AVID Platinum Edition
Gonzalez’s Junior Seminar AVID
Summer Assignments
Junior year is rapidly approaching. Yes, you have already completed 50% of high school. Before you know it you will be enjoying the college student life. Before you reach success must prepare for it. Below I have created a list of assignments that will keep your brain going during summer break.
I separated your summer assignments into sections. Those students who are taking IB/AP courses will NOT have to complete the summer reading as you will have many assignments to complete for your AP/IB courses.
I. Summer Reading (100 pts each)
NON AP/IB STUDENTS ONLY
Read one book from ONE of the following categories:
Socialism
1. The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
2. A Vindication of Rights of Women, Mary Wollstonecraft
Write a 2 page essay explaining the flaws in society the book is trying to fix.
OR
Real College English Choices
1. The Handmaid’s Tale: A Novel, Margaret Atwood
2. The Hours, Michael Cunningham
3. White Oleander, Janet Finch
4. In the Lake of the Woods, Tim O’Brien
Write a 2 page essay discussing how the novel links to society today.
II. Read the summer reading assignment, Its Kind Of a Funny Story and write a 1 page critique on the book (think of a movie review and how they basically discuss how the audience can or cannot relate to the storyline or plot):
III. SAT Practice ALL STUDENTS
Junior year will be the first year you must take the real SAT. Why not start practicing now and get more accustomed to the method of questioning. Go to http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-practice-questions and complete all of the SAT practice questions they have for you. Keep a journal of your answers. This journal must include the dates you did the specific problems and write your answers with explanations. Besides writing A, B, C, D etc. you must also write if you got the answer correct or incorrect. If you got it correct what did you do? If you got it incorrect what should you have done instead?
A second option (which I recommend) would be to create a shmoop account if you do not have one already. There is a Mock SAT exam that you can take. When you complete you must take a screen shot, and/or print out your results. You must complete 10 hours of SAT practice over the summer. You must keep a journal with dates and problems you worked as proof, and will be how you get credit for this assignment.
IV. College Visits ALL STUDENTS
Summer is also a perfect opportunity to visit some of the many great universities located in the Southern California (or if you’re traveling, surrounding areas). Your assignment is to visit a university; be sure to pick up pamphlets, business cards, brochures, maps to attach to form. Go to a university you have not visited, remember we cannot visit all of them as a class so voyage out and see where you can dare to tread. This will also be a great opportunity for you to do with your AVID classmates to arrange car pooling and a shared bonding experience as you all are aiming for the same end results. As you visit the universities consider whether or not you can see yourself there, that is the whole point of college visits, too see. . .
V. Summer Internship/Job Shadowing ALL STUDENTS
The point of this assignment is to gain exposure in the field of study you think you are interested in. Your task is to simply see what the profession requires, if they allow you a day, two or if you are lucky to get a week or even an interview that would be great. You then will have your supervisor write a verification of attendance form that you attended for X amount of time or had an interview and then write a reflection as to whether or not you see yourself doing this for life, yes that sounds long but that is the point.
AVID SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE THE FIRST DAY WE COME BACK!!!!
Although you have work to do enjoy the weather, take it outside. Enjoy your family and friends, work on SAT problems together or enjoy a Frappuccino on a college campus. As always remember to give 110%. I want progression not perfection. I know you guys will make me proud. See you junior year young scholarsJ
If you have any questions, concerns, or just want to say hi, you can reach me at or at (323) 407-1838.