HONORS WORLD HISTORY SUMMER READING
Read Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse and Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja
Students who do not complete both readings and turn them in the 2nd day of
World History class WILL NOT be eligible for the Honors Section of this class. This
assignment will count as your first quiz grade. Start off strong!
Siddhartha Assignment
Part A
While you are reading, complete a dialectic journal. See the attached handout for reference as to what this
is. You must have a minimum of 2 entries from each chapter. This needs to be typed.
Part B
Create a Travel Journal that depicts the journey of Siddhartha. There should be a minimum of 12 stops on
the journey, one for each chapter. It should be written in first person point of view, as Siddhartha.
Include dates, quotes, pictures, drawings, characters, symbols, souvenirs, etc. There should be short
summary of each section. Include a map of the journey.
This can be handmade or composed on the computer using prezi, ppt, imovie, etc. You will be presenting
your Travel Journal to the class.
Buddha Boy Assignment
Part A
While you are reading, complete a dialectic journal. See the attached handout for reference as to what this
is. You must have a minimum of 8 entries - 2 from each of the following pages:
Chapters 1 to 4; Chapters 5 to 8; Chapters 9 to 11; Chapters 12 to 14.
Part B
In addition to the journal, please respond to the following. Your responses need to be typed.

Write 5 questions – this could be things you are curious about or don’t understand, but I would
love for you to write deeper philosophical questions that we can ask the class during our
discussions. Attempt to answer these questions.
Buddhism
 How has Buddhism helped Jinsen?
o How could he go from a bully to Buddhist so quickly?
o Is it possible to change this fast, and is it truly Buddhism that changed him (could any
religion have done this)? Can you think of any examples?
o Is there hope for McManus to change?
o What causes someone to convert to or practice religion/Buddhism?
 What does it mean to be a Buddha or to be enlightened?
o Is Jinsen enlightened – how can we tell?
o Explore the role of suffering and discipline in Jinsen’s enlightenment/balance?
o Apply this story of Jinsen’s journey toward enlightenment/balance to yourself or people
today.
 Does Karma exist (what is the difference between Karma and coincidence)?
o How does Karma play into the story?
o Is Justin and Jinsen meeting a coincidence or Karma from a past life?
Ethics/Morals/Worldview
 Why do people strive for acceptance/popularity? Why can’t we be content with what we have?
 Think of some examples and causes of social “caste” or social status. Is social hierarchy good or
bad? When should we put this aside?
 Do we tend to stereotype less as we grow older? Do religious people stereotype less? Buddhists?
 Think of Justin’s comments on religion; does his opinion change? Do you think that religion helps
people know truth or right and wrong?
Hero Cycle/Archetypes
 Is Justin and/or Jinsen a hero? Why or why not?
 Can a villain be an idea or concept in a book vs. only a person?
o Who is the villain(s) in the story?
 If Jinsen gave Justin a spiritual name, what do you think it would mean?
Dialectical Journals
The term “Dialectic” means “the art or practice of arriving at the truth by using conversation involving
question and answer.” Think of your dialectical journal as a series of conversations with the text. The
process is meant to help you develop a better understanding of the text. Use your journal to incorporate
your personal responses to the text. You will find that it is a useful way to process what you’re reading,
prepare yourself for group discussion, and gather textual evidence for your papers.
Procedure:
o
As you read, choose passages that stand out to you and record them in the left-hand column of a Tchart (ALWAYS include page numbers).
o
In the right column, write your response to the text (ideas/insights, questions, reflections, and
comments on each passage)
o
Label your responses using the following codes:
o
(Q) Question – ask about something in the passage that is unclear
o
(C) Connect – make a connection to your life, the world, or another text
o
(P) Predict – anticipate what will occur based on what’s in the passage
o
(CL) Clarify – answer earlier questions or confirm/disaffirm a prediction
o
(R) Reflect – think deeply about what the passage means in a broad sense – not just to the
characters in the story. What conclusions can you draw about the world, about human nature,
or just the way things work?
o
(E) Evaluate - make a judgment about the character(s), their actions, or what the author is
trying to say
Sample Dialectical Journal entry: THE THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O’Brien
Passages from the text
Pg#s Comments & Questions
“-they carried like freight trains; they
carried it on their backs and shoulders- Pg 2
and for all the ambiguities of Vietnam,
all the mysteries and unknowns, there
was at least the single abiding certainty
that they would never be at a loss for
things to carry”.
(R) O’brien chooses to end the first section of the
novel with this sentence. He provides excellent
visual details of what each solider in Vietnam
would carry for day-to-day fighting. He makes you
feel the physical weight of what soldiers have to
carry for simple survival. When you combine the
emotional weight of loved ones at home, the fear
of death, and the responsibility for the men you
fight with, with this physical weight, you start to
understand what soldiers in Vietnam dealt with
every day. This quote sums up the confusion that
the men felt about the reasons they were fighting
the war, and how they clung to the only certainty things they had to carry - in a confusing world
where normal rules were suspended.
Choosing Passages from the Text:
Look for quotes that seem significant, powerful, thought provoking or puzzling. For example, you might
record:
o
o
Effective &/or creative use of stylistic or literary devices
Passages that remind you of your own life or something you’ve seen before
o
o
o
o
o
o
Structural shifts or turns in the plot
A passage that makes you realize something you hadn’t seen before
Examples of patterns: recurring images, ideas, colors, symbols or motifs.
Passages with confusing language or unfamiliar vocabulary
Events you find surprising or confusing
Passages that illustrate a particular character or setting
Responding To the Text:
You can respond to the text in a variety of ways. The most important thing to remember is that your
observations should be specific and detailed. You should be writing 2 to 3 paragraphs for this
assignment. Please type this assignment.
Basic Responses
o
Raise questions about the beliefs and values implied in the text
o
Give your personal reactions to the passage
o
Discuss the words, ideas, or actions of the author or character(s)
o
Tell what it reminds you of from your own experiences
o
Write about what it makes you think or feel
o
Agree or disagree with a character or the author
Sample Sentence Starters:
I really don’t understand this because…
I really dislike/like this idea because…
I think the author is trying to say that…
This passage reminds me of a time in my life when…
If I were (name of character) at this point I would…
This part doesn’t make sense because…
This character reminds me of (name of person) because …
Higher Level Responses
o
Analyze the text for use of literary devices (tone, structure, style, imagery)
o
Make connections between different characters or events in the text
o
Make connections to a different text (or film, song, etc…)
o
Discuss the words, ideas, or actions of the author or character(s)
o
Consider an event or description from the perspective of a different character
o
Analyze a passage and its relationship to the story as a whole
Dialectical Journal Template
Directions:
In the first column: Write down a direct quote from the text
In the second column: cite the page
In the third column: Choose one of the following (or make your own) and elaborate.
(Q) Question – ask about something in the passage that is
unclear
(C) Connect – make a connection to your life, the world, or
another text
(P) Predict – anticipate what will occur based on what’s in
the passage
(CL) Clarify – answer earlier questions or
confirm/disaffirm a prediction
Quotation From the Text
Page
Number
(R) Reflect – think deeply about what the passage means in
a broad sense – not just to the characters in the story.
What conclusions can you draw about the world, about
human nature, or just the way things work?
(E) Evaluate - make a judgment about the character(s),
their actions, or what the author is trying to say
Response