Oak Ridge High School
1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
(865) 425-9601 Fax: (865) 425-9678
May 1, 2017
Dear Freshman English Honors Student,
Principal
Martin G. McDonald
Assistant Principals
Beth Estep
Amber Henry
B. Scotty Herrell
Stephanie Thompson
The teachers of Freshman English Honors want to take this time to welcome you to Oak Ridge
High School. For summer reading, we would like you to read an excerpt from Books 9-12 of The
Odyssey (available on the school website.) If you cannot find the PDF file or you do not have
internet access, please contact the school for a paper copy. The Odyssey tells the story of
Odysseus, a famous Trojan War hero, who struggles to return home to his wife and son after 20
years abroad. In his time away from home, Odysseus experiences many extraordinary obstacles,
which are detailed in Books 9-12. Your reading will pick up in King Alcinous’s court, where
Odysseus relays his incredible story of gods, cannibals, sirens, and cyclopes in hopes that the
Phaeacians can help him return to his home in Ithaca.
You will also need to choose one of the following books to accompany your reading of The
Odyssey:
 Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals
 Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Bryan Mealer and William Kamkwamba
 Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
 Life of Pi by Yann Martel
 The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez
Please take time to read online reviews and the synopsis of each book on Amazon. You can find
these novels available for purchase at Books-A-Million or on Amazon. You may also purchase a
digital copy for the Kindle or Nook. McKay’s in Knoxville may have used copies, or you can
check out the book from the local library. If you have trouble getting a copy of any of these
books, please contact the school for assistance.
You will need to complete both of the following assignments by the first day of school (July 31,
2017):
Athletic Director
Mike Mullins
1. Compose a short essay comparing Odysseus’s
journey with that of your book’s protagonist.
Although Odysseus’s journey is physical, your
book’s hero/heroine’s journey may be
psychological, spiritual, or emotional. You need
to focus on an abstract comparison between the
two texts even if your book includes a physical
journey. (For example, Pi is obviously on a
physical journey in Life of Pi, but your essay
should focus more on his inner journey. In other
words, do not simply write that Pi and Odysseus
are alike because they both spend time on a boat.)
Be sure the similarities you choose can be logically
supported with textual evidence. Include four
paragraphs in your essay (introduction, two body
paragraphs, and a conclusion). Your body
paragraphs will need to follow the standard
TIQATIQAC format. Your essay should be typed
and double-spaced in Times New Roman 12 point
font.
TIQATIQAC
Body Paragraph Format
Topic Sentence (statement of
similarity)
Introduce Quote (give context)
Quote from the first text (to
support topic sentence)
Analyze Quote (explain how
the quote supports your
topic sentence)
Transition to the next quote
Introduce Quote
Quote from the second text
Analyze Quote
Clincher Sentence
Oak Ridge High School
1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
(865) 425-9601 Fax: (865) 425-9678
2.
Your second task is to retell an important event or scene from either your chosen book or the
excerpt from The Odyssey from another character’s perspective. This is a creative
assignment, so you have quite a bit of flexibility in what you can write. However, your
narrative needs to stay true to the story and the characters. Make sure that your dialogue is
consistent with the character’s language in the text. Nothing you write should directly
contradict the original text. Before starting your essay, include the page numbers and a brief
summary of the scene/event you are retelling. This 2-3 page essay should also be typed and
double-spaced in Times New Roman 12 point font.
Refer to the following charts for help constructing your essays:
Principal
Your comparison essay should:
Martin G. McDonald




Assistant Principals

Beth Estep
Amber Henry
B. Scotty Herrell
Stephanie Thompson


Use relevant evidence from the text
to support the topic
Thoroughly explain how the
evidence supports the topic
Be organized into four distinct
paragraphs, including a clear
introduction and conclusion
Use effective transitions to connect
ideas
Maintain a formal tone (avoid
contractions and slang words; do
not use first {“I”, “me”, etc.} or
second {“you”} person pronouns)
Vary the sentence structure (Use an
assortment of simple, compound,
and complex sentences)
Be free from grammatical errors
and typos (Proofread to avoid
careless mistakes!)
Your narrative essay should:
 Use appropriate narrative elements,
including dialogue, identifiable setting,
character traits, and vivid descriptions
 Incorporate relevant details from the
text
 Accurately reflect the events and
personalities from the text (Under no
circumstances should the essay
contradict the original text!)
 Clearly establish the context of the
scene so that the reader is aware of the
situation and can identify the narrator
 Contain organized paragraphs and
dialogue to create a clear and cohesive
sequence of events
 Use language that is consistent with
the character’s voice from the text
 Be free from grammatical errors and
typos (Proofread to avoid careless
mistakes!)
We hope you enjoy your novel and the excerpt from The Odyssey. If you have any questions, feel
free to contact Mrs. Robin at [email protected].
Athletic Director
Mike Mullins
Sincerely,
The Freshman English Honors Teachers