Summer Reading: 2015-2016 School Year
English 3 and English 3 Honors
Directions: During the summer, students taking English 3 or English 3 Honors in 2015/2016
should read at least 1 of the following collections in preparation for Junior English. The
assignments will vary for those moving on to English 3 versus English 3 Honors.
Collections: The literature choices below are separated into collections. Each “collection” will
include an author and 1-2 of their works along with related nonfiction material. You are
responsible for reading the entire collection, not just one book or story by the author.
Additional Note: The nonfiction material and works themselves can be found on the internet
through a basic Google search. This is to alleviate expenses and provide easy access to the
material. When searching, type the title of the piece (if difficulty arises, add “PDF” to your
search).
Collection 1:
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
This Side of Paradise
- History.com
“The Roaring Twenties”
(http://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties)
- José A. Tapia Granados
“Life and Death during the Great Depression”
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2765209/)
English 3 Assignment:
- How does the lifestyle and behavior of the characters found in Fitzgerald’s work reflect
the 1920s and eventually the great depression. Respond in a written essay, citing evidence as
necessary.
English 3 Honors:
- Given the lavish and addictive lifestyle of the 1920s and also the behavior of character’s
found in Fitzgerald’s work what connection can you make between the psychological depression
and the societal depression that later occurred in the 1930s. Explain in a written response, citing
evidence where necessary.
Collection 2:
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Birthmark
Rappaccini's Daughter
Lady Eleanore's Mantle
Old Esther Dudley
- Women’s History Blog
Puritan Women’s Rights
(http://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2007/10/puritan-women.html)
- David Glen Smith
Women’s Roles in Puritan Culture
(http://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2007/10/puritan-women.html)
English 3 Assignment:
- How are the women in each of Hawthorne’s stories representative of the women in
Puritan society? Cite evidence as needed in your written response.
English 3 Honors:
- Each of Hawthorne’s characters reflects different attributes as both women and
individuals of their time period. How do these women adhere to Puritan society standards, how
do they rebel against it, and what message is Hawthorne trying to convey about women to his
audience? Cite evidence as necessary in your written response.
Collection 3:
- Jack London
The Iron Heel
- The Philosopher’s Mail
“The Great Philosophers: Karl Marx”
(http://thephilosophersmail.com/capitalism/the-great-philosophers-karl-marx/)
English 3 Assignment:
- How does London’s work reflect the ideas of Karl Marx? Cite Evidence as needed in
your written response.
English 3 Honors Assignment:
- London’s work places a focus on the ideas of labor, class, capitalism, and socialism. He
draws largely from the ideas of Karl Marx, most specifically the maxim “from each according to
his ability, to each according to his need.” Explain this thought thoroughly using the information
on Karl Marx and Socialism, and then show how this idea is present in The Iron Heel. Cite
evidence as necessary in your written response.
Collection 4:
- Malcolm X
“The Ballot or the Bullet”
(http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/speeches/malcolm_x_ballot.html)
- Langston Hughes
“The Ways of White Folks”
(http://harrisocac.pbworks.com/f/Hughes+White+Folks.pdf)
- Maya Angelou
The Million Man March Poem
Caged Bird
(http://www.poemhunter.com/maya-angelou/)
English 3 Assignment:
- Explain the different approaches each author takes when commenting on matters of race
and equality. Cite evidence where necessary in your written response.
English 3 Honors Assignment:
- When looking at the different approaches each author takes in their writing, evaluate its
effectiveness as both a commentary on equality and a method of communication in general. Cite
evidence where necessary in your written response.
Collection 5:
- Tennessee Williams
A Streetcar Named Desire
- John Updike
“A&P”
- J. D. Salinger
“The Laughing Man”
English 3 Assignment:
- Each of these stories deals with a ‘loss of innocence.’ Explain this concept and how it is
shown in the three stories. Cite evidence as needed in your written response.
English 3 Honors Assignment:
- The ‘loss of innocence’ shown in each selection is a cause and effect scenario. There is
a characteristic present that allows someone to lose their innocence and an inevitable effect once
that innocence is gone. Explain this relationship using characters from each story, citing
evidence where necessary.
Additional Information:
- Responses must be typed using MLA Formatting.
- Evidence should be cited (properly) within your responses.
- Be sure to include evidence, details, a breakdown of the evidence, and
a thorough explanation of why that evidence is significant.
MLA Sample:
Bibliography: http://www.easybib.com/
The assignments will be due when returning to school August 2015
Have a Great Summer!