Honors English II
2010-2011 Summer Assignment
Dear Honors English II student:
First and foremost, welcome to Honors English II, and I commend you for
accepting the responsibility and challenge that Honors courses offer!
Although the course you are about to take is an extension of Honors
English I, there is a large shift from understanding “what” literary, poetic,
and rhetorical devices are to “why” literary, poetic, and rhetorical devices
are used. The course is also a survey of American Literature and parallels
what you will learn in history. More than anything, we focus on critical
thinking skills and understanding and questioning “why?”
Textbook Information
Students are expected to have a copy of each of the following novels:
1. The House on Mango Street
ISBN 0-679-73477-5
Sandra Cisneros
2. The Crucible
ISBN 0-14-018964-5
Arthur Miller
3. The Old Man and the Sea
ISBN 0-684-80122-1
Ernest Hemingway
4. The Great Gatsby
ISBN 0-7432-7356-7
F. Scott Fitzgerald
It is accepted practice in honor classes for students to purchase their own
copies of each novel so they may annotate and interact with each novel.
Students are expected to purchase the books at a local bookstore or
online. We will give a list of all our novels to Barnes and Noble and Borders
at Park Meadows and the Borders at Arapahoe Crossing. Both Amazon
and Barnes and Noble offer these books online and www.alibris.com and
www.bookfinder.com supply used books through their sites.
If you are unable to purchase the books you may check them out from
our library. You may not write in these books (therefore annotating must
be done on sticky notes), and even minimal damage will result in a fine of
$15.00. Please contact the library or me, Kasie Chihoski in room 114, if this
need applies to you for the summer reading assignment.
The following summer reading assignment is designed to give you an
opportunity to read, write, and think so that when you return in August
your skills are sharp and you are ready to embark on a year of literary
exploration and growth.
Self-Selected novel—Required
Read one of the following novels listed below. You will be required to
present a 10 minute book talk on the novel of your choice. Your book talk
will need to include biographical information about the author, a visual
aide, a critique of the novel, and an overview of the plot, characters, and
main themes present in the novel. I suggest that in choosing your novel,
you mill around a bookstore or library, read a few pages of several books,
and then select a book you'll enjoy. Annotate as you read, make note of
questions you want to ask, and identify themes. Be an active reader.
Book talks will begin the first week of school.
Tom Wolfe: The Electric Kool-Aid
Acid Test
Ralph Ellison: The Invisible Man
Richard Wright: Native Son
Toni Morrison: Beloved
Junot Diaz: The Brief Wondrous
Life of Oscar Wao
Zora Neale Hurston: Their Eyes
Were Watching God
Cormac McCarthy: The Road
Mark Twain: The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn
Louise Erdrich: The Plague of
Doves
Stephen Crane: The Red Badge
of Courage
Geraldine Brooks: March
Edgar Lee Masters: Spoon River
Anthology
Daniel Quinn: My Ishmael
Barbara Kingsolver: The Bean
Trees
Edith Wharton: The Age of
Innocence
Louisa May Alcott: Little Women
JD Salinger: The Catcher in the
Rye
John Steinbeck: The Grapes of
Wrath
Henry James: The Portrait of a
Lady
Summer Independent Reading -- Book Talk Instructions:
Your task is to lead a group of your classmates, assigned by me, in a
discussion about your chosen independent reading novel.
Be sure to include / observe the following:
1. Explain the basic plot, characters, and themes of the book and why
you chose to read it.
2. Illustrate and share with the group the characterization and themes of
the book (pointing out specific examples from pages is best).
3. Write a critique of the book. Specifically, whether or not would you
recommend the book to a classmate. Why or why not?
4. Explain your visual aid. Be sure to explain its relevance and how you
came up with the idea for it.
5. Listen and follow the discussion when you are not leading. Ask
questions. Do not take the group off track. You will lose points if you do.
Book talks should last at least a full 10 minutes to receive a passing grade.
Rehearse before hand.
Contact Mrs. Chihoski with any questions. Please do not expect an
immediate response in the summer.
Email – kasie.chihoski@dcsdk12.org
Website – http://schools.dcsdk12.org/klchihoski