2013 RHS Summer Reading Assignment
Sophomores
Summer Reading Books
Entering the 2013-2014 school year, sophomores will be required to purchase and read both of the
following books:
Fiction: A Raisin in the Sun – by Lorraine Hansberry
Brief Synopsis: This play takes place in Chicago during the 1950s. Walter Lee Younger is a young
black man struggling with his position in life. Sharing a tiny apartment with his wife, son, sister and
mother, he seems like an imprisoned man. Until, that is, the family gets an unexpected financial
windfall…Will this be everything Walter needs to make his dreams come true?
Non-Fiction: Black Like Me – by John Howard Griffin
Brief Synopsis: In the Deep South of the 1950s, a color line was etched in blood across Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Journalist John Howard Griffin decided to cross that line. Using
medication that darkened his skin to deep brown, he exchanged his privileged life as a Southern
white man for the disenfranchised world of an unemployed black man. What happened to John –
from the outside and within himself – as he made his way through the segregated Deep South is
recorded in this searing work of nonfiction. His audacious, still chilling relevant eyewitness history is
a work about race and humanity every American must read.
You will have to write directly in the book;
therefore, you will need to purchase the book and not borrow it from the library.
Summer Reading Assignment- Annotative Reading- The Art of Active Reading:
One of your major tasks as a high school student is to practice the art of active reading. Active
reading is an essential practice for anyone who wants to become a more successful student or simply
a better reader.
What is active reading?
First, active reading requires you to read with a pen or a pencil. As you read you take notes,
indicate important parts of the book, and offer your own interpretation of the reading. All
your notes will be written in the pages of the actual book you have been assigned.
Why is active reading so important when reading a book?
1. First, it keeps you actively engaged- not merely conscious but wide awake.
2. Second, it allows you to remember the important scenes, characters, images, themes, etc. of the
book
3. Third, writing your reactions down helps you to remember your thoughts while reading the book.
If you develop the habit of actively reading you will not only become a better reader but a better
thinker as well. It is also important to note that active reading is a technique that crosses into other
subjects and is essential for success at the college level.
A Raisin in the Sun
Components of Active Reading
Directions: While reading A Raisin in the Sun, you will complete the following Active Reading
components. You will write directly in your book. Please use the following key.
1. Highlight- 25 Unfamiliar vocabulary words
a. Define: You must supply the definitions of the words either in the margins or on a separate
sheet of paper
2. Underline- 25 important or interesting quotes
a. Tip: make a quick note in the margin as to why you underlined the quote.
3. Note themes, foreshadowing, literary devices, and important racial ideas in the text
(*, circle or bracket)
a. Hint: This play really focuses on the importance of dreams. Anytime dreams and the
importance of how individual choices relates to dreams be sure to star that information. It may
also help to note in the margin as to why you selected that information.
4. Personal Reactions- as you are reading, you need to comment on the action in the book by
writing your ideas in the margins.
a. On average you should be comment about once per scene (you can do more). If you’re
unsure how to comment or what to write, consider the following questions while you are
reading:
i. Is there a memory or experience of your own that is similar to something you’ve read.
ii. Record a possible question that arises as you read.
iii. Comment on the author’s technique, choice of words, or how he/she tells a story. Do you
admire the way the author writes? Why or why not?
iv. Make a prediction about how you think the book will end or what you think may happen
next. What makes you think your prediction will occur?
v. Think about whom else should read this book? Why? Who shouldn’t read it? Why not?
5. List Major Characters including defining qualities, dreams, and their nicknames. This list can be
on the Inside Front Cover of the Book or a separate sheet of paper.
6. Create a Timeline of at least 6 major events in the book and explain why the event is
important. This list can be on the Inside Back Cover of the Book or a separate sheet of
paper.
*Please note that you do not need to write on every page.*
Grading:
Your book will be collected by your English teacher on the FIRST day of class. Annotation grades will
be based on thoroughness, clarity, neatness, and content. Your annotated reading will count as a
quiz grade in your respective English class for the 1st quarter of school year. Please see the rubric
below.
Major Assessment:
A Raisin in the Sun will be the focal point of the first teaching unit for the 2013-2014 school year.
Your teacher will spend a minimum of two weeks reviewing the selected work and preparing you for
a major assessment based upon the work. The assessment will count as a major grade for the first
quarter of the 2013-2014 school year.
Annotation Rubric
Category
Thoroughness of
Comments
Name__________________________
5 Points
All entries are carefully
and accurately written
as to not miss or omit
any details.
Clarity
The meaning of all
entries are clear. The
student’s explanations
are free from obscurity,
original and easy to
understand.
Required Annotation
Components
All required
components are
presented and detailed.
This includes noting
required elements
within the text.
Quality
Neatness and
Organization
The depth of
comments, required
elements and analysis
shows active
interaction with the
text. All answers reflect
thoughtful insight.
All entries are neatly
written and legible. All
entries are consistently
found in the proper
places.
3-4 Points
Most entries are
carefully and accurately
written, but some
details are missed or
omitted.
The meaning of most
entries are clear. The
student’s explanations
are mostly free from
obscurity, original and
usually easy to
understand.
Most required
components are
presented, detailed and
in the appropriate
location. This includes
noting required
elements within the
text.
The depth of
comments, required
elements and analysis
mostly shows active
interaction with the
text. Most answers
reflect thoughtful
insight.
0-2 Points
Few entries are
carefully and accurately
written, and many
details are missed or
omitted.
The meaning of few
entries are clear. The
student’s explanations
are not free from
obscurity, not original
and usually not easy to
understand.
Few required
components are
presented, detailed and
in the appropriate
location. This includes
noting required
elements within the
text.
The depth of
comments, required
elements and analysis
rarely shows active
interaction with the
text. Few answers
reflect thoughtful
insight.
Most entries are neatly
written and legible.
Most entries are
consistently found in
the proper places.
Few entries are neatly
written and legible.
Few entries are
consistently found in
the proper places.
Black Like Me
Components of Active Reading
Directions: While reading Black Like Me, you will complete the following Active Reading components.
You will write directly in your book. Please use the following key.
1. Highlight- 35 Unfamiliar vocabulary words
a. Define: You must supply the definitions of the words either in the margins or on a separate
sheet of paper.
2. Underline- 25 important or interesting quotes
a. Tip: make a quick note in the margin as to why you underlined the quote.
3. Connections – Identify 15 connections (5 each) – This should be on a separate sheet of paper
or on a post-it note next to the passage.
a. Text-to-Text: Select a passage/situation that you can connect to another book/reading and
explain the connection.
b. Text-to-World: Select a passage/situation that you can connect to current events in the
world and explain the connection.
c. Text-to-Self: Select a passage/situation that you can personally connect to and explain the
connection.
4. Personal Reactions- as you are reading, you need to comment on the action in the book by
writing your ideas in the margins.
a. On average you should be comment about once every 20 pages (you can do more). If
you’re unsure how to comment or what to write, consider the following questions while you
are reading:
i. Is there a memory or experience of your own that is similar to something you’re read.
ii. Record a possible question that arises as you read.
iii. Comment on the author’s technique, choice of words, or how he/she tells their story. Do you
admire the way the author writes? Why or why not?
iv. Make a prediction about how you think the book will end or what you think may happen
next. What makes you think your prediction will occur?
v. Think about whom else should read this book? Why? Who shouldn’t read it? Why not?
5. Create a Timeline of the major events in the book and explain the importance of each event to
his experiment. This list can be on the Inside Back Cover of the Book or a separate sheet of
paper.
*Please note that you do not need to write on every page.*
Grading:
Your book will be collected by your English teacher on the FIRST day of class. Annotation grades will
be based on thoroughness, clarity, neatness, and content. Your annotated reading will count as a
quiz grade in your respective English class for the 1st quarter of school year. Please see the rubric
below.
Open Book Assessment:
During the 2nd week of school, you will take an open book quiz on Black Like Me. Although this
book will not be a primary focus of our instruction during the 1st marking period, we will refer to this
book throughout our entire A Raisin in the Sun unit.
Annotation Rubric
Category
Thoroughness of
Comments
Name__________________________
5 Points
All entries are carefully
and accurately written
as to not miss or omit
any details.
Clarity
The meaning of all
entries are clear. The
student’s explanations
are free from obscurity,
original and easy to
understand.
Required Annotation
Components
All required
components are
presented and detailed.
This includes noting
required elements
within the text.
Quality
Neatness and
Organization
The depth of
comments, required
elements and analysis
shows active
interaction with the
text. All answers reflect
thoughtful insight.
All entries are neatly
written and legible. All
entries are consistently
found in the proper
places.
3-4 Points
Most entries are
carefully and accurately
written, but some
details are missed or
omitted.
The meaning of most
entries are clear. The
student’s explanations
are mostly free from
obscurity, original and
usually easy to
understand.
Most required
components are
presented, detailed and
in the appropriate
location. This includes
noting required
elements within the
text.
The depth of
comments, required
elements and analysis
mostly shows active
interaction with the
text. Most answers
reflect thoughtful
insight.
0-2 Points
Few entries are
carefully and accurately
written, and many
details are missed or
omitted.
The meaning of few
entries are clear. The
student’s explanations
are not free from
obscurity, not original
and usually not easy to
understand.
Few required
components are
presented, detailed and
in the appropriate
location. This includes
noting required
elements within the
text.
The depth of
comments, required
elements and analysis
rarely shows active
interaction with the
text. Few answers
reflect thoughtful
insight.
Most entries are neatly
written and legible.
Most entries are
consistently found in
the proper places.
Few entries are neatly
written and legible.
Few entries are
consistently found in
the proper places.