JSerra English Department
Summer Reading Assignment 2015
COURSE
English 1CP, English 1A
English 2CP, English 2A
English 3CP, English 3A
English 4CP
READING REQUIREMENT
WRITING REQUIREMENT
1. One of the books on the 2015
Summer Reading List.
Six-passage Response to
Literature assignment.
1. One of the books on the 2015
Summer Reading List
Six-passage Response to
Literature assignment.
2. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray
Bradbury
Five discussion questions
requiring a half-page answer each.
1. One of the books on the 2015
Summer Reading List
Six-passage Response to
Literature assignment.
2. Antigone, by Sophocles
Five discussion questions
requiring a half-page answer each.
1. Crime and Punishment, by
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Discussion questions per
instructions below.
2. Memorize literary terms from
the list.
The literary terms list can be
found school website.
1. 1984 by George Orwell
2. At least one literary non-fiction
3. Two additional books of your
choice
(four books total)
Thought Sheet for each text. See
instructions below.
English 1H
English 2H
AP English Literature and
Composition
(juniors)
AP English Language and
Composition
(seniors)
Questions? Contact Eileen McKeagney at emckeagney@jserra.org
Response to Literature for books on the 2015 Summer Reading List:
1. Response to Literature: Select six passages from your book for analysis: two passages from the
beginning of your text, two passages from the middle, and two passages from the end of your text.
For each passage, you will (a) fully paraphrase the passage in your own words; (b) critically analyze
how this passage reflects the book’s themes or author’s message; and (c) make a personal connection
to you own life (explain how you can understand this passage from your own life experiences or
interests).
2. Response Template: Use the template provided for you below. You may copy and paste it or retype
it into a word document.
3. Due Date and Submission: This assignment is due on the first day of school. A hard copy must be
submitted to your English teacher, and an electronic copy must be submitted to TurnItIn.com. (You
will activate your TurnItIn.com accounts during the first week of school.)
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Retype passage
Paraphrase this passage
in your own words.
How does this passage
reflect the theme or
author’s message for
this book as a whole?
Make a personal
connection to this
passage.
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English 1H: Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
Directions: Respond to the discussion questions below. Each answer should be approximately one-half
page in length, typed, double spaced in MLA format.
Note: Use only the novel and your brain to answer these questions. No outside sources such as
Sparknotes are allowed. Stealing ideas is plagiarism.
1. Choose two characters from the novel that influence Guy Montag. Discuss how they affect him and
how he transforms.
2. Explain three conflicts that arise when people are caught reading books. What is the fate of each
person reading the book? Be specific.
3. From the list below, select three symbols and analyze what they mean both literally and figuratively
in the novel.
a campfire
earplugs/seashells
the river
the phoenix
the salamander
the TV screen-walls
the Mechanical Hound
the fire hose
4. Choose one passage (5 – 10 lines) that is memorable or outstanding. Cite the passage and explain its
significance to a theme in the novel.
5. Discuss how Fahrenheit 451 is still relevant today. Use specific examples from the text to argue
your point.
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English 2H: Antigone, by Sophocles
Directions: Respond to the discussion questions below. Each answer should be approximately one-half
page in length, typed, double spaced in MLA format.
Note: Use only the novel and your brain to answer these questions. No outside sources such as
Sparknotes are allowed. Stealing ideas is plagiarism.
1. To what event does the Chorus refer in the first stanza? Cite one example of personification in the
first stanza. Cite four images of light in the first stanza. Cite five sound images in the first six
stanzas.
2. Why must the dead be buried in this play? Why is burial so important? (You may refer to your study
of ancient Greek values from The Odyssey.)
3. Discuss the conflict between fate on one hand and free will on the other. Which dominates in this
play? How does each character grapple with their limited free will?
4. Compare and contrast the characters of Oedipus and Antigone. How are they similar? Different?
5. Discuss how women are portrayed in Antigone.
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AP Literature and Composition: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Directions: Please type your answers in MLA format.
-You do NOT need to use complete sentences. (Bullet points are acceptable).
-You do NOT need to include quotes; instead, include the page number for your answer.
Consider this assignment a first draft of your initial thoughts. There is no need to go online in order to
find someone else’s ideas for answers for these questions, nor is there a need to share your answers with
each other. It is okay to be wrong. Rather than being graded on accuracy, you will be graded on:
1. Completion (including quotes and page citations)
2. Thoughtfulness of your conclusions
3. Integrity of your answers
Questions:
1. Explain why Raskolnikov is so opposed to Dounia's marriage to Luzhin AND describe Luzhin's
personality; explain why he's so revolting. (Defend him if you don't feel that he is)
2. Describe Razumihin, and explain his relationship to Raskolnikov, including how it develops
throughout the novel.
3. Describe Dounia, and discuss the way that her character develops and changes throughout the novel.
4. Describe detective Porfiry Petrovitch, and explain what he represents to Raskolnikov.
5. List contradicting behaviors apparent in Raskolnikov.
6. Discuss how Dostoevsky creates suspense.
7. Discuss class distinction throughout the novel.
8. List words and phrases that Raskolnikov uses to describe Alyona Ivanovna. Explain why
Raskolnikov places his focus on her.
9. Explain Raskolnikov's philosophy of crime (See pages 237-249, and his confession to Sonia - page
387-ish.)
10. Reread pages 238-239 and explain the socialist view of crime, as presented by Razumihin.
11. List and explain as many moments in the novel wherein Existentialist philosophy is expounded as
you can find. (Here's one for you - check out page 300. Also, consider Katerina Ivanovna...)
12. Explain the treatment of women in the novel. (Treatment of women by men) *Consider Dounia,
Sonia, Katerina Ivanovna, Lizaveta, Marfa Petrovna, Svidrigailov's betrothed, and the women
witnessed in the streets.
13. Explain the function of the side story of Marmeladov. (How does his story contribute to a theme?)
14. Look back at the side story of Svidrigailov, and answer the following
-What is the point of his character?
-Why is he so vile? (Defend him, if you don't believe that he is)
-Explain the significance of his dream (on page 470).
15. On page 480, Raskolnikov muses, "But why are they so fond of me if I don't deserve it? Oh, if only I
were alone and no one loved me and I too had never loved anyone! Nothing of all this would have
happened." Explain what he means. Then, explain how this comment relates to a greater theme.
16. Discuss the presentation of God and religion throughout the novel, and explain how the epilogue
contributes to this presentation. ALSO, explain how the Biblical story of Lazarus relates to
Raskolnikov.
17. Sonia does not meet Raskolnikov until after he has committed his crime. Explain why she never
leaves his side, and what she represents to Raskolnikov.
18. What ultimately do you think is Raskolnikov's crime? What about his punishment?
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AP Language and Composition: Four Books and Four Thought Sheets
You will read a total of four books this summer. For each of these books create a Thought Sheet,
directions below. You may contact Mrs. Sickler at bsickler@jserra.org if you have any questions.
ONE of these books is assigned: 1984 by George Orwell. Create one thought sheet for each book as you
read it. If you are in the middle of a book right now, count it as one of your four. You may read more
than four (though there is no extra credit for doing so—just do it for your own pleasure). You must have
parental approval for your book choices. When you come back to school, we will all share what we
learned from our reading over the summer.
As AP Language is focused on non-fiction, please select at least one literary non-fiction. In Cold
Blood, Men in Fire, Into Thin Air, Under the Banner of Heaven, or Columbine are excellent examples of
this genre. While books such as A Child Called It or Go Ask Alice may be popular, they have no literary
value and as such are not suitable for this assignment. As far as fiction, I adore Nick Hornby, Kazuo
Ishiguro, M.J Hyland, Tobias Wolff, Ian McEwan, Dave Eggers, Dia Sijie, Jonathan Franzen, Zadie
Smith.
Need ideas for what to read? Here are some helpful websites:
• National Book Award winners:www.nationalbook.org (click on the tab marked “awards”)
• Pulitzer Prize Award winners: www.pulitzer.org (click on the link “Past Winners By Category”)
• The Man Booker Prize winners: www.themanbookerprize.com/prize/archive
• Powell’s Books: www.powells.com (This is a bookselling site, but it caters to booklovers more than
amazon.com does. It provides a variety of blogs, reviews, recommendations, and other suggestions.
No need to buy the books there—you can check them out from the library or buy locally—but it’s a
great site to browse for ideas)
• You may also email me at bsickler@jserra.org and I will send you the list of non-fiction books we
will use next year for your outside reading assignments
What is a THOUGHT SHEET?
(AP Language and Composition Only)
 A thought sheet is an unlined single-page (8 ½ X 11) response to your reading. It is a way to be
creative and experimental. It is a way to respond imaginatively and honestly. It is a way to be brief
and compressed in a world drowning in paper. Take time to record your reaction to the text as you
are reading. Do not attempt to do this assignment after you have finished the whole book; interact
and engage with the text AS you read it.
 The purpose of a thought sheet is to invest in what you are reading. We read differently when we
know we are going to be doing something with a text. We learn best when we can create our own
patterns. A thought sheet connects the verbal and the visual; it connects the book’s ideas to your
ideas; it connects words and images.
 Pull out a telling quotation or two, using it as a springboard to explore one of your own ideas. If
you're intrigued by certain statements or attracted to characters or issues, write your response
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 Use a visual image, either drawn or cut from a magazine, to create a visual focus. What does the
reading make you think of? Does it remind you of anything or anyone? Make connections with other
texts or concepts or historic events. Do you see any similarities?
 Create a collage of key images and words. Cluster words and images around a dominant impression,
feeling, or thought regarding what you have read.
 Make a personal statement about the text or ask and answer a question or two.
 What perplexes you about a particular passage? Try beginning, "I wonder why..." or "I'm having
trouble understanding how...' or "It perplexes or surprises me that..."
 On what points, or about what issues, do you agree or disagree? Write down supporting ideas. Try
arguing with the author. Think of this as a place to carry on a dialogue with the author.
 How does the author's attitude shape the way the writer presents the material?
What is NOT a THOUGHT SHEET?
 Do not merely summarize.
 Do not simply draw a scene from the book.
 Do not think a half page will do. Make your thought sheet rich with quotations, thoughts, and
images. Seek to design a response that uses your entire sheet of paper. Your grade will be
contingent upon the quality of your work.
 Do not use a sheet larger than 8 ½ X 11 and do not use lined paper.
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