Sparta High School
English Department
Summer Reading Assignment
Grade Nine Honors English
Assignment
All students entering the ninth grade honors English class are required to read BOTH of the novels listed below.
While you are reading the novels, make notes about important elements of the novel, as well as your own ideas
and reflections, using a 5 x 8 index card—one card per book only—so that you are prepared to discuss and/or
write about the book when you come back to school in September. HANDWRITE. DO NOT TYPE. Use blue
or black ink. You may use both the front and back of the card to record your ideas. You will receive a grade
for the cards.
Pay particular attention to answering the Essential Question below, which is the grade level literary focus that
you MUST include on your card. Please note: any card that resembles the content of Spark Notes, Cliff
Notes, or other “study aid” will receive a “0.” You will use this card to help with your participation in class
discussions, presentations, tests, or essays. Your English teacher will let you know what day(s) you will need to
have the card with you in class.
Essential Question: How are people transformed through their relationships with others?
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Required Novels
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The Good Earth by Pearl Buck
Focus notes, too, on the themes of the novel (relationship to the land, family, the role of women,
character and personal integrity, etc.). The assessment for this novel will be an objective test
given during the first two weeks of school.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
While you are reading the novel, follow the assignment as it is outlined above using the
essential question as your focus.
Sparta High School
English Department
Summer Reading Assignment
Sophomore Honors English
Assignment
All students who are entering the tenth grade honors English class MUST READ ALL THREE of the following
novels. While you are reading the novels, make notes about important elements of the novel, as well as your
own ideas and reflections, using a 5 x 8 index card—one card per book only—so that you are prepared to
discuss and/or write about the book when you come back to school in September. HANDWRITE. DO NOT
TYPE. Use blue or black ink. You may use both the front and back of the card to record your ideas. You will
receive a grade for the cards.
Pay particular attention to addressing the focus for each work as outlined below. Please note: any card that
resembles the content of Spark Notes, Cliff Notes, or other “study aid” will receive a “0.” You will use this
card to help with your participation in class discussions, presentations, tests, or essays. Your English teacher
will let you know what day(s) you will need to have the card with you in class.

Required Novels

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Focus notes on how Twain uses satire to address social injustices. The assessment for this novel will be
an objective test given during the first two weeks of school.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Focus notes on how Fitzgerald uses symbolism and characterization to portray the “American Dream.”
The assessment for this novel will be an in-class essay during the first two weeks of school.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
While you are reading the novel, follow the assignment as it is outlined above using the following
essential question as your focus:
Essential Question: In the face of adversity, what causes some people to prevail while others fail?
Sparta High School
English Department
Summer Reading Assignment
Junior Advanced Placement Language and Composition
All students who are entering the junior Advanced Placement Language and Composition class MUST
COMPLETE ALL FOUR of the following assignments.
While you are reading the novels, make notes about important elements of the novel, as well as your own ideas
and reflections, using a 5 x 8 index card—one card per book only—so that you are prepared to discuss and/or
write about the book when you come back to school in September. HANDWRITE. DO NOT TYPE. Use blue
or black ink. You may use both the front and back of the card to record your ideas. You will receive a grade
for the cards.
Pay particular attention to addressing the focus for each work as outlined below. Please note: any card that
resembles the content of Spark Notes, Cliff Notes, or other “study aid” will receive a “0.” You will use this
card to help with your participation in class discussions, presentations, tests, or essays. Your English teacher
will let you know what day(s) you will need to have the card with you in class.

Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
While you are reading the novel, follow the assignment as it is outlined above using the following
essential question as your focus: Essential Question: How does one’s perspective shape or alter truth?

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
While you are reading the novel, follow the assignment as it is outlined above using the following
essential question as your focus: Essential Question: How does one’s perspective shape or alter truth?

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
While you are reading the novel, follow the assignment as it is outlined above using the following
essential question as your focus: Essential Question: How does one’s perspective shape or alter truth?

Choose 20 editorials, journals or other articles from reliable sources like TIME, THE NEW YORK
TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, THE NEW YORKER, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, or any
other reliable source.
♦ Write a dialectical journal
♦ Create a working vocabulary list
♦ Highlight an excerpt for discussion
F.Y.I.
dialectic 1. The art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments. 2. The process, especially
associated with Hegel, of arriving at the truth by stating a thesis, developing a contradictory antithesis,
and combining and resolving them into a coherent synthesis.
dialectics (used with a singular verb) 1. A method of argument or exposition that systematically weighs
contradictory facts or ideals with a view to the resolution of their real or apparent contradictions. 2. The
contradiction between two conflicting forces viewed as the determining factor in their continuing
interaction
Sparta High School
English Department
Summer Reading Assignment
Senior Advanced Placement Literature and Composition
Assignment
All students who are entering the senior Advanced Placement Literature and Composition class MUST READ
ALL FOUR of the following works and complete the following assignment for each work:
Our literature discussions will always begin with your ideas. For the three novels, select three or four of what
you consider to be key passages for EACH work. Using a separate 5 x 8 card for each passage, write the
passage itself on the front of the card (write a brief summary if it is long). Include page and chapter/act/scene
numbers. On the reverse side of the card, write your rationale for your choice of passage. Consider such things
as the following: Does it capture what you consider to be the theme of the novel? A character’s true nature?
Or is it out of character? Does it strike a chord with your own personal philosophy? Is it so true—even today?
Or so out-of-step with the world today?
Then, after reading each of the first three works, use a separate card to consider the answer each one offers to
the following essential questions:
Essential Questions: How do authors use the resources of language to impact an audience?
What distinguishes a “good read” from “great literature”?
For the Foster work, follow the directions that are indicated below.
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Required Works
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Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas Foster
(You must have your own copy of this last book so that you can underline/highlight, take notes and
fill it with marginalia as you read!)