Liberty High School- Mrs. Haf Corbin 2018/2019
English 9 Honors Summer Reading Assignment
This summer assignment is to prepare you for the rigor of the Honors program at the high school level. These novels and the accompanying activity were selected because of their literary merit with the purpose of providing a meanigful summer reading experience. By choosing Honors English, you are commiting yourself to a level of study that will require you to be a independent, connected, and thoughtful reader. This assignment typifies what will be expected of you in the Honors program.
This summer reading project has three parts;
- Complete ONE book from EITHER list below (you do NOT have to read a book from each list)
- Createand submit a 15 slide Google Slide document that meets the assessment criteria and share to ia Google no later than one week after the start of August classes REGARDLESS of which semester you are taking English 9 Honors
- Present your slide show to the rest of the class during your second week of classes
Book Selections
Classics
‘The House on Mango Street’by Sandra Cisneros
‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell
‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ by Maya Angelou
‘Ender’s Game’ by Orson Scott Card
‘Anthem’ by Ayn Rand
**All of these novels are available in the local public libraries as book, download or CD, with most also available online as free PDF’s.
2017/2018 High School Virginia Reader’s Choice
‘And I Darken’ by Kiersten White (Fantasy Fiction)
‘The Call’ by Peadar O’Guilin (Fantasy/Horror)
‘Girl in Pieces’ by Kathleen Glasgow (Realistic Fiction)
‘Girl in the Blue Coat’ by Monica Hesse (Historical Fiction)
‘Learning to Swear in America’by Katie Kennedy (Science Fiction/Adventure)
‘Piecing Me Together’ by Renee Watson (Realistic Fiction)
‘The Serpent King’ by Jeff Zentner (Realistic Fiction)
‘The Star Touched Queen’ by Roshani Chokshi (Fantasy Fiction)
‘Undefeated’ by Steve Sheinkin (Biography)
‘When Dimple met Rishi’ by Sandhya Menon (Realistic Fiction)
Assignment
You will create a 15 slide Google Slide that shows not only your understanding of the book, but the connections you have made between the book and yourself, and the book and the world around you.
Slide 1 – Write a detailed summary of the book. Ensure you include details form the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.
Slide 2 – Write a detailed description of one or two of the main characters. Describe their appearance, their behavior, their likes and dislikes, their relationships, their struggles, their triumphs.
Slide 3 – List the key themes in the book and explain at least two of them in detail.
Slide 4 – Copy down (using appropriate quote marks) your five favorite quotes from the book. Remember to give credit to whoever said it.
Slide 5 – Write a review of the book. Would you recommend it to your classmates? What did you enjoy about the book? What did you not like? What were the highlights? How did this book make you feel? What emotions did it elicit?
Slide 6 – 11- Visual Connections. Make three visual connections between the book and the real world. This could include photographs you have taken, original drawings, screenshots of Tweets, FB posts or Instagram posts, or pictures. Upload the visual onto one slide, and on the following slide, explain where the visual comes from and the connection to the book. For example, maybe on a trip to the beach you see a mural painted on the side of a building and the image reminds you of something one of the characters says or does. Take a picture of the mural and place it on one slide. On the following slide, explain where the visual originates (photo taken by you at VA beach) and explain how it connects to the story. Each visual should be different…..please don’t repeat (e.g. avoid using four photographs)
Slide 12 – 15 – Written connections. Make four different connections between the book and a song, movie, TV show, current local, national or world event, the plot of another book, character from another book, or a personal experience. For example, if we were to read the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ about doomed lovers, you could show how that connects to the character of Hazel and Augustus in ‘Fault in our Stars’. State the connection you are making (Romeo and Juliet vs Hazel and Augustus) and then explain, in detail, how they are similar and different. Each written connection should be different (e.g. avoid comparing the characters to four other sets of characters).
Criteria
20% - The project is turned in on time and is complete
20% - Shows an understanding of the complete novel
20% - Makes multiple effective connections to your world and the world around you
20% - Accurate spelling and mechanics
20% - Interesting and well planned presentation that elaborates on the information provided in the slides
This project will count as a completed / incomplete assignment.
Extra Information / Tips
My email is . Please feel free to email me with your questions. I will be responding to emails approximately once a week.
This is not a group or pair project. Your work should be original and completed independently.
You can read or listen to your chosen book. Texts, downloads, and CD’s of these books are available at the local library and often on Youtube.
Read your book at the start of the summer, then you have the rest of the summer to look out for your connections.
To share you document, click on the blue ‘Share’ button on the top right of your Google slide document. Type in nd then click the blue ‘Done’ button. Feel free to follow up with an email to ensure I received your work.
Enjoy your summer, and enjoy this new reading experience. I look forward to meeting you in August!
Mrs. Haf Corbin
English 9 Hons - Liberty High School