To:
Prospective English 10 Enriched Students
Re: Summer Reading Assignment
Date: May 5, 2014
As part of the preparation for English 10 Enriched, students are required to
complete a summer reading assignment unique to the course. Over the
summer, you need to read two selections. Please read ONE of the following
non-fiction pieces:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Touch the Top of the World by Erik Weihenmayer
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation by Dan Fagin
AND
One other novel of your choice (must be fiction)
For your choice novel, it is important to challenge yourself with a novel that is a
stretch! Classics are an excellent starting point. Ask a friend or family member
for a recommendation. If your initial selection proves too difficult, you can
always select another piece. Please do not re-read pieces you have already
read or any of the pieces we will read in English 10 (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Lord
of the Flies, The Taming of the Shrew, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Tale of Two Cities,
Anthem). The English 10 Enriched summer reading assignment is separate from
the AP World Summer reading assignment which asks students to complete a
non-fiction piece relating to their study of history. Remember that a novel is a
work of fiction.
To stress independent and critical reading and analytical skills essential to an
enriched English program, we ask that you NOT use any secondary critical
material, print or electronic, especially book notes (i.e. Cliff’s, Baron’s, Monarch,
Sparknotes.com, Gradesaver.com, PinkMonkey.com) and that you work by
yourself. Additionally, to prevent confusion about details in plot, we ask you not
to view films made of the texts you read. If you do not like to read or cannot
complete the assignment independently, without such notes or viewing the
films, perhaps you should re-evaluate your decision to enroll in an enriched
English class.
All of these pieces are available through the Monroe County Library System, but
it would be fabulous to purchase your own copy of the texts you choose so that
you may annotate them freely. You can purchase second-hand books locally at
Yesterday’s Muse in the Village of Webster and on the internet at half.com,
ebay.com, or amazon.com. If you misplace the assignment sheet, it will be
posted on the district web page.
Please feel free to email Mrs. Connelly (eileen_connelly@websterschools.org)
during the summer if you have any specific questions about the assignment or
stop by to see Mrs. Connelly in Room W16 before the end of the school year. The
rubric we will use to score the assignment is part of this packet; please review it
carefully noting the penalties for lateness, completion, and format.
To indicate that you have received the assignment and understand it is due on
the first day back to school (since you may not know your exact schedule and
schedules sometimes change at the last minute, make sure you have the journal
with you on Tuesday, September 2, 2014). Please review the assignment with
your parents, and then sign and return the attached form on or before the due
date of Monday June 2, 2014.
English 10 Enriched Summer Reading Assignment 2014
As you read you non-fiction piece and your other selection, please keep an independent reading
journal which consists of the following parts:
I.
From the non-fiction work, select ten quotations you believe are significant. In your
journal, write down in dark blue or black ink (you may not TYPE your work on this
assignment) the text of the quotation, the chapter and page number for reference, and
an explanation of what prompted you to identify the quotation as significant. For
example, you might select a quotation because of its theme, illustration of character,
striking language, or humor (to name a few). Select quotations that represent a
variety of reasons for significance. You should also be certain to vary your writing
particularly in terms of your choices in verbs. (i.e., each entry should NOT begin with
the same phrase, i.e., “I chose this quotation because…”).
II.
For the other piece, choose ten quotations over the course of the piece that seem to
you to represent the novel as a whole. As with the other piece, write the text of the
quotation and its page number; explain why it stands out to you as significant. As you
work, keep in mind the same reminders about variety in reason for selection and
language. You will end up with a total of 10 quotations from each piece for a total of
20 quotations in your reading journal.
III.
After you have finished the quotation section, begin a new page in your journal and
write a single paragraph of at least ten sentences which indicates why and how the
second piece you selected constitutes a “stretch” for you; was it a more challenging
novel, in a different genre? Include details to support your opinion and explain what
made the piece challenging for you. You may use first person as you write the
paragraph. Please double-space your paragraph.
IV.
After you have finished writing the paragraph about how your fiction selection was a
stretch for you, write a paragraph of at least ten sentences which identifies which of
your summer reading selections is more well-written. Defend your choice with
specific examples and identify how the style and substance of the writing meet your
personal criteria for better.
Use a single, standard sized spiral notebook (preferably with perforated pages like those in the
Mead Five-Star Line) for your journal. These are easily to find at retail, grocery, and office
supply stores. All entries must be completed in black or dark blue INK.
Again, bring your journal with you on the first day of school which is Tuesday, September 2,
2014. Sometimes initial schedules change and you may end up having English class even though
your schedule did not originally indicate that you would. Nonetheless, the journal is due on DAY
ONE of class.
English 10 Enriched Summer Reading Assignment
Parent/Student Agreement Form
**Please read, fill in, sign, and return this form to your present English teacher by June 2, 2014
LAST NAME, First
Grade 9 English Teacher
We have read and understand the summer reading assignment for English 10
Enriched for the 2014-15 school year. We understand that the assignment is due on
the first day of English class next year and will be counted as part of the first
quarter grade. We understand that students are expected to be able to write
independently about the works within the first week of class. We also understand
that copies of the assignment are available on the district web site.
Student Signature
Parent Signature
Date
English 10 Enriched
Summer Reading Journal Rubric
LAST NAME, FIRST
Criteria
Format
Required
Number of
Textual
Quotations (TQ)
Quality and
Variety of
Rationale
Paragraphs on
Stretch of Novel
and which work
is more wellwritten
Has journal on
first day of class
Weak (0-1)
Does not use
ink and/or spiral
notebook
Has fewer than
ten quotations
from nonfiction piece
and ten from
the other
selection
Passing (2)
Provides little to
no detail
and/or little or
no variety in TQ
choice and
phrasing of
explanation;
multiple writing
errors
Briefly
addresses issues
of why the
novel is a
stretch and
quality of
writing; has
significant
writing errors
Does not have
journal on first
day of class
Provides some
detail but little
variety in
explanations
and/or
phrasing of TQ
choice;
numerous
writing errors
Addresses issues
of stretch and
writing but has
little
development
of rationale;
has writing
errors
Totals
Total number of points for journal
Total number of points available = 100
/20 x 5 =
Good (3)
Provides some
detail and
variety in
phrasing of and
explanations for
TQ choice;
some writing
errors
Provides clear
rationale for
each choice
with specific
examples; has
few writing
errors
Excellent (4)
Uses ink and
spiral notebook
Has ten
quotations from
one of
approved nonfiction books
and ten from
the other
selection
Provides fully
detailed, well
written and
widely varied
phrasing and
explanations for
TQ choices
Provides
convincing
rationale with
persuasive and
fully developed
examples; has
fluent and
error-free
writing
Has journal on
first day of class