W. J. Keenan High School Social Studies Department
World Geography Honors and
Summer Reading Requirements
If you are registered for the World Geography Honors Social Studies course, you are
required to read The Fifth Chinese Daughter by Jade Snow Wong. You will complete a
mastery test and a writing assignment for the book during the first week of your
World Geography Honors class. These activities will be counted as major grades in the
first grading period of your World Geography Honors class.
You must take complete notes in order to create a compilation of characters, facts, events,
dates (if available), and themes (political, social, cultural, and/or geographic) to prepare
for the writing of the chapter summary. Additional attention should be given to questions
raised by the author. Your notes need to be kept in your class notebook and need to
be available for teacher viewing during the first week of class. Each summary should
provide a complete evaluation of the chapter. Summaries may be handwritten or typed.
The chapter summaries for each book need to be presented in a portfolio that will be
submitted to your teacher on the first day of class.
The Social Studies Department encourages all students to achieve at the highest level of
their ability in academics, personal honesty, and integrity. Therefore, the use of text
notes, such as Cliffs Notes, and Internet notes, such as those found at sites like
sparknotes.com do not constitute the reading of a literary work, and should not be used as
a substitute for reading and engaging with text. The fact that you read the book
thoroughly will be evident on your mastery test scores. Please do not try to circumvent
the reading requirements by relying on these study aids. In addition, Social Studies
teachers will be monitoring these aids to prevent plagiarism and the inappropriate use of
electronic sources as per the W. J. Keenan Honor Code of Conduct. Any violation of the
Honor Code of Conduct will result in a zero for the work, disciplinary action, and loss of
admission to, or dismissal from, the National Honor Society.
The Social Studies honors program is designed for highly motivated college-bound
students who have demonstrated academic promise and achievement, as well as the
ability to master an advanced program of study. Students are expected to read critically,
ask pertinent questions about what they have read, recognize assumptions and
implications, and evaluate ideas. Students will learn to identify and evaluate
relationships that are representative of different political, social, and cultural ideas of
varying historical periods. All courses in the honors program require students to be
intrinsically motivated, self-disciplined, and dedicated. Students are expected to attend
workshops and tutoring sessions during lunch and after school.
The Social Studies Department will also be making cross-curricular references to works
read for honors English classes; therefore, it is important that students maintain their
work throughout high school. It is also important that parents and students acknowledge
the rigor required of World Geography Honors students and commit to the time and hard
work required for success in World Geography Honors. Therefore, we are asking that
parents and students sign and return the attachment indicating their recognition of the
rigorous general and specific summer reading requirements.
W. J. Keenan High School Social Studies Department
World Geography Honors Summer Reading List
World Geography – Honors (9th)
The Fifth Chinese Daughter . . . . . . . . . Jade Snow Wong
(ISBN: 0295968265)
These works may be available at the Richland County Public Library and are sold at local
bookstores. This book list is on file at the main branch of the Richland County Public Library,
the Happy Bookseller (782-2665), and at Barnes and Noble Booksellers (787-5600). Please
check with a bookstore as soon as possible regarding availability because some of these books
will need to be ordered. By having your own copy, you will continue to build your own personal
library. You will also be able to write notes in the margins and highlight important passages,
both important text strategies used in college for studying.
W. J. Keenan World Geography Honors Commitment Form
Must be returned by May 6, 2011
We acknowledge the rigor required of World Geography Honors students. As a future
World Geography Honors student, I understand the time and hard work required for
success in World Geography Honors and pledge to complete my summer reading
assignment. As the parent or guardian of a future World Geography Honors student, I
(we) commit to support my (our) student’s completion of the Summer Reading program
and support the rigor, time and effort required for success in World Geography Honors.
Student’s Name. __________________ Student’s Signature ______________________
(Please Print)
Parent/ __________________________ Parent/ ______________________
Guardian’s Name (Please Print)
Guardian’s Signature