Eleventh Grade Summer Reading
As juniors in high school, you will read literature with language and plots that are directed
towards a mature audience. Should you or your parents have a concern about a selection,
please put your concern in writing and send it to the department chair for consideration for
an alternative selection and assignment. An assessment of this book will be given the first
week of school in August 2015.
ENGLISH III:
Book #1: THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeannette Walls
Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both
their curse and their salvation. Jeannette and her three siblings had to fend for themselves.
Still Jeannette Walls describes her parents with deep affection and generosity.
Eleventh Grade Summer Reading - Challenging Americans
As juniors in high school, you will read literature with language and plots that are directed
towards a mature audience, Should you or your parents have a concern about a selection,
please put your concern in writing and send it to the department chair for consideration for
an alternative selection and assignment.
ENGLISH III (THE CHALLENGING AMERICANS) (Two books to read!)
Book #1: THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeannette Walls
Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both
their curse and their salvation. Jeannette and her three siblings had to fend for themselves.
Still Jeannette Walls describes her parents with deep affection and generosity. An
assessment will be given on this book during the first week of school in August 2015.
Book #2: THANK YOU FOR ARGUING: WHAT ARISTOTLE, LINCOLN, AND HOMER
SIMPSON CAN TEACH US ABOUT THE ART OF PERSUASION by Jay Heinrichs
THANK YOU FOR ARGUING is a master class in the art of persuasion, taught by professors
ranging from Bart Simpson to Winston Churchill. The book covers how to argue, reveals
tricks behind advertising and political campaigns, and explains the basic rhetorical principles
of pathos, logos, and ethos.
Summer Reading Assignment for THANK YOU FOR ARGUING
Here are some random and informal thoughts about THANK YOU FOR ARGUING
1. Do read all of the assignment requirements before reading the book.
2. Do buy your own book to use. This way you can make notes in the book as you read.
3. Do talk with each other about this book during the summer. It will help you process the
material.
4. Do allow time for rereading sections or comments you have made while reading.
5. Do prepare yourself for an essay test on the book within the first week of school.
6. Do not expect this book to be your typical "summer reading." It is not an action packed
thriller.
7. Do not rush the reading. It will be very difficult to complete all at once. Start reading this
book early during the summer and pace yourself.
8. Do not ask for a deadline extension when you come to class the first day. The assignment
is due August 12, 2015.
Assignment for THANK YOU FOR ARGUING:
1. As you read the book, use the following questions as a guide to your reading:
a. What is the author asking the reader to accept as true?
b. What types of evidence does the author use to present his argument? Types of
evidence include: anecdotes, statistics, facts, references to authorities on the
subject, author's opinion, comparison/analogy, cause and effect relationship.
c. In what ways does the author appeal to both logic and emotion?
d. Where does the author acknowledge opposing arguments?
(These rhetorical questions provide suggestions of what to highlight or annotate as you read.
You do not need to type answers to them!)
2. Compile a typed list of 20 interesting anecdotes/revelations from the book. Include
page number. Here is where you recount interesting tidbits or epiphanies. This may be a
section that surprised, amused, infuriated, or saddened you. Include parts of the book that
provoke an emotional response for you. Beneath the anecdote/revelation, type commentary
explaining why you chose each anecdote/revelation. (This assignment is due the first day of
school which is August 12, 2015.)
Failure to turn in these assignments on the first day of school results in a zero as a test
grade!
Eleventh Grade Summer Reading - AP English Language
As juniors in high school, you will read literature with language and plots that are directed
towards a mature audience. Should you or your parents have a concern about a selection,
please put your concern in writing and send it to the department chair for consideration for
an alternative selection and assignment.
Advanced Placement English III
Book #1: THANK YOU FOR ARGUING: WHAT ARISTOTLE, LINCOLN, AND HOMER
SIMPSON CAN TEACH US ABOUT THE ART OF PERSUASION by Jay Heinrichs
THANK YOU FOR ARGUING is a master class in the art of persuasion, taught by professors
ranging from Bart Simpson to Winston Churchill. The book covers how to argue, reveals
tricks behind advertizing and political campaigns, and explains the basic rhetorical principles
of pathos, logos, and ethos.
Summer Reading Assignment for THANK YOU FOR ARGUING
Here are some random and informal thoughts about THANK YOU FOR ARGUING
1. Do read all of the assignment requirements before reading the book.
2. Do buy your own book to use. This way you can make notes in the book as you read.
3. Do talk with each other about this book during the summer. It will help you process the
material.
4. Do allow time for rereading sections or comments you have made while reading.
5. Do prepare yourself for an essay test on the book within the first week of school.
6. Do not expect this book to be your typical "summer reading." It is not an action packed
thriller.
7. Do not rush the reading. It will be very difficult to complete all at once. Start reading this
book early during the summer and pace yourself.
8. Do not ask for a deadline extension when you come to class the first day. The assignment
is due August 12, 2015.
Assignment for THANK YOU FOR ARGUING:
1. As you read the book, use the following questions as a guide to your reading:
a. What is the author asking the reader to accept as true?
b. What types of evidence does the author use to present his argument? Types of
evidence include: anecdotes, statistics, facts, references to authorities on the
subject, author's opinion, comparison/analogy, cause and effect relationship.
c. In what ways does the author appeal to both logic and emotion?
d. Where does the author acknowledge opposing arguments?
(These rhetorical questions provide suggestions of what to highlight or annotate as you read.
You do not need to type answers to them!)
2. Compile a typed list of 20 interesting anecdotes/revelations from the book. Include page
number. Here is where you recount interesting tidbits or epiphanies. This may be a section
that surprised, amused, infuriated, or saddened you. Include parts of the book that provoke
an emotional response for you. Beneath the anecdote/revelation, type commentary
explaining why you chose each anecdote/revelation. (This assignment is due the first day of
school.)
Failure to turn in these assignments on the first day of school results in a zero as a test
grade!
Book #2: THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeannette Walls
Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both
their curse and their salvation. Jeannette and her three siblings had to fend for themselves.
Still Jeannette Walls describes her parents with deep affection and generosity.
The Character Bone Structure Activity is given below.
Character Bone Structure Activity
For THE GLASS CASTLE
These materials help you to understand the physical and psychological
background of characters found in literature. Please complete each of the
following questions (unless otherwise instructed) concerning physiology,
sociology, and psychology. Select a quotation that illustrates each category; cite
your choice parenthetically according to MLA format in 12 point font Times New
Roman. This assignment is due at class time on August 12, 2015.
Do NOT complete this assignment on this handout! Choose either Rose Mary
Walls or Rex Walls as the focus for your Character Bone Structure Activity.
Physiology:
This helps your description concerning the character’s
appearance and outward attitude. Type a quotation for each category listed
below. Correctly document the quotation in MLA format – quotation and page
number.
Sex:
Age:
Height & Weight:
Color of eyes, hair, skin:
Posture:
Appearance (dress):
Defects:
Heredity:
Type 8-11 sentences of commentary discussing your reaction to the character’s
physiological makeup.
Sociology: This includes the character’s home location, type of job, family
life, wealth (amount of money), and how free time is spent. Type a quotation for
each category listed below. Correctly document the quotation in MLA format –
quotation and page number.
Class:
Occupation:
Education:
Home Life: (Who runs the house or supports the family through work or leadership?)
Religion:
Place in Community: (Is this person liked/disliked in his/her home area?)
Political Ambitions:
Amusements, Hobbies:
Type 8-11 sentences of commentary discussing your reaction to the character’s
sociological makeup.
Psychology: This includes how a character acts because of attitude.
Please
attempt to describe the mental state of the character. Try to offer reasons for
character’s actions due to attitude. Type a quotation for each category listed
below. Correctly document the quotation in MLA format – quotation and page
number.
Moral Standards:
Personal Ambitions:
Frustrations (disappointments, big and small):
Temperament: (Is this character mild mannered or hostile? Plus, when a
character comes in contact with different persons; how do they respond? Does
the character act differently around different people?)
Attitude toward life:
Complexes (Are there any mental problems which cause him/her to act in any
particular manner?):
Extrovert, Introvert (Is the character outgoing and social, keeps to him/herself
and doesn’t mix with other people, can be described as at one time moody and to
him/herself while at other times outgoing and social?):
I.Q.:
Type 8-11 sentences of commentary discussing your reaction to the character’s
psychological makeup.
Failure to turn in these assignments on the first day of school results in a zero as a test
grade!
Book #3: SCRATCH BEGINNINGS: ME, $35, AND THE SEARCH FOR THE AMERICAN
DREAM by Adam Shepard
Incensed after reading Barbara Ehrenreich’s famous work NICKEL AND DIMED, Shepard
set out to show that people who start at the bottom cam make something out of noting and
achieve the American dream.
You will complete and in-class timed writing over this book on August 12, 2015.