuals will behave as
a result of their age, gender, race, social status, and other fixed categories. Which
characters are the victims of stereotyping? Do any of them break through the behavior
expected of them, showing individuality and exposing the falseness of narrowly labeling
people? If so, provide specific textual evidence that clearly illustrates your point.
POINT OF VIEW: Article MUST be at least 100 words in length and check grammar and
spelling.
1. The novel begins as the voice of a mature adult recalling events from childhood and
sometimes shifts to the point of view of a six-year old. Did you notice the shifts
occurring? If so, did you find them distracting? How are these perspectives - the knowing
adult's and the innocent child's - developed in the narration? What advantages did the
author have as a result of being able to move from one perspective to the other?
2. W. E. B. DuBoise speaks of "double-consciousness" - the sense of having to look at
oneself through the eyes of others. Which characters in To Kill A Mockingbird are
basically forced to look at themselves through the lens of others, being expected to
behave as other people want them to behave? Provide specific textual evidence that
clearly illustrates your point.
3. Do you believe that the sense of "double consciousness" is still strong in our present
society? That is, to what extent are people of different ethnicities, social classes, genders,
and age levels essentially defined by others today? To what extent do you feel that you
are forced to behave according to other's views of you? How are you affected when
others define you? Consider how the person doing the defining is affected.
4. Is some measure of "double consciousness" inevitable in human relations and in society?
Why, or why not?
SETTING: Article MUST be at least 100 words in length and check grammar and spelling.
1. Compare the city of Maycomb to the place where you grew up, noting only similarities.
2. The story is set in a small town in southern Alabama during the Depression of the 1930s.
What aspects of the story seem to be particular to that place and time? What aspects of
the story are universal, cutting across time and place? In what ways are the people you
know today similar to and different from those in Maycomb? Provide specific textual
evidence that clearly illustrates your point.
3. Contrast the city of Maycomb to the place where you grew up, noting only differences.
PLOT: Article MUST be at least 100 words in length and check grammar and spelling.
1. Did To Kill A Mockingbird hold your interest? What parts of the story held your interest
most strongly? Why? What parts seemed less interesting? Why?
2. What are the chief conflicts in the story? Do they have clear starting points and
resolutions? Were any conflicts left unresolved? Were any conflicts resolved in ways that
you found disturbing? Provide specific textual evidence that clearly illustrates your
point.
3. Many readers see To Kill A Mockingbird as having two parts, one centering on Boo
Radley and the other on the trial of Tom Robinson. How were the two stories brought
together at the end of the novel? When you were reading the novel, how did you handle
the shift of emphasis from Boo Radley to the trial?
STAPLE THIS TO THE FRONT OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT AND CIRCLE OR
HIGHLIGHT YOUR CHOICES.
This is a major assignment and is worth 100 points
Second Assignment
To Kill a Mockingbird Project & Essay
1. One of the most notable quotes in To Kill a Mockingbird is by Atticus Finch: “You never
really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until you
climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
2. Here is your chance to do just that. Your assignment is to pick someone whose shoes you
might be interested in walking in. You can choose anyone: a teacher, a custodian,
principal, coach, someone from your place of worship, a relative, or anyone else that you
would like to know more about.
3. You should shadow that person for several hours. It doesn't have to be all at one time.
Watch what he does. Ask questions. Get to know this person and his job better than you
ever thought possible. In other words, become that person.
4. Make sure you take notes on your discussions, making sure to record any significant
quotes, which could be used in your project.
5. When this phase of your assignment is completed, begin writing your essay.
6. Begin with an introductory paragraph in which you explain your choice for this project.
In other words, why did you select this person?
7. Next, write at least two body paragraphs that explain your experiences. Make sure that
you include AT LEAST TWO quotes from your subject.
8. Finally, write a concluding paragraph. Reflect on your experience. Connect it to the
novel. Does Atticus’ advice mean more now than it did when you first read the quote?
What did you learn? Has it changed your thinking at all? Do you have any advice for
your peers?
This is a major assignment and is worth 100 points
Essay Requirements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
A minimum of five paragraphs.
Times New Roman Font, Size 12, Typed & double-spaced.
At least two quotes from your subject with MLA Citations.
For MLA Citations visit http://www.citationmachine.net/Visual aid (e.g., a photo, a
brochure)
Third Assignment
What does it mean to be an AIG student?
1. You will write a three to five page research paper on being an AIG student. Ideas to
consider: Defining an AIG/Honors student, Perspectives (student, parent, teacher,
administrator, school system, state and national departments of education), cost of
educating an AIG/Honors student, and how to educate an AIG/Honors student. The paper
must be typed in 12 point Times New Roman and double spaced with one inch margins
top, bottom, and sides. The header must include your name (Last Name, Name you go by
in that order), title of the assignment, and date.
2. You must have at least five sources. Only two of these sources can be from the internet.
You may use one interview as a source. Other sources will be hardcopies of newspapers,
books, EBooks are acceptable, and magazines.
3. You must cite each source using MLA form in footnotes, no in text citations. Go to this
website for the correct way to cite a source. http://www.citationmachine.net/mla/cite-abook
4. You must run you paper through http://www.paperrater.com/free_paper_grader and self
grade the paper for all four areas on the website http://www.achievementfirst.org/highschool/interactive-writing-rubric/#language prior to submission of both a rough draft and
final copy.
5. If you have any questions, you may email me at [email protected]