The “Check With Mr. Durnell First” Assignment
American History Extra Credit Guidelines
Extra credit will be offered for the American History course. Each student is eligible to earn up to
50 points of extra credit each semester. Any student interested in doing extra credit needs to check with
Mr. Durnell before he or she begins regardless of chosen topic. There are two ways to earn extra credit:
1. The Preferred Option: Decide on a book you would like to read, check with Mr. Durnell
before you begin reading, read the book, and report on it based on the guidelines listed below.
You can also choose a book that is not on the list, but it must be okayed by Mr. Durnell first.
The book report should be at least 3-4 pages (typed, double spaced, standard margins, 12pt
Times font). I have several free books & can make recommendations. I reserve the right to
deny any book. The chosen book must be one that you have not read & you must check with
Mr. Durnell first or else the assignment will not be accepted.
2. The Other Option: Watch six movies from the list below. Each student must check with Mr.
Durnell first, get permission from parents, watch movie, and report on the movie based on the
guidelines below. You will not get any credit unless you report on six movies. If you draft the
five finest movie reports known to man, you will not get any credit unless you can produce a
sixth report. In other words, you will not get partial credit for doing under six reports. You can
choose a movie that is not on the list, but you must check with Mr. Durnell first. Movie reports
should be 2-3 pages (typed, double spaced, standard margins, 12pt Times font).
Report Guidelines: The reports should include why you chose the book or movie, a brief summary of
the story (less than a page), favorite quotes or lines, outside information from another source based on
research (50% of report), & if you would recommend the book or movie to someone else. Also,
explain how the movie or book helped you better understand the period of history it was set in. As a
source (primary or secondary) what does it reveal about the time period it was set in? Standard writing
format is expected with an introduction, thesis that is a statement of your opinion, body with topic
sentences, and a conclusion. Check with Mr. Durnell before you begin this task.
Strict Deadline: All extra credit will be due by 3pm in Mr. Durnell’s folder in room 2 by Friday
December 4th & Friday May 6th. This extra credit can be done once per semester.
Recommended Movies
Amistad
The Last of the
Mohicans
Gangs of New York
Glory
Dances With Wolves
Citizen Kane
The Godfather II
Inherit the Wind
Cinderella Man
The Color Purple
Saving Private Ryan
There Will Be Blood
Patton
Good Night & Good Luck
The Fog of War
Thirteen Days
Hoffa
Woodstock
Malcolm X
The Hurricane
Ali
Apocalypse Now
Forrest Gump
Born of the Fourth of July
Platoon
Good Morning Vietnam
The Killing Fields
Apollo 13
Full Metal Jacket
All of the President’s Men
Philadelphia
The Longest Day
Bobby
The Outlaw Jose Wales
Contagion
Memphis Bell
Charlie Wilson’s War
Extremely Loud &
Incredibly Close
Red Tails
12 Years a Slave
The Butler
42
Lone Survivor
Milk
Iron Jawed Angels
Argo
Recommended Books
Lincoln
The Help
Unbroken
Selma
~The Scarlet LetterHawthorne
~Narrative of the Life of
F. Douglass
~The PathfindersCooper
~Uncle Tom’s CabinStowe
~The Killer AngelsShaara
~How the Other Half
Lives-Riis
~The Gilded Age-Twain
~Shame of the CitiesSteffens
~The Jungle-Sinclair
~Our Country-Strong
~Walden- Thoreau
~Only Yesterday-Allen
~Farewell to ArmsHemmingway
~Three Soldiers-Dos
Passos
~The Sun Also RisesFitzgerald
~Babbitt-Lewis
~Souls of Black FolksDubois
~Grapes of WrathSteinbeck
~The Autobiography of
Malcolm X
~Hiroshima-Hersey
~Catch 22-Heller
~I Know Why Caged
Birds Sing-Angelou
~The Invisible ManEllison
~Black Boy-Wright
~The Ugly American
~A Rumor of War
~The Things They
Carried-O’Brien