Mrs. Holt
9th Honors Literature and Composition
[email protected]
2017 Summer Reading Assignment
Honors Standards:
Welcome to Honors Literature. Our goal is to prepare you for the rigors of college. The purpose of the
summer reading assignment is to provide students an opportunity to demonstrate both their abilities
and their willingness to work. Experience indicates that students who do not complete the assignments
are not yet independent enough to do the course work required in Honors English. You will read TWO
books and complete the writing assignments detailed here. Some of the key differences in honors and
regular literature classes:
1. Regular homework and/or reading.
2. Absence impact. More than likely students will need to stay after school to make up instruction,
take a quiz, etc.
3. Google classroom. There will be a variety of assignments that must be submitted here. You need to
have access to technology, whether at home, before or after school at WBHS, the local library, etc.
Prerequisite:
Assignments are due the first week of school – Friday, August 4, 2017. This due date is the same time
for all students, whether enrolled in 9th Honors Literature first or second semester. You will start the
semester with a zero as a test grade if you do not complete the assignment. This test grade cannot be
replaced with alternate assignments, and students will not be given another chance to complete the
summer reading assignment. In addition, there will be major writing assignments based on the summer
reading as the term progresses. If you have not completed them, you will have a difficult time being
successful in the class. Academic dishonesty will also result in a zero with no chance for revision, so
please be sure all work that you turn in is entirely your own. Please carefully consider NOW whether
you are ready for the honors literature challenge. Schedule changes after the start of the semester are
VERY rare.
Submission:
Once complete, your assignments MUST be submitted to me in hard copy in a 9X12 envelope. All
parts of the assignments, including the composition notebook, should be submitted in the envelope. On
the front of the envelope, write your name, the two novels you read, and the semester and class period
that you are taking 9th Honor Literature. You certainly want to get full credit for your work. Submitting in
this format will help ensure your work stays intact and earns you full credit.
* Academic honesty: As always, all work must originate with the student. Students will receive a zero in
the case of academic dishonesty.
Questions?
Feel free to email me with any questions. It may take me a few days to respond over the summer, but
I am happy to help. I want students to be successful with these assignments.
Book One: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
As you read the novel, answer the following questions in a composition notebook. Copy the question
number and the question into your notebook, then write your response in complete sentences. Most of
the questions ask for your opinion, which cannot be wrong. However, you need to support your
responses with evidence from the text. Do not be overly concerned with spelling, punctuation, usage,
etc., though I need to be able to read your work. In addition, your response should reflect a thoughtful
reading of the entire novel.
To Kill a Mockingbird Reaction Notes
1. Why do you think the author chose the quote she chose for the beginning of the novel?
2. What are some essential family history and values that have shaped the people in Maycomb County?
3. How was life different for children during the time in which the book is set than it is now?
4. What is Walter Cunningham like? What do you think of the way Atticus treats him? What does his behavior
during lunch suggest about his family and his home life? What does Scout learn from Walter’s visit?
5. Briefly describe Miss Caroline’s interaction with Burris Ewell. What does this suggest about Miss Caroline? What
does it suggest about the Ewells?
6. Why do you think the children made Boo’s story into a game? Why does Atticus disapprove of this?
7. Who do you think is leaving Jem and Scout gifts? Why do you think he/she is doing this?
8. Why does Atticus feel he should defend Tom Robinson? In what ways might Atticus’s decision to defend Tom
Robinson affect his career, his reputation, and his family? Do you agree or disagree with Atticus’s decision to
defend Tom Robinson? Explain.
9. How does Scout opinion of her father change after the mad dog incident? (Include how she feels about him
before and after the incident.)
10. Characterize Mrs. Dubose. What does Jem learn from his experience with Mrs. Dubose?
11. What are Aunt Alexandra’s ideas of family and breeding? How do you feel about her beliefs?
12. Since her mother is deceased, several other women – Calpurnia, Aunt Alexandra, and Miss Maudie – function
as mother figures for Scout. How do they influence Scout’s view of what it means to be a Southern lady?
13. Paraphrase the situation at the jailhouse. Why is this event significant?
14. Describe how the Maycomb people act at the courthouse square.
15. What is your impression of Mr. Gilmer, the prosecutor?
16. What is the significance of the children sitting in the “colored balcony?”
17. Why does Dill react the way he does during the trial?
18. How does Jem feel after the trial? Why do you think Jem feels differently than others in Maycomb?
19. What is your reaction to the trial? Do you agree with the outcome? Why or why not?
20. Describe Scout and Jem’s revelations about people after the trial. What are your thoughts on this?
21. What happens to Tom at the end of the story? How do you feel about it?
22. What happens to Bob Ewell at the end of the story? How do you feel about it?
23. Describe your views of Boo Radley? Have the changed throughout the story?
24. How does Jem change throughout the novel?
25. How is the town of Maycomb similar to Winder?
26. How are the issues discussed in the novel still relevant today?
27. What do you think the author intended you to get out of her story?
28. Explain the title of the novel.
29. What symbolism can be found throughout the novel?
30. Why is this novel categorized as a “coming of age” story?
Book Two: Independent Novel
There is both a writing component AND a creative component required for the second novel. In order to
receive full credit, you MUST complete both. Please note, some of the novels on the list below may
include mature content and/or deal with sensitive subjects. I recommend researching the novel choices
before making your decision. Of course you are welcome to change your novel if time allows.
Novels:
All reading is to be done from the original text, rather than abridged versions, summaries, or text-aids.
Choose one of the novels below:
The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon
I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios
The Secret Side of Empty by Maria Andreu
Sugar by Diedre Riordan Hall
We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielson
When by Victoria Laurie
Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed
Caged by Alan Sitomer
Far From You by Tess Sharpe
Free to Fall by Lauren Miller
Girls Like Us by Gail Giles
Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano
Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern
When I Was the Greatest by James Reynolds
Assignment A: Written Component
As you read:
Select five passages from your independent novel. For each passage or quotation, select from one of
the eleven entry prompts listed and develop a response. This should be done in the same composition
notebook used for To Kill a Mockingbird. The purpose of the two-column journal is to record your
interactions with the text as you progress through the novel.
 Show that you have read the entire novel by responding to passages from the entire novel.
 Your journal MUST have two columns. Divide the page in half. Title the column on the left:
“Passages from the Text.” Title the column on the right “Commentary/Responses.”
 Each of your commentaries should be seven to ten sentences in length.
 An entry prompt may be used only once.
Entry Prompts
1. The imagery reveals…
2. The setting gives the effect of…
3. The author seems to feel…
4. The tone of this part is…
5. The character(s) feel(s)…
6. This is ironic because…
7. The detail seems effective/out of place/important because…
8. An interesting word/phrase/sentence/thought is…
9. Something I notice/appreciate/don’t appreciate/wonder about is…
10. This reminds me of…
Example Two-Column Journal Entry
This is a sample for the work Bless Me, Ultima.
Passage from the Text
She took my hand, and I felt the power
of the whirlwind sweep around me. Her
eyes swept the surrounding hills and
through them I saw for the first time the
wild beauty of our hills and the magic of
the green river. My nostrils quivered as I
felt the song of the mockingbirds and the
drone of the grasshoppers mingle with
the pulse of the earth” (12).
Commentary/Responses
The imagery reveals Tony’s sense of the
earth around him. As Ultima touches his
hand, he is drawn into what seems to be
a new and wondrous universe. This
powerful experience makes Tony think
that Ultima knows his fate and that they
will be close. It can be inferred that their
relationship will be a significant part of
the novel.
After you read:
Also in your composition notebook, write a response to the following writing prompts. Copy the
question number and the question, then write your response in paragraph format.
1. Identify one of the major themes of the novel. Explain how the author develops the theme
throughout the text.
2. Each of the novels deals with at least one specific issue that can be related to social issues in
existence today or issues affected teens in the United States and around the world. Explain the
connection between the issue or issues related in the novel and our real world today.
3. Choose one character from the text and describe him or her in depth. Include physical and
personality traits. Also discuss how the character contributes to the text as a whole.
4. Include an overall response to the text. This is not a plot summary, this is your reaction to the
story. Include specific examples and evidence from the text.
Assignment B: Creative Component
For the creative component, select ONE from the following:
A. Create an original poem (not haiku) or song reflecting thesis/characters/etc. A short (3 to 5
sentences) explanation of the connection to the novel is required.
B. Create an artistic rendition along with a 3 to 5 sentence explanation of the piece and its
connection to the novel.
C. Write a series of 10-12 Twitter like responses that hold true to the 140 character limit per
“tweet” to a particular element of the novel (scene, character, event, etc.)
D. Create a playlist of at least 5 songs that reflect elements of the book (theme, character, scene,
etc.) Provide the lyrics and a short (1 to 3 sentence) explanation for each song detailing the
relevance and connection to the novel.
E. Create a webpage or Facebook page for the novel/character with a short explanation (7 to 10
sentences).
NOTE: All creative options must be completed on 8 ½ X 11 copy paper. Only hard copies of the creative
option will be accepted.