February 2017
Dear GT Scholars,
I will be your GT English I teacher next year, and I am looking forward to having you in class! I
know you have worked hard and been prepared well so far. My goal is to continue cultivating the
development of your reading, writing, analytical skills, and creative abilities. This class is challenging;
therefore, you will need to be focused and dedicated to meet the expectations I have for you.
Next year, we will work rigorously from the start. In order for you to be ready to handle these
assignments, activities, and discussions, I need for you to diligently work through your summer
assignment. I am asking that you read and annotate the following short stories before the second day
of class. The stories you will read and annotate are: “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard
Connell and “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe. There is an article concerning
annotation included in this packet to help you develop this skill. You may access these stories in
several ways (outlined on the next page).
After reading, you will be required to complete a dialectical journal. The purpose of this journal
is to help you conduct a “conversation” with the text; I want you to enhance your ability to read
between the lines and recognize the author’s purpose. Often times, a dialectical journal is created to
examine many different literary elements. However, you are going to examine the texts for four out of
the ten literary terms that I give you. There is a handout outlining and explaining these terms in this
packet.
Additionally, you will be required to complete one project over one of the stories. The project
assignments are in this packet. It will be helpful for you to read each short story more than once before
creating your project. All projects are expected to be professional, neat, and creative. Your project
should also show a strong understanding of the text (themes, setting, plot, characters, etc.).
This assignment is due in its entirety on the second day of class. This process will enable me
to assess your abilities, but a majority of the assessment concerning these stories will occur in our
activities within the first few weeks of school. Everything that you need to accomplish this
assignment is clearly outlined on the next page. Good students will give themselves enough time to
work at a reasonable pace to produce quality work. Aside from this assignment, I hope that you enjoy
your summer as well! If you need assistance over the course of the summer, do not hesitate to email
me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Brianne Katilus
Summer Assignment Outline
1. There are several ways that you can access the stories.
I will have both stories, along with this packet, on the front page of my classroom website.
The way to access this website is to go to the Frenship High School Home Page, click
“Classroom Websites,” and then click “Brianne Katilus.”
OR
These stories are in the public domain. That means they are free to the public! Type the
title and author into a search engine, and it will bring them up.
OR
These stories can be purchased through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or other booksellers.
2. Read and annotate “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Most Dangerous Game.”
Before you begin reading, carefully read through the handout on annotating. Find at least
five portions of each story to annotate that span the entire text. The basic idea of
annotating is to mark or highlight a certain portion of the text and make a note concerning
the reason you marked it for future reference. If you do not make a note about the selected
portion, you may forget why you chose it in the first place.
Please do not feel the need to annotate everything you read. Only annotate the portions of
the stories that truly stand out to you.
3. Complete a Dialectical Journal over four of the ten terms listed on the next page. You
will complete two entries per story.
Refer to the Dialectical Journal handout for further explanation. Also, study the written
model to see what type of writing I expect to see in your entries. This assignment is
designed to be done after you have read and annotated the stories. If you try to complete it
while you’re reading, it could cause frustration. Your final copy will be typed, 12 point
font, and a minimum of four entries total.
4. Complete one project over one of the stories.
The project assignments are attached to this packet. It is my expectation that your projects
are evident of a sufficient amount of time and thought put into construction and
presentation. This is your opportunity to display your creativity! I expect everything to be
professional and neat.
5. Further Instruction:
Remember that all ideas, observations, and responses must be your own – not from the
Internet, Sparknotes, Cliffnotes, etc. Any amount/form of plagiarism will result in an
automatic zero on any assignment.
All Assignments Due:
1. Read both stories
2. Annotate both stories
3. Dialectical Journal with four entries
4. One project over “The Most Dangerous Game” or “The Cask of Amontillado”
Literary Terms
You will choose four of the ten following literary terms to analyze for and use in your dialectical
journal entries. You will complete two journal entries over each story. Each journal entry should
be using a different literary term.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Theme - the message or lesson from the author, the central idea of the text
Point of View – the vantage point from which the story is told, determine the speaker
Setting – the time, place, and environment in which action takes place
Internal and External Conflict
a. Internal Conflict – man vs. self
b. External Conflict – man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. society
5. Direct and Indirect Characterization
a. Direct Characterization – the traits, characteristics, appearance, details, etc. that are
directly stated about the character in the text
b. Indirect Characterization – the traits, characteristics, appearance, details, etc. that
are implied about the character in the text
6. Imagery – the use of figures of speech to create vivid images that appeal to one of the
senses
7. Tone – the attitude of a writer, usually implied, toward the subject or audience
8. Mood – the emotional atmosphere created for the reader (mood is how YOU FEEL
while/after reading)
9. Foreshadowing – a hint of what is to come in the text
10. Irony – the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning (when what
happens is not what was expected)
Annotating Text
Definition
Annotation of the text is like having a conversation with a written passage. While reading,
students ask questions, comment on meaning, and mark events/passages to revisit. From this
information, patterns, contrasts, and relationships may be determined. Annotations should reflect
student effort to understand the text and react to what they are reading. This includes questions
that the reading raises and new ideas it suggests.
“What is important is not how students annotate or even how much they annotate but that they
annotate. The mere act of marking the page as they read makes it more likely that students will
read closely and attentively” (The College Board Pre-AP).
Highlighting and Annotation Tips
• Make brief notes at top of page or on sticky note to mark important plot events.
• Highlight or mark in some way (circle or underline) words that are unfamiliar or used in an
unusual way.
• Highlight or mark words or images that create a pattern (including repeated words, sentence
structure, or images)
• Highlight or mark words or passages that might be symbolic.
• Make brief notes in the margin or on a sticky note of questions that arise while reading.
• Don’t mark too much.
Reference
The College Board Pre-AP (2002). The AP Vertical Teams Guide for English (2nd ed.).
College Entrance Examination Board.
Weber, L. H. editor. (2004) Laying the Foundation. Dallas, TX: Advanced Placement
Strategies, Inc.
Dialectical Journal Guide
Directions: Type the final copy of your dialectic journal in the following format, exactly as seen
(Times New Roman, 12pt. font). The first example contains explanations for what the content of each
section should involve. The next example is an actual entry that can be viewed as a model of what is
expected in your writing.
Explanations:
Page: #
Quotation: Copy the actual portion from the book that you chose as an annotation.
Summary: Write one or two sentences summarizing what is occuring in this story directly around
the quotation you chose.
Device: Name the term you are analyzing in this annotation (Terms for Close Reading).
Observations and Questions (Do not summarize): In this section, you are “thinking out loud”
about the annotation you chose. Write your observations about the portion of text by answering
one or more of the following questions (3-5 sentences):
-
What stands out to you about the selection?
How does this portion of the story contribute to the novel as a whole?
What do you think will happen next?
Is there any extended meaning beyond what is actually going on in this portion of the story?
Do you have any questions about this portion of the story?
Model:
Page: 32
Quotation: “Do you think you are cutting up yams for cooking?” he asked Nwoye. “If you split
another yam of this size, I shall break your jaw.”
Summary: Nwoye and Ikemefuna are helping Okonkwo prepare seed-yams for planting. He is
being extremely tough on the two boys in order to stamp out their laziness and turn them into men.
Device: Diction
Observations and Questions (Do not summarize): It is normal for a father to teach his son, but
Okonkwo’s language is very harsh. It is not normal for a father to tell his son that he will “break
[his] jaw.” Is this type of language normal in the Ibo culture? The author utilizes diction in this
scene to demonstrate that Okonkwo, as in other areas of life, is extreme and hostile.
“The Cask of Amontillado” Project Option
Write Fortunato’s Story
Non-Traditional Format
Retell the story of Fortunato’s encounter with Montresor from Fortunato’s point of view.
You may use either first or third person point of view in the story. Include sensory details. Depict how
he sees and thinks about the things Montresor is doing. He does not realize he is going to die.
Use a format other than a traditional short story format. Possible choices include a newspaper article,
an interview, or a series of letters, texts, emails, social media or blog posts. Regardless of format, you
need to maintain good spelling, grammar, usage, and mechanics. (See me for questions or exceptions)
Rubric:
20 points each
600-800 words long.
Uses a creative nontraditional format
effectively.
15 points each
Between 500-600
words. Uses a creative
non-traditional format
well in many ways.
Refers to events from
the original text and is
provides a creative
retelling of the murder
of Fortunato from
Fortunato’s
perspective.
Has some reference to
the original text. May
not be true to the
original characters.
Provides a creative
retelling of the murder
of Fortunato from
Fortunato’s
perspective.
Free from errors in
spelling, grammar,
usage, and mechanics.
Relatively free from
errors. Existing errors
do not interfere with
reader’s understanding.
_______/ 80 points possible
10 points each
Between 400-300
words in length.
Attempts a nontraditional format, but
does not always use it
effectively.
Does not refer to the
original text. Or is not
true to the original
characters. Provides a
creative retelling of the
murder of Fortunato
from Fortunato’s
perspective.
Moderate number of
errors. Errors
occasionally interfere
with reader’s
understanding.
5 points each
Less than 300 words in
length. Makes little or no
attempt at using a nontraditional format.
Does not refer to the
original text and is not
true to the original
characters. Attempts to
provide a creative
retelling of the murder of
Fortunato from
Fortunato’s perspective.,
but does not maintain the
perspective.
Numerous errors that
frequently interfere with
the reader’s
understanding.
“The Most Dangerous Game”
Project Options
1. Create a scrapbook or diary for one of the characters in the story. If you choose a
scrapbook, there must be explanations/short descriptions of the items you include.
Make sure that it is evident by what you post or write that you have EXTENSIVE
knowledge of the character.
Requirements:
1. Must look authentic.
2. Must have a minimum of 10 entries.
3. Must be bound together in some way.
2. If “The Most Dangerous Game” were made into a movie, it would need a soundtrack!
Create the soundtrack to go along with the movie. You will need to choose a song for all
major scenes, explain what is occurring in the scene, and why you chose the song.
Requirements:
1. Must have a minimum of 12 songs with synopsis and explanation.
2. Soundtrack (audio files, YouTube videos, or the lyrics) with synopsis and
explanations must be compiled on a Prezi or a Smore. When you are finished, share
your project with the email [email protected]
3. Make sure that you label/summarize each scene being discussed.
4. Make sure that you adequately explain your reasoning behind your choices.
**Remember: You only have to complete one of the three project options!**