Brunswick High School
Summer Reading Program 2013-2014
Requirements for 10th Grade Language Arts – Regular
Purpose: The purpose of the Brunswick High School Summer Reading Program is to encourage students to
pursue a lifelong love of reading. By choosing books that are both engaging and entertaining, students can reinforce
their literacy skills. The goal of the program is to have students develop a sense of ownership in their reading and
maintain literary focus.
Theme: Summer reading choices explore the theme of surviving in a dystopian and futuristic world
Please select ONE of the following book titles:
To see summaries of the reading selections, please go to www.bn.com and search the title of the selection.
▪ Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
▪ Divergent by Veronica Roth
▪ The Running Man by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman)
▪ The Maze Runner by James Dashner
▪ Matched by Ally Condie
Summer Assignment: Complete the Dialectical Journal Guided Reading worksheet and complete annotations in
your text. Students should read the characteristics of a dystopian world in science fiction and the guidelines for
annotating the text as they read the book. In the Dialectical Journal, students will need to find 7 quotes, and identify
how those quote demonstrate the characteristics of a dystopian novel and reflect on the meaning of the quote in
context to the novel. Worksheet and annotation guidelines are attached. These assignments will be part of the work
habits grade.
Due Date: The summer reading assignment is due on AUGUST 20, 2013. No late summer reading assignments
will be accepted.
Response Essay: Upon your return to school in August, students will be responsible for writing an essay based on
their summer reading. Language Arts teachers will provide students with more information about essay assignment
and expectations during the first week of school. This writing assignment will be part of the content mastery grade.
10th Grade Language Arts: Required Summer Reading 2013
As a ninth grade student, you must pick ONE of the dystopian novels offered in the 10th grade summer
reading assignment. Each reading assignment will require annotations in the text, so we are asking you to
purchase your own copy of the novel. Each reading assignment will also include a separate assignment and
will be connected and expanded upon the beginning of the school year. Be prepared to use this text
throughout the year, as they will be continuously connected to the curriculum and serve as a basis for our
exploration of reading, writing, and research.
It is our expectation that you will understand and be very familiar with the plot of these texts. Rather than
plot summary, the focus of the summer reading is to analyze the literary text, structure, and impact.
How to Annotate a Text:
Before Reading:
▪ Examine the front and back covers (books)
▪ Read the title and any subtitles
▪ Examine the illustrations
▪ Examine the print (bold, italics, etc.)
▪ Examine the way the text is set up (book, short story, diary, dialogue, article, etc.)
▪ As you examine and read these, write questions, and make predictions and/or connections near these
parts of the text.
During Reading mark in the text:
▪ Characters – descriptions, conflict, changes, thoughts
▪ Setting – imagery, description, relation to mood
▪ Unknown/unfamiliar vocabulary
▪ Important information/quotes
▪ Big ideas (themes)
▪ Symbols, trends, motifs
▪ Similes, metaphors, allusions
Write in the margins:
▪ Summarize
▪ Make predictions
▪ Formulate opinions
▪ Make connections
▪ Ask questions
▪ Analyze the author’s craft
▪ Write reflections/reactions/comments
▪ Look for patterns/repetition
After Reading:
▪ Reread annotations—draw conclusions
▪ Reread introduction and conclusion—try to figure out something new
▪ Examine patterns/repetitions—determine possible meanings
▪ Determine what the title might mean
These annotations will be graded for a work habit grade. Annotations should be present throughout the
entire novel and include handwritten notes, along with highlighted or underlined passages.
Post-it notes are also acceptable. You must show evidence of annotating the text. This should reflect
purposeful thought and active reading, as well as engagement with the text.
Dystopian Novels and Assignment:
Choose One:
▪ Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
▪ Divergent by Veronica Roth
▪ The Running Man by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman)
▪ The Maze Runner by James Dashner
▪ Matched by Ally Condie
 Read and annotate the ENTIRE text with detailed notes throughout. Complete the dilatecial
journal guided reading sheet that is attached.
For your summer reading selection, we are asking that you annotate your novel following the above
guidelines and take notes on the dialectical journal guided reading chart. We will use the dialectical journal
guided reading chart and the annotated text to assist with the writing of an essay once we return to school.
The chart and your annotated text are due on Tuesday, August 20th.
Dystopias: Definition and Characteristics
* Adapted from ReadWriteThink.Org
Utopia: A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and
conditions. (This is the direct opposite of a dystopia.)
Dystopia: A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect
society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control.
Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal
norm, or political system.
Characteristics of a Dystopian Society:

Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society.

Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.

A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the society.

Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance.

Citizens have a fear of the outside world.

Citizens live in a dehumanized state.

The natural world is banished and distrusted.

Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and dissent are bad.

The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.
The Dystopian Protagonist:

The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world

Often feels trapped and is struggling to escape.

Questions the existing social and political systems.

Believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in which he or she lives.

Helps the audience recognizes the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or her
perspective.
Name: _______________________________________ Date: __________ Period: ____
Identifying Quotes from the Novel to Illustrate Characteristics of a Dystopia
While reading the novel of your choice, extract quotes/passages that illustrate or support the
characteristics of a dystopia. You may use more than one quote per characteristic.
You need a minimum of 7 quotes. Be sure to record the page numbers!
Quote(s) and Page Number
1) The Characteristic the Quote Supports
2) HOW the Quote Supports the Characteristic