Name_______________________________
ENG II Pre-AP Summer Reading
First, a word: These are your first grades of the semester. I want you to succeed next year. To that
end, ***PLEASE DO NOT PUT THEM OFF TO THE LAST MINUTE!!!***
Students who do not finish Summer Reading Assignments will be placed in On-Level ENG II at the
beginning of the year, because above all, I want you to succeed. Good luck!
Novel: A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth L. Ozeki
OR
Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
ASSIGNMENT 1: Annotations (View sample below for ideas about how your
annotations should look.)
Annotate. Annotations should reference any elements that point to theme. These will be
instrumental in the writing of your in-class essay the first week of class, so they should be
thorough. (View sample on the next page for ideas about how your annotations should look.)
Annotations will be a 40-point Minor Grade and will be due on the first day of class.
What should I annotate?
In short, you should note anything in your reading that points to theme. Consider, for example,
the following, and try to find (and note) these things as you read:

Plot:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

Character:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Who are the main characters in the story (at least three)?
What are some important things the prpotagonist thinks?
What significant things does s/he say?
What significant things does s/he do?
To what important places does s/he go?
Diction (Word choice):
a.
b.
c.
d.

Where is the exposition?
What is the instigating incident?
What important actions or events occur in the rising action?
What is the climax?
What is the result of the climax, and what is the falling action?
How does the story end? What is its resolution?
Is it simple or difficult? Find examples.
What are those words‘ connotations? Are they positive or negative?
How do the words reflect or reinforce the meaning?
Vocab. Find at least 20 words you didn’t know before, their definitions, and their connotative effects.
Figurative language, such as (but not limited to):
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Metaphors
Similes
Analogies
Personifications
Rhetorical questions
Imagery
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so vicious
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ASSIGNMENT 2: Summer Reading DIY (Design-It-Yourself) Project
For the third assignment, choose your own projects! See the list and instructions that follow.
50-point MAJOR Grade, due on the first day of class.
Below is an assortment of exercises, arranged by point values. You choose what combination
of exercises you would like to complete. Make sure that your exercises add up to the point
value you would like to aim for (50 pts. is best!!! Remember, if you only complete 30 pts. worth
of exercises, that is the highest possible grade you can receive!)
All work should be typed (unless otherwise noted), model correct grammar/style (unless you
are writing in dialect/using slang for character accuracy), be as detailed as possible (you want
to show that you have read and thought about your novel), and preserve the context, spirit,
and details of your original novel (unless otherwise noted). All textual evidence/quotations
should be cited in MLA format.
Label each assignment. (Sometimes it’s not easy to tell which one you’ve attempted!)
30 pts.
- Design an Instagram Page for one of the major characters in the novel. Include AT LEASST 30 pictures that indicate setting,
conflict with other characters, major plot points from the novel in which the character was involved. All pictures must be
captioned with a sensible explanation. Either print out your page or include a link. NOTE: IF PARENTS ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT PRIVACY ISSUES, EITHER CHOOSE A DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENT OR GOOGLE A FAKE INSTAGRAM
TEMPLATE.
- Choose an important symbol from your novel. On a piece of construction paper, place a picture/collage of your symbol in
the center. Then insert AND CITE quotations (10 minimum) from the novel that reflect this symbol and its meaning.
20 pts.
- Write out a 30-second radio advertisement for your novel. Think about what constitutes a successful advertisement: vivid
phrasing, a ‘hook,’ and details that do not reveal too much about the novel’s conclusion. Read your advertisement aloud to
confirm that it is 30-seconds long.
- Write a Sonnet (Shakespearean form) that reflects the Theme, Tone, Conflict, or Characters of your novel.
- Create a crossword puzzle about your novel using the free program at
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/CrissCrossSetupForm.asp
You should have a minimum of 15 clues. Make sure that your clues encourage higher-level thinking- you will not be given credit
for simplistic, easy clues.
- Write an obituary for one of your characters. Your obituary should be 2 paragraphs minimum and include a
photograph/picture. See the Obituary page of a prominent newspaper for samples.
10 pts.
- Include the lyrics to one song that reflect the theme or your novel. Include the title and name of the songwriter/performer.
Offer aone-paragraph explanation of how your chosen song reflects the novel.
- Create a Top 10 List (thank you David Letterman!) of why audience should read your novel. Include a catchy title for your list.
- Write a Bio-Poem for one of your major characters (10 lines minimum). A Bio-Poem captures the personality, spirit, and
motivations of the character in his or her own words.
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