Walt Whitman High School
Summer Reading List
English 11
2014 – 2015
 Honors, On-Level, and Inclusion: Read The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, 4th edition
Publication Date: August 2, 1999
ISBN-10: 020530902X | ISBN-13: 978-0205309023
You may find this at the library or online, or you may check out from the school or buy your own.
Assignment for The Elements of Style –
Honors: write a 20-question quiz (multiple choice, short answer and/or fill in the blank – done on
a word processor) with at least 2 questions from each of the five sections. Include the
correct answers. Your quiz will be collected on the first day of class.
On-Level, Inclusion: Same as Honors requirement, except abbreviated for a 10-question quiz.
and
 Honors, On-Level, and Inclusion: Read a fiction novel from the list below and annotate* it
for major literary elements including plot, motifs, character, setting, theme, etc.
Annotations are due the first day of school.
FICTION
(choose one)
Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
John Irving – A Prayer For Owen Meany
Frank McCourt - Angela's Ashes
Toni Morrison – The Bluest Eye
Richard Russo – Empire Falls
Jane Smiley – The Greenlanders
Amy Tan – The Bonesetter's Daughter
*Annotation Scoring Guide and Example
A-B
B-C
C-D
The reader actively and consistently
responds to the text at multiple levels of
comprehension, interpretation, and
extension. The reader marks the
text for literary elements including plot, setting,
character, motif, theme, etc.
The reader writes notes in the margins that
summarize, define, clarify, connect, or predict.
Marginal notes may include questions
or comments about the text. The reader
demonstrates the ability to read and
read actively, closely, and with
insight.
The reader responds to the text
frequently and on multiple levels, though
with less consistency, variety,
and/or depth of focus. The reader marks the text for
literary elements; the reader writes notes in the margins
that summarize, clariy, connect or predict. These
annotations demonstrate independent,
focused,analytical reading that is adequate but not as
high quality or as consistent as those in the A-B range.
The reader responds to the text but
with inconsistent frequency, variety,
and/or depth. Annotations show
limited evidence of comprehension
and identification literary elements.
Annotations show limited engagement
in active reading and little or no
insight. The reader responds to the text
infrequently and superficially,
demonstrating little or no comprehension of the text
and little or no engagement in
active reading. Partially annotated books will earn an
approximation of the portion completed.