2013 Summer Assignments New Egypt High School
Philosophy
Current educational trends have proven that education must be a continual learning process. In order for the
experience to extend beyond the 10 month school year, it is imperative that our learners continue to exercise
their skills through the Summer Reading Program. Students are becoming year round learners with
responsibilities to not only their family and friends, but also to their continuing education and their future.
Research has shown a direct correlation between reading and improved vocabulary and writing skills,
increased comprehension, higher standardized test scores, greater global awareness, and overall academic
achievement. These skills are the benchmarks for well rounded, productive individuals.
In addition, the National Standards for Language Arts Literacy provide support for the rigors of summer
reading:
"Furthermore, students in college are expected to read complex texts with
substantially greater independence (i.e., much less scaffolding) than are students in typical K-12 programs.
College students are held more responsible for what they read on their own than are most students in high
school, for example. College instructors assign readings, not necessarily explicated in class, for which
students might be held accountable through exams, papers, presentations, or class discussions. Students in
high school, by contrast, are rarely held accountable for what they read independently. This
discrepancy in task demand, coupled with the vast gap in text complexity, may help explain why only about
half of the students taking the ACT Test in the 2004-2005 academic year could meet the benchmark score in
reading (which also was the case in 2008-2009) and why so few students in general are prepared for
postsecondary reading."
From the Appendix A: Research Supporting Key Elements of the Standards. Page 3
Notes:
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English Honors students must choose one book from the Honors list. See specific course listings. The
second book may be from the first part of the list or a book of choice, as noted above.
All projects and papers for both semesters for History will be due the first Friday after school begins.
All English assignments will be due the second Friday of the school year.
HISTORY DEPARTMENT
World
HistoryHonors
Required reading
Stolen Voices: Young People’s War
Diaries, From World War I to Iraq
1 Essay- 3
pages
See attached with rubric.
1 Test
Grade
US IHonors
Required reading
12 Years a Slave
1 Magazine
project.
See attached with rubric.
1 Test
Grade
US IIHonors
Required reading
The Jungle
1 Essay- 3
pages
34 Questions on The Junglesee attached
2 Test
Grades
AP
History
Required reading
The Jungle
1 Essay-3
pages
34 Questions on The Junglesee attached
3 Test
Grades
A biography of an approved
historical figure
1
research/essay5 pages
Chapters 1-3 The Unfinished Nation
Textbook
Outline Chapter1, Answer
questions Chapters 2 & 3
New Egypt High School
History Department
117 Evergreen Rd.
New Egypt, NJ 08533
Dear Student,
You have received this letter because you have signed up for an Honors or Advanced
Placement history course for the 2013-2014 school year. We are happy to hear that you have decided
to take on this academic challenge.
All honors and Advanced Placement students are required to complete a summer reading
assignment. Your assignment is attached.
Please note the assignment due date for Honors & AP courses is the first Friday of the new
school year, regardless of whether you signed up for the course first or second semester. If you fail to
turn in this assignment on the first Friday of school you will receive a zero on the assignment. This
will negatively impact your first marking period grade. Second semester history students may turn in
assignments to their history teacher or the main office.
Sincerely,
Your New Egypt High School History Teachers
U.S. History I Honors
12 Years a Slave By Solomon Northup
ISBN: 0-807-10150-8
After reading 12 Years a Slave, everyone must complete the following assignment:
Create a magazine for the book including many of the major events that occurred. You will need a
cover and title for the magazine, and it will have a magazine layout. This means when you are
finished, your magazine should look realistic. Each article should be at least 60 words in length using
as many characters and situations from throughout the book, showing to me that you have read the
book cover to cover. This project is at your discretion, and you may choose the events to write about.
You need a total of nine articles within the magazine. This project must also contain pictures, ads,
and cartoons (all are to be era appropriate) to make it look realistic. On the back is the EXACT
rubric that will be used to grade the project.
If you have any questions you can email Mr. Tom Corby at corbyt@newegypt.us.
Have a fun summer, enjoy the book, and I’ll see you in September!
12 Years a Slave Magazine Project
Teacher Name: Tom Corby
Student Name:
CATEGORY
Attractiveness &
Organization
________________________________________
9-10 points
The magazine has
exceptionally attractive
formatting and wellorganized information.
Content Spectrum Articles are from
events throughout the
entire story, showing
that the student has
completely read the
book.
6-8 points
3-5 points
0-2 points
The magazine has
attractive formatting
and well-organized
information.
The magazine has
well-organized
information.
The magazine's
formatting and
organization of
material are confusing
to the reader.
Articles are included
but some areas of the
book are missing.
Articles are included
but there are major
parts of the book that
aren’t included.
Articles are from one
section of the book. No
proof that much of the
book was read.
Writing
Student has
demonstrated an
“honors” level of
writing. Sentence
structure is present,
description is in great
detail.
Student has
demonstrated an
average level of
writing. Sentence
structure is present,
description is done
well.
Student has
demonstrated a less
than average level of
writing. Sentence
structure needs work,
description is lacking.
Writing is well below
“honors” level.
Sentence structure is
basic, description
lacking with “goods,
bads, & a lots.” Littered
throughout the articles
Spelling &
Proofreading
Three or less spelling
errors within the
magazine.
Four to six spelling
errors within the
magazine.
Seven to ten spelling
errors within the
magazine.
Way too many
spelling errors within
the magazine.
Inserts
Inserts greatly add to
the magazine. Ads are
time period
appropriate. Extras
show high level of
understanding of the
time period.
Inserts add to the
magazine. Ads are
time period
appropriate. Extras
show understanding of
the time period.
Inserts are lacking
within the magazine.
Few ads are time
period appropriate.
Extras show vague
understanding of the
time period.
Few if any inserts are
added. Ads are not
time period
appropriate. Extras
add next to nothing to
the project.
Comics, word
search, ads, etc
Notes: