HONORS U.S. HISTORY
OUTSIDE READING FOR UNITS 1 & 2: 1870 through World War I
You must choose one of the books below to purchase and read during the first quarter of the year.
 You must bring in your copy of your chosen book on Monday, September 8, 2008 (5pts)
o Bring in the book with your name, Honors US History, teacher name on inside cover
 Get reading immediately:
o As you read, mark up the book and/or keep your own notes
 This is to be done independently
 You are encouraged to talk about the book with other students but ALL work you produce
must be your own.
 This is important because your own insights are a key part of this assignment
Kids on Strike, Susan Campbell Bartoletti
 Stories of child laborers and their fight for better working conditions
Lyddie, Katherine Paterson
 Historical fiction of life of laborers in Lowell, Massachusetts
The Great Adventure: Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Modern America, Albert Marrin
 Biography of Teddy Roosevelt
Titan, Ron Chernow
 Story of John D. Rockefeller’s rise to economic giant
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Dee Brown
 Native American’s struggles to remain free in the late 19th century U.S.
The Jungle, Upton Sinclair
 Fiction written to expose the horrors of the meatpacking industry of Chicago
My Antonia, Willa Cather
 Fiction – tells story of a young immigration and her family on the American frontier
Twenty Years at Hull House, Jane Addams
 The autobiography of the reformer who fought to improve the lives of immigrants
Up From Slavery, Booker T. Washington
 The autobiography of an African-American leader who fought for civil right at the turn of the 20th century
Iron-Jawed Angels, Linda G. Ford
 The story of the final fight in the early 20th century for a woman’s right to vote.
HISTORICAL BOOK REVIEW ASSIGNMENT
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All written work must be typed, double-spaced, 12 point font
We will use Turnitin.com for all out of class writing assignments.
ASSESSMENT:
A. BOOK BASICS QUIZ – (15 points)
 Completion of graphic organizer covering basics of your chosen book
 Friday, September 26, 2008
B. WRITING COMPONENT: (30 points)
APPLICATION OF THE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
DUE DATE: Thursday, October 16, 2008
Choose any three (3) of the following four essential questions to answer:
 What does it mean to be an American?
 How have the concepts of progress and expansion shaped U.S. history?
 How has conflict, both internal and external, influenced the course of U.S. history?
 What is the role for the U.S. government in the lives of Americans?
Ask yourself, “How would the author or the main character respond to these questions?”
o Each question should be answered separately by critically analyzing the reading
o You must cite passages from your book that support your argument
o Be prepared to present and explain your answers in small group discussions
o See rubric for details on assessment.
C. GROUP BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION (10 points)
o You will participate in small group “book club” discussions on your book
o In the discussion you will complete a summary of what other participants have written and
compare/contrast the various responses to the questions.