Summer Reading Assignment for
English 7-8
Honors
DUE MONDAY, AUGUST 3
Directions: This project is designed to expose you to classic literature. Prior to beginning a 12th
–grade English Honors, you must complete the following steps:
Read one of the listed novels below and the play. You will need to borrow these books from the
public library, read them online, or purchase them (new or used) from a local bookstore. AP and
Honors students will write two (2) Character Analysis essays which will be due August 3.
Novel: (choose one only, but if you are inspired – read more! )
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
The Things They Carry by Tim O’Brian
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
Play: (required reading)
The Piano Lesson by August Wilson
All assignments are due on the first day of class – failure to bring in the completed assignments
will negatively impact your grade. These assignments are for Mr. Hamm’s classes.
Mr. Hamm is available over the summer to assist with any questions you may have. Please use
the email address below.
Mr. Hamm
 Email: hamm@phoenixunion.org
Directions: Use the following prompt for both Character Analysis essays.
Prompt: Choose a novel or play in which cultural, physical, or geographical surroundings shape
psychological or moral traits in a character. Then write a well-organized essay in which you
analyze how surroundings affect this character and illuminate the meaning of the work as a
whole.
How to Write a Character Analysis in 10 Easy Steps – these steps are JUST A GUIDE for
your Character Analysis Essay. You DO NOT HAVE TO ANSWER THESE
QUESTIONS.
As you were reading your assigned work, you probably were engaged in an informal character
analysis without even knowing it, whether from your own opinions, the text you selected to
highlight, or the notes that you wrote. With a little guidance on what to do with those various
notations, writing a character analysis should not be a problem!
1) Pay attention to the character’s ethics. Does the character make just or unjust choices?
Consider Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus does not make morally
correct choices only when it is convenient for him to do so. Rather, he shows he’s a truly just
character by sticking to his principles even when his life is at stake.
2) Decide whether the character’s actions are wise or unwise. For example, one may think of
Friar Laurence in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet as being a character who continually makes
poor decisions that reflect his inner corruption.
3) What is the character’s motivation? As you are mulling over the pros and cons of each
character’s internal thoughts and external actions, you will want to also consider why the
character is acting or thinking in a particular way. Has the author given you any clues about the
character’s past? In Amy Tan’s novel The Joy Luck Club, Linda Jong’s domination of her
daughter Waverly can be understood, if not entirely excused, by her terrible experiences in
China.
4) Consider the effects of the character’s behavior on other characters. Jane Austen’s Pride
and Prejudice is rife with the effects of one character’s actions on others. When Lydia decides to
run off with the charlatan Wickham, she puts the whole family’s reputation, as well has her own,
at risk, and even involves those outside her family, like Darcy.
5) Look for repeatedly used words that describe the character. Those words often give
insight into a character’s psychology and motivations. In John Steinbeck’s novel East of Eden,
Kathy is frequently referred to as having “sharp little teeth” and a “flickering tongue,” which are
symbols of her snake-like monstrousness.
6) Be aware of items associated with the character. They may say something about his or her
state of mind. A classic example is the delicate unicorn figurine in Tennessee Williams’ play The
Glass Menagerie. The figurine is symbolic of Laura’s own sense of hope and her own fragility.
7) Read between the lines. Often what a character does and not says is as important as what he
or she does say. Think of Abner Snopes in William Faulkner’s short story “Barn Burning.”
When the court finds Snopes guilty of ruining his boss’ rug, prior knowledge of Abner’s
character tells us that his silence upon hearing the verdict actually speaks volumes. We know he
will react later...and violently.
8) Is the character “flat” or “round”? A character is considered flat (or static) when he or she
does not experience change of any kind, does not grow from beginning to end. Shakespeare often
uses comic villains as flat characters, like Don Jon in Much Ado About Nothing. Round
characters are those who do experience some sort of growth, like Nora in Henrik Ibsen’s A
Doll’s House. By the end of the play, she has gone from being meek and submissive to being
strong and liberated.
9) Consider the historical time period of the character. Refrain from making modern
judgments about the past; put the character’s actions and thoughts in context. A female character
living in England in the 1800s obviously could not make the choices that she could today, for
both political and social reasons.
10) Finally, what does the author think? Look for any of the author’s own judgments about the
characters he or she has created. The author may be directing you toward an intended
interpretation. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne certainly meant for his readers to see
Hester as good and Chillingsworth as evil.
The essay must be in proper MLA formatting, which includes:
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Times New Roman font, size 12
Appropriate headers
Double spaced
Beginning of paragraphs indented 5”
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Begin reading your first book and plan to have it completed by no later than June 21.
Divide the number of pages by 21 so that you can determine how many pages a day to
read.
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Begin reading The Piano Lesson by June 22 and finish no later than July 12.
It has approximately 144 pages, so it can easily be completed by reading 8-10 pages a
day
You will have three weeks left to plan and complete your essay
Your essay is due Monday, August 3!
Essay Self-Assessment: English 7/8 Honors Summer Project
Name ________________________________________
Content/Learning Target
Date _________________
Excellent
Simple
Mistake
Needs
Work
Period ______
Totally Didn’t
Get It
Need help
My
Grade
Teacher’s
Grade
Points
O
Strong introduction with a clearly stated position and point of support
10
O
Logical sequence of ideas
5
C
&
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C
O
N
V
FL
Points clearly and thoughtfully explained and argued
With a well-developed character analysis
45
Grammar, Usage, Punctuation errors are few
5
Varied sentence construction
5
C
&
I
W
C
W
C
Textual evidence cited correctly according to MLA guidelines
10
MLA format (double spaced, correct header, paragraphs indented,
title)
Word usage appropriate to purpose
5
V
Maintaining an objective tone (formal language, no “I”, “you”, slang,
contractions, etc.)
5
C
&
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Reflective Conclusion
5
5
Student’s Grade
Teacher’s Grade
Directions:
After the assessment
1. After your assessment has been corrected, identify your level of performance for each item by placing an X in the column that describes your
work. .
2. Based on your marks, give yourself a number grade for each category (make sure to check the possible number of points for each category!)
“Excellent!” would earn full points, “Simple Mistake” would earn 8/10, “Needs Work” a 7/10, etc.
3. Add up your points and give yourself a score. On the back, please explain why you believe you deserve the grade you gave yourself.