2017-2018 English ISummer Reading Assignment

Dr. Turner

For your summer reading assignment, you have four (4) TASKS. You will read and follow instructions for taking notes, you will read a short selection of newspaper pieces (including editorials) on political conflict and young people, you will read MarjaneSatrapi’s graphic novel memoir, Persepolis (2013), and finally, you will respond to your readings in writing. All TASKS are detailed below.As English I will begin by using these texts, you are required to have them read and with you by the first day of school (Tuesday, July 25th). Your summer reading assignment will be your first major grade of the school year.

You will take notes on your reading, and answer questions about it while you complete it. Instructions for taking notes and answering questions are below.BE SURE TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE READING ARTICLES.

TASK 1: Instructions

Read Instructions on How to Take Notes on Articles (below).

How to Take Notes on Articles

**ALL NOTES MUST BE TYPED

For each of the articles listed below, address the following items:

  1. Title of work:
  2. Author and publishing date:
  3. Author’s intended audience:
  4. Author’s purpose (why they are writing this):
  5. Author’s central claim/argument:

** The following items (questions 6-10) should be addressed in complete sentences.**

  1. What is the evidence that the author presents in support of his/her claim/argument? Be thorough and specific. Use at least two textual references:
  1. What are the counterarguments (arguments against the authors claim):
  1. Identify at leasttwowriting techniques or literary devices the writer uses when conveying his/her message, and make sure to use direct textual evidence with parenthetical citations.
  1. Identify the author’s tone(attitude toward what he/she writes) with textual evidence and parenthetical citations.
  1. How does the author establish credibility (trustworthiness) as a speaker on this subject? How does the author lose credibility, if he or she does?

TASK 2: Articles

Read and take noteson(see instructions above) the following news editorials and articles:

  • Drummond, Steve. “Politics in the Classroom: How Much is Too Much?” NPRed. 6 Aug. 2015.
  • Jones, Andrew. “From Brexit to Trump: Should Teachers Talk Politics in the Classroom?” The Guardian, 11 Jan. 2017.
  • McLaughlin, Liam. “Why Politics Should be Taught at School.” Huffington Post, 16 April 2012.
  • Thomas, P.L. “Politics and Education Don’t Mix.” The Atlantic, 26 April 2012.

TASK 3: Response to Articles

In a paragraph of 10-15 sentences (double-spaced), discuss your reaction to reading these articles. You might, for instance, consider how these articles address similar or different audiences, how the authors make their arguments (similarly? differently?), whether they are convincing or credible (do you believe the arguments being made?), how they appeal to emotions or logic, etc. Also, feel free to discuss your “gut reaction” (initial reaction) to this topic and these articles – how do you feel about politics? Based on your reading, what are some benefits and drawbacks of teaching politics and political conflict? Did you strongly agree or disagree with any of the authors? Why?

TASK 4: Persepolis

Read and Take Notes on MarjaneSatrapi’sPersepolis (2013). As you read, answer the following questions in complete sentences (no maximum amount, but all questions should elicit at least three sentences each, one of which should be textual evidence – summary counts):

**ALL NOTES MUST BE TYPED

  1. What background knowledge do you have about Satrapi’stopic (growing up in Iran)? What stereotypes or assumptions do you have about it?
  1. What is Satrapi’spurpose for writing this memoir (why did she write it and/or what does she want her readers to “get” from reading it?)?
  1. Why do you think Satrapi chose to compose her memoir in a graphic novel format? What is the difference between doing this and writing a traditional novel in prose?
  1. Political Conflict.What is one image from Persepolis that you think best represents political conflict? Mark that image in your text and close-read it (instructions just below):
  1. Complete the following sentence: “This image best represents political conflict because…”
  2. Make a list of what you see in the image, including color/contrast, details, facial expressions, foreground, background, etc.
  3. For each of these things in your list, discuss why you think Satrapi chose to include these things. Consider how, for example, each thing contributes to a sense of political conflict.
  1. Emotion Portrayal. What is one image from Persepolis that you think best represents emotion? Mark that image in your text and close-read it (instructions just below):
  1. Complete the following sentence: “This image best represents emotion because…”
  2. Make a list of what you see in the image, including color/contrast, details, facial expressions, foreground, background, etc.
  3. For each of these things in your list, discuss why you think Satrapi chose to include these things. Consider how, for example, each thing helps portray emotion.
  1. In a paragraph of 10-15 sentences (double-spaced), discuss your reaction to reading this text. You might, for instance, consider what it was like reading a graphic novel v. a “regular” novel, what you learned about growing up in Iran v. what you thought before you read, connections between the events of the graphic novel and political events you are familiar with, whether or not you could relate to the text, any connections between Persepolis and the editorials/articles you read, or anything else you think to write about for this reading assignment.