DWIGHT SCHOOL ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
12th Grade Summer 2016 Assignment
IB English A Language and Literature HL II
Mr. Ruelens
Please purchase and read Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, ISBN: 0393975428. Make sure to acquire that Norton Critical Edition of
this text as we will use its supplemental materials in class. Complete all of the following tasks.
Task #1: Annotations
Bronte uses a variety of literary conventions throughout the text. In support of the work that you will complete for Tasks #2 and #3,
as you read, keep track of the following conventions.
!Motifs / symbols of societal attitudes toward women
!Motifs / symbols of poverty or work / class divisions
!Motifs / symbols of rebellion against family / society
!Imagery related to major settings or journeys
!Major shifts or surprises in characterizations
!Any compelling or crucial literary convention of your choice
When you find instances of these conventions, note them by underlining, starring, or otherwise marking the specific passages in your
book. Write the name of the convention in the margins. If you prefer, instead of writing in the book itself, you can use Post-It notes
to mark the page, the passage, and the name of the convention.
You should have at least three (3) annotations for each of the six (6) conventions, for a total of eighteen (18) annotations, which will
be checked by your teacher on the first day of class. Be sure not to choose examples of conventions that are all in one part of the text;
they should, instead, range from the beginning through the middle to the end, demonstrating your complete experience with the text.
Task #2: Reader-Response Journal
Create a reader-response journal that will be a record of your “dialogue” with the novel throughout your reading. This journal will
be in the form of a table with one column for “Excerpt” (and its page number) and one column for “Response.” Choose excerpts
with which you can interact in a meaningful fashion and write responses – of three (3) to four (4) full sentences in length – that
explain how each excerpt either:
!
!
!
!
reveals some aspect of societal attitudes toward women in England at the time,
suggests that Jane is rebelling against family or society,
renders commentary on human relationships or societal conditions (poverty, work, class divisions, etc.), or
teaches some lesson or offers some wisdom about the world that, to you, was previously unknown.
You must choose at least fifteen (15) excerpts and, thus, write at least fifteen (15) responses. The excerpts must span the entire length
of the novel, with at least one (1) excerpt from each major setting and several in between the major settings.
Task #3: Essay
It is often said that literature is a voice for commenting on social issues. How is this true of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre?
Write a formal essay, responding to the above prompt. Your essay should include an introduction paragraph, two (2) body
paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. Your body paragraphs must follow the TEAL format (Topic sentence, Evidence,
Argument, Link back to thesis), with at least three (3) textual examples each.
Bring your annotated book on the first day of class; also print and bring your journal and essay, formatted as follows.
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!
!
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Type Size:
Type Font:
Spacing:
Integrity:
Twelve (12) Point
Times New Roman
Single (Journal); Double (Essay)
At the top of the first page of each writing, type the succinct version of the Dwight School Honor Code:
I did not cheat on this assignment. (The assignments will be submitted to the anti-plagiarism site Turnitin.com.
Instructions on how to do so will be provided on the first day of class.)
If you have any questions about the assignment, email Mr. Ruelens at [email protected]. Do not forget that you also need to
complete a full draft of your main college essay. Have a wonderful summer, and we look forward to seeing you in September!