Ms. Allan
maureen.allan@claytonvalley.org
JUNIOR HONORS
SUMMER READING LIST 2015-16
Congratulations on being selected into Junior Honors English and accepting this challenge! Like most challenges
you will face in your life ahead, you will gain from them what you invest in them. Hopefully, you will be rewarded
from this experience. I am looking forward to working with you as we explore, discuss, and write about the great
classics of American literature to discover why they are considered great.
At the same time we are working on the novels themselves, we will be grounding the works in their historical
periods. In this way you will not only learn about the literary merits of the pieces, but you will explore the
historical relevance to each work as well.
As part of your cultural American heritage, you have been instilled with the concept of self-reliance and the
notion that you have a right to the American Dream. This year, you will be exploring the origins of these concepts
which have shaped America for years. Most of the classic literature we will read this year will address these
subjects, and you will be able to explore how several novels have modeled these American ideals we have in
common. Hopefully by the termination of the year, you will have a much clearer understating of what it means to
be an American.
As we begin this exploration of our cultural heritage, I am asking you to complete the following four assignments
over the summer so that we will have a common ground for class discussion at the start of the school year.
Required Summer Reading
We will begin our exploration of What is an American? by reading The Crucible by Arthur Miller and the nonfiction work “If Hitler Asked You to Electrocute a Stranger, Would You? Probably” by Philip Meyer in the text
75 Readings Plus.
Do not use any prepared or on-line reading guides. If you feel you need those to complete these assignments, then
you should think seriously about whether or not you should be taking Honors English. Any plagiarism will result
in a zero on the assignment and a referral for your school record. Do your own work. This is not a group
assignment, so do not collaborate with other students. Please type the responses for all readings (12 point font,
double spaced).
*Please check out the summer reading texts in the school’s library.
First Assigned Reading – From the book, 75 Readings Plus
1) Read “If Hitler Asked You to Electrocute a Stranger, Would You? Probably,” by Philip Meyer on page 319.
Type Responses for Content on page 326: Answer a, b, c and d.
Type Responses for Strategy and Style on page 326: Answer f, g and h thoroughly and thoughtfully
Second Assigned Reading—Background before reading The Crucible by Arthur Miller
2)



Before reading The Crucible read:
Background on The Crucible and McCarthyism
Pre-reading Assignment I and II
Fraud, witches, HYSTERICS, hallucinators
Please highlight and annotate these works in preparation for a Seminar
Third Assigned Reading: The Crucible
3) Read and annotate using post-it notes (see below) identifying the section and page within the play that has
captured your interest
a. Post it Note Assignment: When we respond to a text, we remember it. Annotating a text involves
highlighting significant passages, writing questions in margins, marking character growth, recognizing
literary terms, developing themes or escalation of conflicts.
b. For your post-it note assignment, begin to identify:
i. Themes in the novel—what lessons about life does the author seem to be making?
ii. Irony—notice instances of irony—both situational and dramatic
iii. Symbols—what items, events, people seem significant? What do they appear to represent?
iv. Characterization—what new character traits or information are we learning? How is it
significant?
v. Review Character Assignment before reading and use post-it notes to identify required
elements
vi. Literary Terms—what literary terms are you noticing---why are they significant? Pay attention
to allegory, imagery, motifs, juxtaposition, dramatic irony, satire—look up and write down
terms
vii. Questions---anything that puzzles or confuses you
Fourth Assignment: Character log
4) Type responses to The Crucible Character Log –read requirement carefully. Be sure to include all elements of
the assignment.
**Due Date: Bring your annotated book and typed responses on the second day of the first week of school.
This assignment is posted on maureen.allan@weebly.com. If you have any questions during the summer,
please email me. Articles and background will not be posted
Ms. Allan
maureen.allan@claytonvalley.org