English I Pre AP Summer Reading
Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare
Pg. 580-693, Literature Textbook
Check out prior to leaving for Summer Break or you may purchase your own copy
**NOTE**Cliff Notes or Internet Study Guides are readily available at many bookstores and Internet
sites. Though not recommended for entire reading, they can often supplement reading and basic
understanding. Please note that you will be tested over the story for comprehension when school begins.
Questions will not be derived from Cliff Notes solely.
Romeo & Juliet
English I Pre AP Summer Projects
Due date: First School Day
DIRECTIONS: Choose two of the activities below to present to the class on the first school day.
Remember these projects must reflect an understanding of the story you were required to read.
1. Create a four-page (or more) newspaper that highlights the major events of the play. The paper should be
creative, but reflect what truly happened during the course of the play. You should include: cover stories
about the murders, deaths, punishment; a society page with the feasts and engagement; classified which
highlights the sale of swords, daggers, & masks; individual obituaries for the main characters who were
killed off; and perhaps an advice column. The more creative and true to the time, the better.
2.Design and create a character collage. Pick one of the major characters and create a collage based on
characteristics of the character. This must be completed on something bigger than notebook paper and reflect a high
level of creativity and thinking. Remember a collage involves multiple pictures cut from magazines or Internet
which relate to the topic. Collages should be three-dimensional. This is a time to be creative. Collages with little
effort will be graded accordingly. Little effort often involves cutting and pasting pictures only.
3. Listen to some current music. Are there any underlying themes, which are relevant to the ideas of Romeo and
Juliet? Write a one-page, double-spaced, typed paper comparing a current song to Romeo and Juliet. Bring the CD
to class to play and explain the parallels between the two.
4. Maintain a diary of one of the characters from Romeo and Juliet. The diary entries must be creative and
emotional, but also reflect what actually occurred in the story. They do not have to be typed, but must be completed
on something other than notebook paper. You must have at least ten (10) diary entries, which must consist of at least
half a page. Remember to make it authentic. They didn’t have computers back then. It must also have a cover.
5. Create a power point with a minimum of 20 slides. The power point should consist of the 5 literary elements of
Romeo and Juliet. These elements are setting, characters, theme, point of view, and plot. You will present the power
point to the class. This should include true pictures of characters & setting which are readily available on the
Internet with a little searching.
6. Memorize a speech from Romeo and Juliet, which is 25 lines or more. Dress in costume with props and present to
the class.
TYPED PAPER FORMATS
Double Spaced
Size 12
Font: Times or Times New Roman
Name Typed at Top
GRADING: Your grade will be based on the quality & the completeness of your project. Two test grades will be
taken for the final product.