English 101 Summer Reading
Dear English 101 Students,
The English 101 summer reading assignment is designed to provide you with the
opportunity to grow as a student, and prepare you for the type of thinking and
writing that we will practice in class. Remember that this course is taught in
conjunction with Hilbert College, and offers the opportunity for college credit
upon completion with an overall course average of C or higher. The series of
related assignments are required. The final due date is September
16th. Read below for particulars concerning due dates over the
Summer.
You will need to purchase the following two books:
Thinking on the Page: A College Student’s Guide to Effective Writing
by Gwen Hyman and Martha Schulman. ISBN: 13:978-1-59963-869-0
The Little Red Writing Book: 20 Powerful Principles of Structure, Style,
and Readability by Brandon Royal. ISBN: 13: 978-1-58297-521-4
(pbk.:alk.paper) or ISBN: 10: 1-58297-521-3 (pbk.: alk. Paper)
Barnes and Noble will order and reserve copies of these books at our
request. You can purchase these from other stores as well.
We will continue to reference these books over the school year, so they are
worth buying. They are student friendly and will focus our attention throughout
the year.
The Assignment:
Once you purchase the books, you will begin reading, and then you will respond
to prompts posted on a Blog page found on Mrs. Blood’s Webpage through the
Frontier High School Website.
This is my online address: http://www.frontier.wnyric.org/Domain/70
You can also find my webpage by going to the Frontier High School Site, and
clicking on “Teachers” in the tool bar. Then, click on “Mrs. Blood,” which is listed
alphabetically.
On my webpage you will find a link that reads, “English 101 Summer
Reading.” It will be in the Blue column on the left by default, but you will also
see a link on my main page.
Each week, you will find Prompts asking that you respond to a few questions.
The reading will inspire your responses; so, make sure that you read along each
week. This will also help keep you from procrastinating. The responses will
concern the reading from the required books, as well as your own personal
experience with reading and writing.
The reward of responding throughout the Summer, online, is that you will be
able to read the work of your peers. You will even have the opportunity to reply
to your peers on occasion. I will also take the time to reply to some of you as
well.
I will post the new prompt for the week each Monday, so look for it. Complete
the prompt by Friday that week. I will approve your responses Saturday morning
at the latest, so you need to revisit the page to read the work of your peers, and
to make sure that your work appears. If you are not familiar with blogging on
the school webpage, the teacher will approve your response for appropriateness
before it is posted, so you will not see it appear immediately. Please do not post
your response multiple times in fear that I did not receive it. Just check on
Saturday by noon.
I will check my email every Wednesday (and possibly Saturday), so that I can
answer any quick questions that you may have. This will allow you to read the
prompt and receive an email from me if needed, before the due date on
Friday. If you follow along in good time, communication about the current
prompt of the week is possible.
I understand that this is your Summer vacation. It is my Summer vacation as
well. Although I will look for your timely work to be completed by Friday night, I
understand that there might be a week when you are basking in the sun on a
beach with no Internet connection. Please communicate with me through email if
you know in advance that you will be away. Otherwise, the very latest due date
is September 16th, whereby you can tie up any loose ends. Completing these by
each Friday will allow you to pace yourself, read peer responses, and reply to
peers. This is the fun aspect of the assignment. We will have a chance to “meet”
each other before the school year even starts. Completing all the Blogs in the
last hour will not be fun for you, and will not allow you an authentic reading
experience. Procrastination is not a good characteristic to have when signing up
for an advanced class.
Things to know:
*You have the convenience of your phone to complete these assignments.
Computers are not needed.
*You may use the public library if needed.
*Although you are required to provide an email, it is never posted for the public.
*Please write your name. It will default to “anonymous” if you do not write your
name, and I will not be able to recognize you.
*You will be able to find a copy of this letter on my webpage and the school
English Department Page.
*My email address through the school is: jblood@frontier.wnyric.org
*****The first prompt will appear Monday, July 6th. The first due date will be
Friday, July 10th.
I look forward to “meeting” you.
Mrs. Blood