English 11: Pre-requisite Reading Assignment

This assignment has two components: reading the book, and writing one essay. Each component is due on the first day of your English class. If you are unsure whether you will have English in fall or spring semester, do the reading over the summer.

Over the course of the summer (or winter) break, you will need to read Jon Krakauer’sInto The Wild. The book is a nonfiction text that will be the basis of the first two weeks of class. It is essential that you annotate the book as you read it. This will prepare you for the essays, as well as in-class discussions and assessments. You may also have a comprehensive reading quiz the first few days of the semester. As you read, keep a few things in mind about the book:

  • Jon Krakauer tells the story by piecing together interviews, journal entries, and other materials from the life of Chris McCandless. Each chapter opens with a couple of epigraphs (quotes, selection, etc.) from these materials to set up the chapter. When you finish each chapter, go back to the epigraphs and think about why Krakauer chose to open with them.
  • Krakauer tells McCandless’s story in a non-chronological way, which means that the events in the book are out of order. Many of the later chapters recount events that happened before the events described in earlier chapters. It will be helpful to keep track of dates, locations, and events Krakauer discusses by keeping some annotations in the form of a timeline.
  • If you are feeling confused or unclear about what’s happening, you should work on some Wdetailed annotations. At the end of each paragraph or page, write down the main “takeaway points” that you have just read. In many cases, you will need to consult a dictionary to define some of the terms Krakauer uses.

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When you have finished reading the text, you should prepare one five paragraph essay that takes a stance on the kind of person Chris McCandless was and how he should be remembered.

In a review of the Into the Wild by Library Journal, one complaint about it was that Krakauer “never satisfactorily answers the question of whether McCandless was a noble, if misguided, idealist or a reckless narcissist who brought pain to his family.” Still, others think he was a transcendental hero of the modern age, shucking off restrictive societal expectations. In your opinion, which was he?

Create a focused argument with a strong thesis statement that response to this prompt. Directly quote evidence from the text to justify your stance and support your claims. These need to be cited correctly following MLA documentation guidelines, as does your Works Cited page. Your essay should be formatted according to MLA guidelines (TNR 12pt font, double spaced). Bring a printed hard copy with you on the first day of school t0 your English 11 class. If you have questions about this assignment, you may email Mr. Schwebach at or Ms. Healy at .