Jefferson High School
Pre-AP English I Summer Reading
9th Grade: 2015-2016
Mr. Lyons- Room 402
zwlyons@episd.org 915-236-7400
Welcome Foxes! I am thrilled that you have made the choice to partake in advanced and rigorous courses,
particularly Pre-Advanced Placement English I. Our school is one with rich and long-standing traditions, and
now you will be a part of this great institution. That being said, let’s get started with the reading and journal
assignment that you will need to complete in order to be prepared for your advanced studies in English I.
Part I
Novel:
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Students are encouraged to acquire their own copy of the novel so that they may annotate and take notes in.
You are not required to purchase the novel, it may be located at the Clardy Fox Public Library (any El Paso
Public Library) or purchased for a very economical price at any used bookstore. If you are able to find an
online or electronic version of the novel, feel free to utilize it.
Assignment (What You Need To Do):

First and foremost, you need to read the novel! Please do not use Sparknotes, Cliffsnotes, or “cheat”
sites instead of reading the novel; such sites are meant to aid in comprehension and not replace the
reading of the novel. On the same note, watching a Hollywood adaption is not valid either; too much is
changed or just wrong. Nothing compares to reading the book.
o After you have read the novel, gather multiple sheets of paper (wide rule or college rule) and
writing utensils, a blue/black ink pen (pencil will not be accepted). If you would prefer to type
the assignment, you may do so but be sure to save it. If you do not have a computer, but would
like to type the assignment please use the following resources to type:



Computer Labs/Library at your middle school (ask for permission)
Jefferson High School Library (open through the end middle of July)
Clardy Fox Library (library card required…ask about membership)

Character journal for your assignment. The journal will consist of:
o Ten (10) journal entries written from the perspective of a character of your choosing. You are to
use the SAME character for ALL of your entries. See below listings.
 Each journal entry must be a full-page (written) or a half-page (typed).
 If typed, please use Times New Roman and 12 pt. font, double spaced with 1” margins all
around.
 If written, use blue or black ink pen. Pencil will not be allowed! Please write legibly and
neatly.
 Be sure that you use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Proofread and spell
check your work!
 After you have written or typed your journal entries, please create a cover sheet with your
name and date. Staple your work together, or fasten it in a folder with brads and write
your name and date on the folder.

The due date for your assignment is:
o Turn in journal for extra credit by: Friday August 28, 2015
o Absolute Due Date: Friday September 18, 2015
o No late journals will be accepted! No exceptions.
The College Board is committed to the principle that all students deserve an opportunity to participate in rigorous
and academically challenging courses and programs. All students who are willing to accept the challenge of a
rigorous academic curriculum should be considered for admission to AP courses. That being said, deadlines and
due dates are non-negotiable.
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING FOR HELP WRITING YOUR JOURNAL:
 Make sure you read the entire novel first!
 Pick a character (George, Lennie, Curly, Curly’s wife, Candy, Crooks, Slim, Aunt Clara.)
 Write ten journal entries from the perspective of that character. What do they think about
_____________________________ that is being written about? How do they feel? Why? What
opinion does that character have? How does their personality impact their understanding and emotions?
(These are just ideas to help you get started- do not only write about just these questions.)
 There are 6 sections in the novel. It is recommended that you do one entry each for chapters 1 and 2 and
two entries each for chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6.
 Find important events, details, or situations to write about; avoid summarizing the chapter’s incidents,
pick a main event and discuss it from your character’s perspective.
 Remember to write in the “voice” of your character at all times. Your pronouns should be “I”, “me”,
“we”, etc…
 Please work independently throughout the course of this assignment- this is not a group or collaborative
assignment. Cheating is not acceptable!
IF YOU NEED HELP BECAUSE YOU ARE TOTALLY CONFUSED:
 Call or email me. I am here to help you succeed in your studies.
 I will be here during the summer, go ahead and stop by my room at Jefferson.
 Meet with me during registration in August or during Freshman Orientation.
 There are no excuses when it comes to failure to complete the assignment!
Student Name:_______________________________________________________________________
Journal Rubric
This will tell you how I will grade your assignments. Please go over these carefully to ensure you receive full
credit.
Character:_____________________
______(10 pts) Ten journal entries.
______(10 pts) Each entry is one page long or at least 300 words
______(50 pts) There is evidence that you understand the character and the events surrounding the
character.
______(20 pts) There is evidence that you wrote in the character’s voice, from his/ her point of view.
______(10 pts) The journal is neat and creative and there is evidence of effort.
Jefferson High School
Pre-AP English I Summer Reading
9th Grade: 2015-2016
Mr. Lyons- Room 402
zwlyons@episd.org 915-236-7400
Welcome Foxes! I am thrilled that you have made the choice to partake in advanced and rigorous courses,
particularly Pre-Advanced Placement English I. Our school is one with rich and long-standing traditions, and
now you will be a part of this great institution. That being said, let’s get started with the critical research
assignment that you will need to complete in order to be prepared for your advanced studies in English I.
Part II
Critical Research Assignment:
It is crucial that readers understand the history and development of the particular setting or era that a novel is
based upon. In order for you to grasp the “bigger picture” and make connections while you read, please
complete the following research assignment BEFORE you begin reading! It is short and interesting, but your
complete effort is required in order to be successful.
o You will be creating a research sheet that demonstrates your understanding, analysis, and representation
of various topics of interest from the 1930’s in the United States.
o In order to do these, please gather multiple sheets of blank white paper (no lines!) and fold each one in
half and then in half again so that you end up with FOUR squares per paper. You should have four
squares on the front of the sheet and four on the back.
o You need to have at least two sheets so that you have EIGHT squares overall.
o In each square, you will list one of the eight topics provided to you.
o On the front, you will have the topic listed and underlined. Immediately below, you will
summarize the topic in a brief and concise paragraph of at least 5-7 sentences. On the back of
the corresponding square, you will provide a picture that symbolizes the particular topic (you
may draw them or find online, print, cut & paste). Be mindful of your writing size- you do not
want to write big and run out of room.
 You will want to include in your summary important information such as: What was
___________ about? What happened and how? Who was involved and why? What
were the effects felt by people and life because of this? (These are just guiding questions,
be sure to provide the most important information to show that you truly understand and
know about the topics.)
Topics:
The Stock Market Crash(1929)
The Great Depression (causes/beginnings)
Migrant Workers (1930’s) Salinas, California
John Steinbeck
The Dust Bowl
The New Deal
Gender Roles & Race Relations of the 1930’s
How To Conduct Your Research:
o It is recommended that students utilize online sources in order to complete research. Please be
mindful of what sites and sources that you use online. Do not use Wikipedia or any sites that are
editable by anyone- they are not credible!
o If you do not have access to a computer at home, you may use the following sources:
 Computer Labs/Library at your middle school (ask for permission)
 Jefferson High School Library (open through the end middle of July)
 Clardy Fox Library (library card required…ask about membership)
o Should you prefer to use text sources such as books, encyclopedias, or historical magazines- that
is perfectly fine.
o An excellent tool to use (with your parent’s permission) would be your own personal cellphone,
iPad, or tablet. Only if you have access to one, you don’t need to get a new one or buy one to do
this assignment! It is a recommendation so that you may use your personal technology for
academic purposes.
Due Date:

The due date for your assignment is:
o Turn in research sheet for extra credit by: Friday August 28, 2015
o Absolute Due Date: Friday September 18, 2015
o No late research will be accepted! No exceptions.
o
The College Board is committed to the principle that all students deserve an opportunity to participate in rigorous
and academically challenging courses and programs. All students who are willing to accept the challenge of a
rigorous academic curriculum should be considered for admission to AP courses. That being said, deadlines and
due dates are non-negotiable.
Assistance:
IF YOU NEED HELP BECAUSE YOU ARE TOTALLY CONFUSED:
 Call or email me. I am here to help you succeed in your studies.
 I will be here during the summer, go ahead and stop by my room at Jefferson.
 Meet with me during registration in August or during Freshman Orientation.
 There are no excuses when it comes to failure to complete the assignment!
Example:
I have included a sample of exactly how your research sheets should be set up. Please use it to guide your
creation of the assignment.
Very Important, Please Read:
Please include this assignment in your journal that you will create for the summer reading assignment. Place it
in the back of your journal or in the front pocket if you use a folder to submit. Thank You!
Student Name:_______________________________________________________________________
Research Rubric
This will tell you how I will grade your assignments. Please go over these carefully to ensure you receive full
credit.
______(40 pts) All eight topics are summarized effectively.
______(40 pts) All eight topics include the required picture (1 per topic).
______(10 pts) You used proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation in your writing.
______(10 pts) The research sheet is neat and creative, there is evidence of effort, and formatted correctly.