Shore Regional High School
2013-2014 English:
Summer Reading Book List
A great book should leave you with many experiences and slightly exhausted at the end. You should
live several lives while reading it. ~ William Styron ~
Mr. Amaral’s students should speak to him personally, and/or see the
SRHS website for additional information or assistance.
Below is the required reading for Mr. Amaral’s students.
English 9 (required):
The Hunger Games– Suzanne Collins
*This text prepares students for Fahrenheit 451 and Anthem with an emphasis on dystopia.
Living Up the Street – Gary Soto
*This text prepares students for Persepolis and The House on Mango Street with an emphasis on coming of age.
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English 10 (required):
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian- Sherman Alexie
*This text prepares students for A Raisin in the Sun and Native American Literature with an emphasis on social conditions.
Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemmingway
*This text prepares students for Death of a Salesman and The Great Gatsby with an emphasis on the struggles and hardships of life.
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English 11 (required):
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
*This text prepares students for Lord of the Flies, Macbeth, and 1984 with an emphasis on dystopia and satire.
The Curious Incident of a Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
*This text prepares students for Lord of the Flies with an emphasis on coming of age.
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English 12 (required):
Life of Pi – Yann Martel
*This text prepares students for Into the Wild with an emphasis on coming of age and shaping identity.
Tuesdays With Morrie- Mitch Albom
This text prepares students Into the Wild, and The Five People You Meet in Heaven with an emphasis on identity.
How to Read Literature Like a Professor- Thomas C. Foster
*This text prepares students for close reading analysis which will be applied to detailed study assignments.
Mr. Amaral Shore Regional High School English Department 2013-2014
Shore Regional High School
2013-2014 English:
Summer Reading Assignment
A great book should leave you with many experiences and slightly exhausted at the end. You should
live several lives while reading it. ~ William Styron ~
Reading stimulates the mind and allows people to form mental images of exotic places, to meet compelling
characters, to learn new ideas, and to enjoy more fully funny conversations and beautiful lines. To support
personal and academic growth within our school community, all Shore Regional High School students will
complete summer reading assignments appropriate to the level of the English courses they selected for the
2013-14 year. These assignments are due the first day of school, and each English teacher will address the
students’ summer work in class.
Each grade level will have at least two required summer reading titles. Students will read the texts and
complete annotative quote logs. These logs will be collected by the teacher on the first day of school, and
students will be permitted to use them to compose a graded in-class essay. The essay will compare two of
the assigned books. Additionally, students in Honors English 9 and Honors English 10 will be required to
incorporate assigned commentaries into their literary criticism. Students enrolled in English 12 will be
required to incorporate the skills addressed in How to Read Literature like a Professor, as well.
Students who do not complete the summer reading assignments must attend mandatory reading sessions
during their lunch periods. Students can bring their own lunches or purchase a sandwich and milk. They
will continue to participate in these sessions until they complete all summer reading assignments; the in-class
writing assignment will be modified, and students will not receive full credit for it. Moreover, students will
write an additional essay based on a summer-reading text when they have completed the Summer Reading
Lunch.
Due Date: First day of class
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the selected novel and determine characterization, theme, symbolism,
and motif.
WHAT TO DO: (*All components must be included.)
English 9 (required):
Construct character and theme logs (5 quotes per log, per book)
English 10 (required):
Construct character and theme and motif logs (5 quotes per log, per book)
English 11 (required):
Construct character and theme and motif and symbolism logs (5 quotes per log, per book)
English 12 (required):
Construct character and theme and motif and symbolism logs (5 quotes per log, per book). In
addition, one of the skills addressed in How to Read Literature Like a Professor, note the skill, and analyze
the texts.
Mr. Amaral Shore Regional High School English Department 2013-2014
Shore Regional High School
2013-2014 English:
Summer Reading Directions
A great book should leave you with many experiences and slightly exhausted at the end. You should
live several lives while reading it. ~ William Styron ~
While reading your required and chosen books, complete the annotative quote logs attached to
determine characterization, theme, symbolism, and motif within the novels.
•
•
•
•
Analyze the parts of the quote, identifying at least two words or phrases that resonate with
your larger purpose; refer directly to this word or phrase. Build links between your ideas
and the ideas of the text you’re analyzing.
Think of the quote as a “specimen on the table.” You are taking it apart and showing us
what you see in it. If the quotation is particularly rich or complex, you will need to spend
more time “unpacking” its significance.
Interpret the significance of this quote to a particular character or theme. Tell your reader
what meaning this quote holds in relationship to the book as a whole.
Explain how your analysis of this passage relates to what you take to be author’s central
idea and/or pertinent character traits or plot points and how it helps you advance your
ideas and feelings about the story as well.
DIRECTIONS:
Characterization Log: Consider the important characters from the novel and locate five quotes that are
significant to the characters and the text. On the log attached, fill-in the information about each character
that lends to their development. (Remember, a character can be important to the plot, even if they are not a
main character!)
Character Name
Quote with page number
Analysis (what does this quote prove about this character?)
Iason
(SAMPLE)
“As Iason brushed the
coats of one horse after
another, he wondered
about the passage of the
days and nights, and
about the way that life
returned to being
ordinary after even the
most horrifying of events”
(Geras 213).
Iason is clearly a sensitive and thoughtful character. This quotes
shows that he is introspective and reflective as he ponders the
events of the Trojan War and the effects they have had on his own
life and the lives of those around him.
Mr. Amaral Shore Regional High School English Department 2013-2014
Shore Regional High School
2013-2014 English:
Summer Reading Directions
A great book should leave you with many experiences and slightly exhausted at the end. You should
live several lives while reading it. ~ William Styron ~
Theme Log:
Consider the important themes from the novel and locate five quotes that are significant to the
themes throughout the text. On the log attached, fill-in the information about each theme that
plays a role during the novel. (Remember, a theme is a major idea or central topic the author is
trying to convey.)
Theme
Quote with page number
Analysis (what does this quote prove about this character?)
Control
over one’s
destiny
(SAMPLE)
“Polyxena wondered if the Gods
In this quote, Polyxena weighs her own choices with what the gods
would forgive her for finding a small expect of her. She worries if she will be punished for taking her
measure of happiness in being near
destiny into her own hands.
Iason. Was any happiness allowed at
such a sorrowful time?” (Geras 250).
Symbolism Log:
Consider the important symbols from the novel and locate five quotes that exemplify the major
symbols from the text. On the log attached, fill-in the information about each symbol. (Remember,
symbols can be subtle or obvious, in order to add deeper meaning to a story.)
Motif Log:
Consider the important motifs from the novel and locate five quotes that exemplify the major
motifs from the text. On the log attached, fill-in the information about each motif. (Remember,
motifs are recurring ideas throughout the text).
Literary Analysis (English 12):
Read How to Read Literature Like a Professor and choose one skill in order to closely analyze the
texts. Be sure to cite the skill and chapter chosen and note how you will use the skill in your
reading.
Mr. Amaral Shore Regional High School English Department 2013-2014