English 10 Honors
Summer Reading Assignments
Name:
2012 – 2013
This summer you will be required to Frankenstein by Mary Shelley in order to complete the
assignments outlined below. As you read the novel, complete the Text Flagging assignment
(attached) in order to approach the text on an analytical, critical level and to prepare for the test that
you will take upon the commencement of the 2012 – 2013 school year. If you have any questions
over the summer, please e-mail me at martinoc@marlboroschools.org. I look forward to an
enjoyable and educational year together. Happy reading!
Your Tasks:
1. Read Frankenstein
 Complete the Text Flagging assignment (see attached assignment).
 Write a corresponding journal entry for each “flag” in which you explain how the
particular passage in the text addresses the specified criteria of the archetypal hero.
You must complete a minimum of 8 journal entries for each character
(Frankenstein and the Creature) for a total of 16 journal entries.
 *Be prepared for a multiple-choice test on the second day of school.*
2. Who is the archetypal hero in the novel, Frankenstein? Write a paragraph in which you prove
either Frankenstein or the creature as the archetypal hero using the information from your
text flagging journal entries. Use the attached graphic organizer to plan your response.
3. Complete the New York Times summer reading assignment (see attached).
4. Vocabulary Journal assignment for Frankenstein.
 As you read the novel, make a list of unfamiliar words that you come across in your
journal. You should also indicate the page number for each word.
 After you have read the novel in its entirety, complete the vocabulary journal assignment
for 10 of the words that you identified.
 For each word you must …
 Find a definition that makes sense to you and write it in your journal.
 Write the part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb).
 Write synonyms and antonyms for the word.
 Write an original sentence in which the word is used correctly according to its
part of speech. The sentence must also display the meaning of the word.
 Draw a picture that demonstrates the meaning of the word. OR Write a rhyme
that reveals the meaning of the word
Sample Vocabulary Journal Entry
Word: benevolent (p. 50)
Definition: intending or showing good will; kind
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/benevolent?s=t)
Part of Speech: adjective
Synonyms: good, kind, humane, generous, liberal, benign, philanthropic, altruistic
Antonyms: greedy, malevolent, mean, selfish, spiteful, unkind
Sentence: The nurse’s benevolent smile made me feel at ease even though I was nervous
about getting a shot.
Rhyme:
My mother taught me to always be kind and benevolent,
Never mean, spiteful, or malevolent.
ASSIGNMENTS DUE ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL:
 A complete reading of Frankenstein demonstrated by proper text “flags.”
 The Text Flagging journal entries (8 journal entries per character)
 One paragraph: Who is the Archetypal Hero in Frankenstein?
 Vocabulary Journal entries for 10 words in Frankenstein.
 A Printout of your posts for the Summer Reading Contest for The New York Times.
*All written assignments should be submitted in a Composition Notebook that will serve as
your journal notebook throughout the school year.*
English 10 Honors
Summer Reading Assignments
Name:
NY Times Summer Reading Assignment
Your Task: Read articles of your choice in The New York Times and post your response to the Student
Opinion question every Friday, starting as early as June 15. I will create a link on my website to the NY
Times site for you. Your posts should be written in paragraph form and should contain enough information to
demonstrate a thorough understanding of the article you read. In addition, your posts should be free of errors
and should be grammatically correct. Print your posts from the NY Times website after you have posted
them to submit on the first day of school. If this is not possible, type them into a Word document and
print them to submit on the first day of school.
Your Grade:
 100% = 10 posts
 90% = 7 – 9 posts
 80% = 4 – 6 posts
 70% = 2 – 3 posts
 65% = 1 post
 If you are selected as a winner by The New York Times, you will receive major Bonus points!
The Third Annual New York Times Summer Reading Contest
This PDF is adapted from a blog post published in April, 2012. Find the whole post here:
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/our-third-annual-summer-reading-contest/
How Does Your Summer Reading Contest Work?
Every week you’ll tell us what you’re reading in The Times, and explain why it interested you. We don’t
care what you choose or whether you loved or hated it; what we care about is what you have to say about
why you picked it. So whether it’s a piece about television for dogs or one about the challenges of war, tell
us, in 350 words or fewer, why it caught your eye. We’ll choose a winner (or winners, depending on how
many submissions we get) every week. Then we’ll publish our picks in a special post, as we did last year
and the year before.
So whether you were moved by an article, enlightened by an essay, bowled over by a photo, irked
by an editorial, intrigued by a feature, or inspired by a how-to, tell us what got your attention and why.
We’re open to pretty much any response that follows our commenting rules.
What Are the Rules?
— We’ll post the same Student Opinion question for every Friday, starting June 15. Each will ask, “What
Interested You Most in The Times This Week?” That’s where you should post your picks (and reasons) any
time until the next Friday. Then we’ll close that post and open a new one with the same question. As soon
as the contest starts, we’ll also make sure to keep an up-to-date link to at the top of this page leading
you to that week’s question. If you bookmark this page, you can always find the link to the place to
post your answer.
— You can choose from anything published in the print paper or on NYTimes.com in 2012. And yes,
videos, graphics, slide shows and podcasts count.
— Feel free to participate each week, but we allow only one submission per person per week.
— The contest is open to students ages 13 to 25.
— Each response should be 350 words or fewer. (To check, you can paste yours into an online word-count
tool like this one before you submit it.)
— Give us your first name only, in accordance with our privacy rules. No last names, but please also post
your age and hometown.
— Make sure to provide us with a full headline (For example, “Lessons in the Art of Pillow Fort
Construction”) or the URL(s), or Web address(es), of the Times material you choose so others can find
them easily. To find a URL, just copy and paste what comes up at the top of the page in your browser. This
post’s URL, for example, is http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/our-third-annual-summerreading-contest/.
When Should I Check to See Whether My Submission Won?
Every Monday, we’ll publish the previous week’s winner or winners in a separate post. We’ll also mention
the winners on Twitter and Facebook. Fame awaits you!
How Do I Participate in This Contest if I Don’t Have a Digital Subscription?
NYTimes.com has a digital subscription system in which readers have free access to 10 articles each
month. If you exceed that limit, you will be asked to become a digital subscriber. One thing you should
know, however, is that The Learning Network and all its posts, as well as all Times articles linked from
them, are accessible without a digital subscription. That means that if you use any of the articles we have
linked to on this blog for summer reading, they will not count as part of the 10-article limit. Further, any
articles you read via a link on Facebook or Twitter or in an e-mail do not count toward your 10-article limit.
And you’re free to write about articles that were published any time in 2012.
English 10 Honors
Name:
Summer Reading Assignments
Text Flagging Assignment
Text Flagging is a tool that will aid us in the understanding and discussion of the assigned texts. “Flagging” is
the use of post-it notes to purposefully mark certain parts of your assigned reading.
Your Task: Use post-it notes to “flag” important passages in the texts that will later become part of your
analysis paragraph. Use the chart below as a guide to “flag” the texts. You must “flag” the text 8 times for
each character (Frankenstein and the Creature) and write a corresponding journal entry for each
“flag” for a total of 16 “flags” and journal entries. After you have “flagged” the passage in the text, write a
journal entry that explanations how the particular passage you have chosen demonstrates one of the qualities of
the archetypal hero as they are described on the chart below.
Guidelines:
 Each “flag” must contain LETTER(S) (D, L, Q, LR, A) that refer to the focus of the material and a
NAME (Frankenstein or Creature).
 The corresponding journal entry should be labeled with the LETTER and NAME that appear on the
“flag.”
 The text must be “flagged” from beginning to end.
 In each journal entry, you must explain how this particular passage in the text addresses the specified
criteria of the archetypal hero. For example, you must explain how a particular passage reveals the
fact that Frankenstein has been destroyed by his desire to surpass the natural order of things.
 Journal entries must be written in complete sentences and include enough information so that the
connection between the assigned prompt and the chosen passage is clear. *Include direct quotes
from the text to demonstrate and clarify ideas.
 Journal entries should be typed or neatly written.
 Journal entries should be proofread and free of errors.
 All journal entries are due on the first day of school.
“Flagging” Chart”
LETTER
D
You are required to have two (2) destruction flags
for each character.
L
You are required to have two (2) leaving flags for
each character.
Q
You are required to have two (2) quest flags for
each character.
LR
You are required to have one (1) learning flag for
each character
A
You are required to have one (1) apotheosis flag
for each character.
MEANING
“D” stands for destruction. The first characteristic of an archetypal hero is
that the character must be a figure, larger than life, whose search for
identity or self-fulfillment results in his own destruction. Flag the text
anytime Frankenstein or the creature say or do something that pertains his
search for identity or self-fulfillment. You should also flag any passages
that highlight the reason for these characters’ destructions.
“L” stands for leaving. The second characteristic of the archetypal hero is
that he/she leaves his/her family and lives with others. Flag the text
anytime Frankenstein or the creature leaves a place that they consider
home in order to live elsewhere.
“Q” stands for quest. The third characteristic of an archetypal hero is that
an event, sometimes traumatic, leads to an adventure or quest. This event
changes the hero’s life forever, and the quest usually consumes the rest of
his/her life. Flag the text anytime you find a passage that reveals a lifechanging, traumatic event for Frankenstein or the creature. You should
also flag the text when you find passages that describe the quest of each
character and the reasons for the quest.
“LR” stands for learning. The archetypal hero is always on some type of
adventure with a purpose--a quest if you will. He experiences many things
on this quest, among which is a descent into a kind of "hell." In this hell he
experiences a low point in his life that leaves him scarred forever with a
real or psychological wound that will not heal. The hero learns from this
descent into "hell" much about himself and usually matures greatly from
the experience. Flag the text when you find a passage that shows that
Frankenstein and the creature have learned something of value through
their journeys.
“A” stands for apotheosis, which means that after the hero's journeys are
over, the hero is rewarded spiritually in some way. Flag the text when you
find a passage that demonstrates some kind of spiritual reward for each
character.
*Additional information about the qualities of the archetypal hero can be found at http://tatsbox.com/hero/index.html.
You are required to have a minimum of 8 “flags” and corresponding journal entries for
each character. You can, of course, have more.
English 10 Honors
Graphic Organizer for Analysis Paragraph
Name:
Frankenstein
Your Task: Write a well-developed paragraph in which you answer the Essential Question: Who is
the archetypal hero in the novel, Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein or the Creature? Write a paragraph
in which you prove either Frankenstein or the Creature as the archetypal hero using the information
from your text flagging journal entries. Use appropriate language and follow the conventions of
standard written English in your paragraph. Use the attached graphic organizer to plan your
response.
1. Topic sentence—Include the title (properly punctuated), author, character, and the
point you will make (who is the archetypal hero?).
2. 1st idea – Introduce the first characteristic of the archetypal hero. To begin, …
3. Specific example – Include an excerpt from the novel in quotation
marks followed by a page number in parenthesis.
4. Connection between example & focus stated in topic sentence – Explain
the connection in 2 – 3 sentences.
5. Transition into 2nd idea – Introduce the second characteristic of the archetypal
hero.
6. Specific example -– Include an excerpt from the novel in quotation
marks followed by a page number in parenthesis. For instance, …
7. Connection between example & focus stated in the topic sentence–
Explain the connection in 2 – 3 sentences: This further demonstrates how
_________ is the archetypal hero because …
8. Concluding Sentence—Use an appropriate transition & restate the topic sentence.
Therefore, …Evidently,… Clearly,… Hence, …
English 10 Honors
Samples
Name:
“Prometheus”
*SAMPLE Journal Entries for Text Flagging Assignment*
D; PROMETHEUS – “Prometheus was very pleased with man but felt that there was a great deal left to
be desired in his creation. … What man needed, he saw was to have the chance to develop his mind. Athene,
the goddess of wisdom, had already given Prometheus the knowledge of how to build houses, to add and
subtract … he soon passed on to mankind. But still man did not have enough to satisfy Prometheus. So he
decided to give man the divine gift of fire” (213). This passage reveals how Prometheus meets the first
characteristic of the archetypal hero, for he is searching for self-fulfillment. He will not feel fulfilled
until human beings have the chance to develop their minds and to become intellectually advanced.
He decides to give man the gift of fire from the gods to satisfy his need to feel fulfilled regarding the
quality of his creation.
D; PROMETHEUS – “”’…Man was not to have the gift of fire. No god can defy my power and get away
with it. … Hephaestus,’ he ordered, ‘you go along with Prometheus and his guards. … When you get there, I
want you to forge the strongest iron fetters you can fashion and chain this criminal [Prometheus] to the rocks
with them. There he will stay forever, to bear the scorching heat of the sun by day and the bitter cold at night.
And I will send an eagle to nest nearby. Each day it will swoop down and tear the prisoner’s liver out, piece by
piece. And each night it will repair itself, ready to make a meal for the bird the next day’” (217 – 218). This
passage reveals how Prometheus is ultimately destroyed by his search for self-fulfillment. In his quest
to improve the human race and foster human beings’ intellectual prowess, he defied Zeus.
Consequently, Zeus imposed a terrible and destructive punishment upon Prometheus that lasted for
many years. As a result of his search for self-fulfillment, Prometheus was physically destroyed and
prevented from pursuing his quest to perfect the human race.
*SAMPLE Graphic Organizer for Paragraph*
1. Topic sentence—Include the title (properly punctuated), author, character, and the point you will
make (who is the archetypal hero?). In the Greek myth, “Prometheus” retold by W.T. Jewkes,
Prometheus is a quintessential example of an archetypal hero.
2.
1st idea – Introduce the first characteristic of the archetypal hero. To begin,
Prometheus’s search for self-fulfillment by improving the human race eventually leads to
his destruction.
3. Specific example – Include an excerpt from the novel in quotation
marks followed by a page number in parenthesis. For example, when
Zeus discovers that Prometheus has given man the gift of fire, he is
afraid that this will empower humans to the point that they “might even
try to storm Olympus itself.” Consequently, he punishes Prometheus.
4. Connection between example & focus stated in topic sentence – Explain the
connection in 2 – 3 sentences. This shows how Prometheus is the archetypal hero
in the story because the archetypal hero is a figure whose search for self-fulfillment
leads to his/her destruction. Prometheus creates human beings and is pleased with
his creation; however, he does not feel completely fulfilled until he gives man the gift
of fire to improve the race by enabling humans to ‘develop their minds.’ This also
required him to go against the word of Zeus, and he is ultimately punished for his
disobedience. This punishment constitutes Prometheus’s destruction. Although he
survives his punishment, he is tortured for “many and many a year” because of his
search for self-fulfillment. Therefore, Prometheus clearly exemplifies one of the
main characteristics of the archetypal hero.
5. Transition into 2nd idea – Introduce the second characteristic of the archetypal
hero. Furthermore, Prometheus also meets another key characteristic of an
epic hero: apotheosis.
6. Specific example -– Include an excerpt from the novel in quotation
marks followed by a page number in parenthesis. For instance, …
7. Connection between example & focus stated in the topic sentence– Explain the
connection in 2 – 3 sentences: This further demonstrates how _________ is the
archetypal hero because …
8. Concluding Sentence—Use an appropriate transition & restate the topic sentence. Therefore,
…Evidently,… Clearly,… Hence, …