SOPHOMORE SUMMER READING LIST 2013
This sheet is for all students entering SOPHOMORE English in the fall of
2013.
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All Summer Reading Assignments are due on SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 for those
entering American Studies II Honors or the Early College Program.
Assigned Books will be assessed in class through oral and written assessments.
The Faculty Favorites discussions will take place on Friday,
September 6, 2013.
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I. American Lit College Preparatory: Please choose one (1) Faculty Favorite
book to read. Notes are not required, but they might help you in your
discussion. Books will be discussed on Friday, September 6, 2013.
II. Honors American Studies I
Summer Reading Requirements
Students entering the Honors American Studies I course will need to read three books over the
summer:
1. Faculty Favorite
Choose one faculty favorite from the list and be prepared for a written test and an oral
discussion.
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Please read, keep a quote journal, and create five, open-ended discussion questions.
3. 1776 by David McCullough
Please read, keep a quote journal, and create five, open-ended discussion questions.
Quote Journal Requirements
Choose five quotes from each novel. Please copy the quote and page number, then write a 150200 word response to each quote. When reacting to the quotes you may consider the following
questions.
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Why is this quote so important to the text?
How can I personally connect to this quote?
Does this quote connect to anything I’ve read or seen before?
Does this quote connect to anything that is going on in the world around me?
Can I use this quote to make a prediction about what will happen?
You do not have to answer these questions specifically. Rather, use them as a guide and
respond as you see fit based on what inspires you and what you can analyze. Quotes should
come from all parts of the novel (beginning, middle, end), not just a single section. In total, you
will have two quote journals (one for The Hunger Games and one for 1776) with five quotes
each. Journals should be typed and double-spaced and meet the length requirement.
Discussion Question Requirements
Create five open-ended questions about each novel. These questions should be interesting and
should engage your classmates in discussion. The questions should challenge your classmates to
think in more depth about the novel. These are question starters that you may want to use for
inspiration.
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How would you solve this problem in your life?
What was important about…?
What is the message…?
Do you feel ____ is ethical or not? Why or why not?
These words are associated with questions that call for higher-level thinking:
• Analyze
• Synthesize
• Judge
• Evaluate
• Apply
Honors American Studies I
Summer Reading Rubric: Quote Journal and Discussion Questions
Objective
s
Academi
c 3:
Communic
ates
effectively
in written
form
Academi
c 4:
Access,
comprehe
nd,
analyze
and
interpret
informatio
n
Require
ments
Quotes
Question
s
Exemplary
Writing consistently
includes thoughtful
ideas and is developed
logically.
Demonstrates
excellent command of
conventions of the
written language.
Writing is well
organized and
contains rich
vocabulary.
Consistently
demonstrates
appropriate strategies
for accessing,
comprehending,
analyzing, and
applying information
from the novel.
Criteria
Proficient
Needs Improvement
Writing includes
Writing is relevant.
thoughtful ideas.
Conventions of the
Demonstrates control
written language have
of conventions of the
many errors. Writing
written language.
shows limited
Writing is well
organization.
organized.
Deficient
Writing is irrelevant,
disorganized.
Information is limited
and mainly inaccurate.
Errors hinder
understanding.
Generally
demonstrates
appropriate strategies
for accessing,
comprehending,
analyzing, and
applying information
from the novel.
Inconsistently
demonstrates
appropriate strategies
for accessing,
comprehending,
analyzing, and applying
information from the
novel.
Seldom demonstrates
appropriate strategies
for accessing,
comprehending,
analyzing, and applying
information from the
novel.
All requirements are
met.
Most requirements are
met.
Some requirements are
met.
Few requirements are
met.
Quotes are wellselected and
demonstrate a keen
understanding the
novel. Their analysis
and discussion are
poignant and
insightful.
Questions are strong
and interesting. The
show a deep
understanding of the
novel and require
higher-level thinking
to answer.
Quotes are
appropriately selected
and demonstrate an
understanding the
novel. They are
adequately discussed
and analyzed.
Quotes may not all be
well-selected. The
analysis and discussion
may be superficial
and/or show gaps in
understanding.
Quotes are not wellselected and are not
analyzed or discussed in
a way that demonstrates
an understanding of the
novel.
Questions are
appropriate. They
show an
understanding of the
novel and are openended.
Some questions may be
basic in their creation
and may not require
higher-level thinking to
answer. Some may not
be open-ended. They
may show gaps in
understanding of the
novel.
Questions are not wellcrafted, are not open,
ended and do not
demonstrate an
understanding of the
novel.
**NOTE: Plagiarism or cheating of any kind will result in a zero on the assignment. 10 points will be
deducted for each day the assignment is late.
TOTAL:_________/20
Comments:
Quote journals and questions for The Hunger Games and 1776 novel all due on the first day of school
and will count as a test grade.
Sophomore Early College (Class of 2016): A total of 2 books
1. Pick a faculty favorite (tentative date for test: Thursday, September 5)
2. Brave Companions: Portraits in History
McCullough, David. Brave Companions: Portraits in History. New York: Simon &
Schuster Paperbacks, 1992. Print.
Test Date (short essay and Roundtable Discussion): Tentatively scheduled: Tuesday,
September 10
Description: From School Library Journal
“McCullough’s collection of fascinating mini-biographies is a sheer delight, and will hold
the attention of many history and science students. In this compilation of over 20 years
of his shorter essays, the author chose individuals who are distinctive for their
contributions to culture. The 17 biographies highlight the field of social work, science,
architecture, literature, and history, all of which are interconnected in memorable ways.
The work maintains strong reader interest because of an intelligent, practiced, precise
style combined with a wise and rich choice of subject. Familiar figures such as Harriet
Beecher Stowe and Teddy Roosevelt share space with lesser-known individuals—but all
are people who merit admiration” (School Library Journal).