2016 English II Honors Summer Reading Assignment
Summer Reading:
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
Available for free online: http://ebookbees.com/brave-new-world-free-ebook/
How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Thomas C. Foster
Available for free online:
http://ziveuniverzity.sk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Foster-How-to-Read-Literature-Likea-Professor.pdf
While it is not required, you are welcome to purchase a copy of either of these (new or used), or
check one out from your local library.
Assignments:
1. How to Read Literature Like a Professor - This text is an easy-to-read introduction to
the patterns of symbolic meaning in literary texts and is a helpful secondary source for
Honors and AP English. We suggest reading it before Brave New World, as it may help to
make some parts of the novel more meaningful to you and will assist you for future
assignments.
If you’re one of those overachievers (you know who you are), go ahead and actually read
the entire thing– it will make your life so much easier! If you’re one of those people who
struggles a bit to understand the hero’s journey, symbolism, Biblical allusions, etc., you
should also read the entire thing – the information in it is a decoder ring for literature.
Regardless of how you approach this text, we will eventually cover its entire contents in
class – it will make your life so much easier!
For this text you will complete the following:
A. Choose seven chapters from How to Read Literature Like a Professor that you
think apply to Brave New World, and analyze your novel using the literary
techniques you learned in those chapters (yes, you’ll have to actually read the
seven chapters you choose). Discuss the application to your novel by using
specific textual evidence from both books to support your interpretation. Your
responses should not be superficial, but in-depth with specific responses that are
composed in paragraph form. In-text citations are both appropriate and expected
and be sure to fully embed any quoted material and cite it in MLA format.

Avoid listing, summarizing, paraphrasing, or just “pointing out”
information – you will analyze and look for the larger meaning created
via the use of literary techniques (why or how is it important to the
overall understanding or meaning of the novel?).

You may organize your analysis in any way you choose, but it should
be typed and formatted following MLA format.

All responses should reflect independent and original work. We want
to know what you think, not someone else.
B. Type your responses using MLA format (Times-New-Roman, 12-point font, 1”
margins, double spaced, header on pages 2-?) and citations for quotes. If you are
unsure how to follow MLA guidelines visit the following website for help:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/. Please label each of your
journal responses with the corresponding chapter title.
C. Save your responses to a flash drive or USB – you do not need to bring a
hardcopy to class. You will bring your saved work to class on the first day of
school and submit it electronically during class.
2. Read Brave New World and then use the text to complete the assignment outlined
above. No, you don’t need to annotate the text.
Please see either Mrs. Beckman-Regalado (room C-2) or Ms. Pristera (room F-1) prior to
leaving for summer break with any questions or concerns. Should you need to email us over the
summer, please email BOTH of us, and be aware that there may be a delayed response time.
We look forward to getting to know you when the 2016-17 school year begins!
Enjoy your break,
Mrs. Beckman-Regalado
[email protected]
*Adapted from [email protected]
and
Ms. Pristera
[email protected]