Northwestern High School
Advanced American History Grade 9 and 10
Summer Portfolio
Ms. Elizabeth Leahy
leahy@northwestern.k12.oh.us
Mr. Brian Stevens
bstevens@northwestern.k12.oh.us
 We look forward to teaching and learning with you next school year. Email us throughout
the summer if you have questions with what is being asked of you.
 This advanced class will be fast paced with an intensive reading schedule. If you are
unable to complete the summer portfolio or you are not able to meet the pacing and
reading expectations in this class during the school year then you will be moved out of
advanced and into Academic American History.
 The summer portfolio is due Friday August 16th at noon. This work in progress is
something that should be worked on throughout the summer and not just the last few days
or weeks. Do not procrastinate.
Guidelines for the Portfolio
 The summer portfolio will include two different projects that you must organize and
complete. These projects will take several weeks to complete so it is imperative that you
work throughout the summer to complete them.
 As projects are completed, you will organize them into a three-ring binder. Portfolios are
due to Mr. Stevens and Ms. Leahy or the main office/Guidance office by noon Friday
August 16th. Late portfolios will not be accepted.
Section I- Writers Style Project
 The student will follow a local, national, or world newspaper columnist and read their
work throughout the summer. You will be responsible for reading at least eight of his or
her articles. This columnist must be someone whose work is ongoing and current. If you
do not receive the newspaper, then you will need to go to the library or use online
newspapers in order to complete the project. Some suggested columnists include but are
not limited to Leonard Pitts, Michelle Malkin, George Will, David Border, Larry Elder,
Kathleen Parker, and Maureen Dowd.
 After reading the columns, type an essay of 2-3 pages analyzing your columnist. Think
about the following questions for your chosen columnist and focus your written
discussion on some of these aspects:
Who are the writer’s targets?
What (generally) is his or her topic or subject matter?
What is his or her purpose in writing this column?
What is the writer’s style? For example: Does her or she use formal or
informal language, is humor utilized and to what means, or is he or she long
winded or succinct?
5. What are some of the writer’s best arguments? What makes them good?
6. Which arguments, or points made by the writer, do you disagree with and
why?
1.
2.
3.
4.
 Be sure to make copies of all of the columns from your chosen columnist for your essay.
You must include the copies of the columns in your portfolio.
For an acceptable Section I, you must include all of the columns that
you read (at least 8) along with the 2-3 page essay.
Section II: Editorial Cartoon Project
 Locate and make a copy of five political cartoons. These can be found in magazines,
newspapers, news journals, or on the internet by simply using Google and type in
“political cartoons”
 If you are also taking Advanced English 10 than you are required to use and analyze at
least 3 of the 5 cartoons from the 1920’s. Obviously you will not be able to use
newspapers and magazines but you will be able to find them by doing a Google search
of “1920’s political cartoons.”
 You are to analyze graphics, visual images, and determine how such images relate to
written texts and serve as alternative forms. For each cartoon, you to write a paragraph
analyzing the artist’s purpose.
 Consider the following questions in your paragraph:
1. What is the event or issue that inspired the cartoon?
2. Are there any “real” people in the cartoon? Who is portrayed in the cartoon?
3. Are there symbols in the cartoon? What are they and what do they represent?
4. What are the cartoonist’s opinions about the topic portrayed in the cartoon?
5. Do you agree or disagree with the cartoonist’s opinion? Why?
For an acceptable Section II, you must include the five cartoons that
you analyzed along with the paragraph for each. Remember 3 of the 5
cartoons must be from the 1920’s if you are taking Advanced English
10.