Honors American Literature and Composition 2016-2017

Summer Reading Assignment

You will need to completethese tasks over the summer:

  1. Purchaseand readA Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines
  2. Interact with the text. As you read, think about and then respond to the prompts/questions listed below. One paragraph per question. You must include textual evidence to support your answers.
  3. How is novel relevant to society today?
  4. Describe a scene in the novel where you felt a personal connection. Explain why.
  5. How is the novel similar to other text that you have read?
  6. What is the novel’s theme?
  7. Select one character from the novel. Describe how that characters changes throughout the novel.
  8. You will have an additional in-class assignment pertaining to this text to complete upon your return.
  1. Top Ten Vocabulary Words
  2. Select ten examples of interesting diction in the text.
  3. For each word:
  4. Write the sentence, complete with page number citation in MLA format.
  5. Define the word. Some words have multiple definitions. Be sure to write down the definition that applies to the sentence you have selected.
  6. Discuss how the use of this word (in the context of the text) impacts the reader in a specific way. Pay particular attention to words with a specific connotation.
  7. Use this word in your own sentence.
  1. Top Ten Passages
  2. Select the ten most powerful passages in the text.
  3. For each passage:
  4. Write the sentence (or sentences), complete with page number citation in MLA format.
  5. Discuss the use of this sentence or sentences in the context of the text. Why did you select this passage? How does a thorough understanding of this passage play an important role in understanding the theme with this text?
  6. Label the tone of this passage. How does the author create this tone?

***Proper MLA format: EX: "I was not there, yet I was there” (Gaines 3). Period is after citation.

Your summer assignment will be evaluated and entered into the gradebook as major assessments.You will also need to purchase 2-3 other novels not listed here for use throughout the schoolyear, and those titles will be given to you during the first week of school. You will have more than enough time to acquire the novels for use in class.