2017 Summer Reading
EnglishI Pre-AP (Year 4 IB MYP)
Dear Soon-To-Be Freshman,
As of this writing, the 16/17 school year has not yet ended and already we are looking forward to meeting and getting to know all of you. Certainly, next year holds many rewarding, challenging, and worthwhile experiences.
We have assembled a summer reading assignment which will, hopefully, ensure that you continue to read and think literarily throughout the summer. The freshman summer reading assignment marks the beginning of your journey in reading as a writer.
This summer reading assignment is required of every student enrolled in this course, and no student may drop from the course simply because he/she has not completed the summer reading. Moreover, failure to do these assignments will indeed negatively affect your grade.
REQUIRED READING 1: How to Read Literature Like a Professor FOR KIDS by Thomas C. Foster
(No E-Books)
Read the book and highlight the main idea of each chapter. Be ready to relate this book to every novel and short story read for summer reading and in class.
REQUIRED READING 2: “How to Mark a Book” (Essay) by Mortimer Adler (on Ms. Kinne & Mr. Deaton’s website) The following essay provides a brief, non-academic introduction to the nature and value of annotation. Written in 1940, the wording and references are somewhat dated, but the ideas are quite relevant. We suggest you read this article before reading the required summer reading. Our hope is that you will begin to understand the importance of “marking” a text. It is our personal belief that in order for you to grow as a critical thinker, you must take ownership of your thinking. The best way to begin to do that is to write your thoughts directly on the text.
REQUIRED READING 3: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury (No E-Books or
used copies) As you read Something Wicked This Way Comes, you are REQUIRED to annotate the
text (refer to Annotation Tips below).
ANNOTATIONS: Pay close attention to theme, characterization, symbolism, conflict, foreshadowing:
v Theme: The story's ideas? Author's attitude towards those ideas? Author's "statement" about those ideas? The story's message or main point? Your attitude?
v Conflict: What people/forces/ideas/interests/values/institutions oppose each other? What decisions must the characters make? Between what two things is he/she deciding? What do these things represent?
v Characterization: What kind of person/people are the character(s)? Their beliefs/hopes/dreams/ideals/ values/morals/fears/strengths/weaknesses/vices/virtues/talents? How do they conduct themselves? What do they say and do to reveal themselves? What do others say and do about them? What are your opinions or feelings about them? Classifications of types of characters include: protagonist, antagonist, foil, stereotype, flat, round, static, dynamic.
v Symbolism: What concrete, specific objects have been used to represent abstract ideas? What colors, names, settings, recurring objects have been referred to? What ideas do these represent?
v Foreshadowing: What hints of future events does the author embed?
Annotation Tips for Fiction
ü Make brief notes at the top or bottom of the page or on a sticky note to mark important plot events.
ü Circle or highlight words that are unfamiliar or unusual. Try to figure out what the words mean through the way they are used; supplement your guesses by consulting a dictionary.
ü When new characters are introduced, highlight phrases that describe them. (Try not to highlight whole sentences).
ü Highlight words, images, and details that seem to form a pattern throughout the text AND highlight passages you think might be symbolic.
ü When you get an idea while reading the text, note it in brief form in the margin. You may never think of this idea again unless you write it down.
ü If you have a question about something in the text, write it on the page when it first occurred to you.
ü Don’t mark too much. If you mark everything, nothing will stand out. Use your own words--don’t try to be fancy. Remember, your annotations are for you!
On the second day of class, you will need to bring the following items:
1. Something Wicked This Way Comes – annotated
2. How to Read Literature Like a Professor
During your second week in Pre-AP/MYP English I, you will take an objective assessment over Something Wicked This Way Comes and Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor FOR KIDS.
If you have questions, concerns, comments, or just want to write to say hello, please feel free to email Mrs. Kinne at or Mr. Deaton at . We will also update our school web pages this summer, so feel free to look in for updates and information.
Until then, we wish you a safe, happy, and productive summer break!
All the best,
Laurie Kinne Will Deaton
English I Pre-AP/MYP English I Pre-AP/MYP
Denton High School Denton High School
940.369.2089 940.369.2072