Cloverleaf High School Ninth Grade Honors English 2011-2012 Mrs. Wooley
This is the eighth year we will be sending summer assignments through the web. Since we have technology available to us, we will be using the web to communicate summer assignments. This system helps alleviate procrastination on students’ parts and allows me to be able to grade assignments all summer instead of the first week of school.
Summer reading books: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
In addition to these two selections, please read a book of your choice. The independent review is the first assignment due on or before June 24, 2011.
Summer Assignment:
Read a book of your choice and complete the independent reading review. The form is available on my web page during the summer, but I will provide a hard copy with this overview. Please email me the completed review on or before Friday, June 24, 2011.
ReadA Separate Peace and answer the following questions in essay form. An essay includes an introduction paragraph, body paragraphs and a conclusion paragraph. You may answer the essay questions one at a time during the month of July or answer all three at the same time. In either case, please make sure you email me all the essays for A Separate Peaceon or before Friday, July 22, 2011.
A. A Separate Peace has been described by its author as an allegory. An allegory is a symbolic narrative in which fictional characters represent truths or generalizations about human existence. Discuss Phineas and Gene as allegorical or symbolic characters representing good and evil.
B. The physical setting of the novel is important to the development of the story’s plot. Describe the setting and discuss whether or not this story could take place elsewhere or during another time. Defend your reasoning.
C. A Separate Peace is about Gene Forrester’s attempt, as a teenager, to establish his own values, develop an identity, and mature as an adult. With this in mind, who does Knowles intend to be his audience? What message about life does he hope to convey? Defend your reasoning.
Read To Kill a Mockingbird. As you are reading this novel, answer the study guide questions provided and keep the major themes of the novel: Prejudice, Understanding, Loss of Innocence and Courage in mind. The study guide questions are due the first day of class in August.
I hope to be in contact with you often during the summer. I may be traveling to Arizona or Tennessee to see my family, so I may not be able to check my email daily during those days. I will check my email as often as possible, though. Please do not neglect an assignment because you think you do not know what to do. Email me if you have any questions. I am happy to help you and I want you to understand and enjoy the novels. Please do not wait until the last day to complete an assignment. You are encouraged to complete assignments early, and to avoid being late.
If you have any questions, email me at . You may view this letter and the independent reading sheet on my web page on the Cloverleaf site. Go to the Cloverleaf website, ,click on schools, at the top of the page, click on Cloverleaf High School, then on the left side, the list of web pages in alphabetical order, Teacher Websites, click on Mrs. Wooley, at the bottom of the list of the English Department. During the school year I will post your weekly syllabus on the web.
Happy reading!
Mrs. Wooley