Dear 12th grade College English Students,
You will be reading three books over the summer – 1984 by George Orwell, Nickel and Dimed
by Barbara Ehrenreich, and a non-fiction book of your choice. These responses will be collected
on the first day of school. We will discuss the books over the first few weeks of school and
there will be additional assignments relating to the readings. Nickel and Dimed will also be used
in your Citizenship classes. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Markouc.
Michele.markouc@wickliffeschools.org
Response Requirements: typed, 12 font, Times New Roman, Double-spaced
Each answer to each question should be at least a
Half page in length.
Each answer should include at least two examples
From the novel. (direct quotes should be cited)
Nickel and Dimed: Questions (45 points)
1. Were your perceptions of blue-collar Americans or reinforced by Nickel and Dimed?
Have your notions of poverty and prosperity changed since reading the book? What
about your treatment of waiters, maids, and salespeople?
2. How do booming national and international chains- restaurants, hotels, retail outlets,
cleaning services, and elder-care facilities-affect the treatment and aspirations of lowwage workers? Consider how market competition and the push for profits drive the
nickel-and-diming of America’s lowest-paid.
3. After reading Nickel and Dimed, do you think that having a job-any job- is better than
no job at all? Did this book make you feel angry? Better informed? Assess your
reactions to this book.
1984: Questions (45 points)
1. Describe the 3 slogans: War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength.
Explain what they mean and how they are used in the novel.
2. Discuss the idea of Doublethink. How important is Doublethink to the Party’s control of
Oceania? How important is it to Winston’s brainwashing?
3. How does technology affect the party’s ability to control its citizens? In what ways does
the Party employ technology throughout the book?
Nonfiction book of your choice (30 points)
Read a book with at least 150 pages. Make your choice relevant and interesting to you. Write at
least a one page response using some of the questions below for consideration.
As you read, try to be aware of the author’s bias or the reasons behind what he/she is saying.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Was the book what you thought/hoped it would be? In what way? If not, why not?
What did you learn? Cite examples to support your statements.
What is the author’s bias? Cite examples
Where did you agree with the author? Where did you disagree?
Connect what you learned in this book with other things you have read.
What was the author’s purpose in writing this book?