Dear Parents and Students,

The Advanced Placement Program sponsored by the College Board is offered at McAlester Public Schools’ secondary campuses. Students enroll in Pre-AP at an early level, graduating to AP in the 11th and 12th grades. Testing is offered in the 11th and 12th grades to receive college credit for high scores on the AP exams.

In the Pre-AP program students will begin their study of advanced literary analysis and writing techniques. The Pre-AP program includes the study of a wide variety of literary genres, and students can expect to be challenged by the literature studied in the Pre-AP curriculum. Independent reading is integral to the AP course work, and is expected of each participant. The Pre-AP class is designed to help prepare students for future advanced courses and college-level work. Class time is filled with discussion, analysis and writing activities, so required reading is to be completed as homework.

This summer Pre-AP English I students will read Lord of the Flies and complete the included assignment during the school break. Copies of the novel are available at the McAlester High School office, or you may choose to purchase your own copy. You may purchase used books from half.com or amazon.com--these are both reputable companies, and you can purchase books through these companies for a fraction of their retail cost. If you do purchase your own books, you will have the advantage of being able to highlight and take notes in your book. I will also include the class syllabus, so that if you choose to purchase your own copies of the year's reading, you may do so.

The assignment packet is due on the first day of school. Discussion and testing over the novel will continue into the first several days of school. Scores for the novel packet and tests will comprise the first grades of the term. Do not procrastinate on this assignment! You will not want to begin the semester with a zero on a test grade, so begin your work as soon as possible. If you know other students who are enrolling in Honors English I but do not have the assignment, please tell them to contact me by email or call the High School office at 423-4776.

If you have any questions regarding the requirements for Pre-AP English I, please leave a message at the McAlester High School office or email me at my school . I will be happy to answer any questions regarding the course work, summer reading or your child’s placement in Pre-AP English I. Please begin the summer reading early, so any questions you have may be resolved before the beginning of the school term. I am looking forward to meeting each of you on the first day of school, and I hope you enjoy Lord of the Flies.

Sincerely,

Destiny Collier

Pre-Ap English I

The following syllabus details the areas we will cover this year in Pre-AP English I. While the program will be rigorous, you will learn many skills and techniques that will be necessary for continuing in the Pre-AP program, testing for college credit in your junior and senior years, and achieving great success in your college studies. This syllabus gives you a general outline of the literature and assignments we will be covering, although detailed lesson assignments will be given during each unit. Certain items may be added or deleted as needed.

First Semester

Grammar and Vocab throughout the semester

Literary Terms quizzes

Quizzes, tests, writing assignments and projects will be included in each literature unit.

Lord of the Flies

Short Stories

Mythology and The Odyssey

Frankenstein

To Kill a Mockingbird

Benchmark tests

Second Semester

Continue grammar and vocab

The Research Paper

Romeo and Juliet

Poetry

Huck Finn

Benchmark tests

Fan Fiction Writing Assignment and Publication

Lord of the Flies Study Unit

Complete the following assignments and have them ready on the first day of classes.

Part 1

Write a summary for each chapter. Make sure your summaries are original and thoughtful. Avoid using Cliff’s Notes or other supplements while you write your summaries.

Part 2

Choose five characters from the novel and write brief character sketches of each. These should be well-developed paragraphs, emphasizing not only the characters’ physical traits, but their emotional/psychological traits as well.

Part 3

Complete the study guide and the definitions. There will be a test on the vocab words and the novel as soon as school begins. I highly recommend making flash cards as a study tool for the vocab test.

Part 4

Extras may be completed for extra credit toward this assignment.

Lord of the Flies Chapter Questions

  1. Why is the chapter entitled “The Sound of the Shell?”
  1. What is Ralph’s attitude toward Piggy in the first chapter?
  1. What is the significance of Piggy’s plea to join the expedition?
  1. Why is Ralph elected chief?
  1. What is the scar that is repeatedly mentioned?
  1. Why is Jack unable to kill the pig?
  1. What do Piggy, Simon and the littlun with the birthmark have in common?
  1. How is Jack presented to the reader?
  1. Why did Golding use British school boys? Answer-He taught at a British boys school,

and those students would have been very proper and dignified, making their descent into savagery more distinct.

  1. How is Piggy revealed as most closely tied to the world of adults?
  1. How is Piggy indirectly responsible for the blowing of the conch?

Chapter 2

  1. What question does the littlun with the birthmark raise?
  1. How do Jack and Ralph answer the question about the beast?
  1. What is the significance of the chapter’s title “Fire on the Mountain”?
  1. How do they start the fire?

Chapter 3

  1. What is the significance of the title “Huts on the Beach”?
  1. What two groups with differing roles and goals are emerging?
  1. Why does Simon go to his bower?

Extras

  1. Write a paragraph explaining this line: “Here at last was the imagined but never fully realized place leaping into real life.”
  2. Write a paragraph answering this question: Which character so far would you choose to be on an island with and why?

Define these vocabulary words-

Chapter 1

motif

specious

intimidate

pliant

intricacy

irrelevant

strident

Chapter 2

officious

festoon

evacuation

spontaneous

ebullience

Chapter 3

unintelligible

bower

indignant

antagonism

Chapter 4

  1. What is the significance of the title “Painted Faces and Long Hair”?
  1. Why does Roger throwing at a littlun, aim just to miss?
  1. What definite stand does Ralph make?
  1. Why does Jack refuse to give Piggy meat?

Chapter 5

  1. What is the significance of the title “Beast from Water”?
  1. What is the paradox of the boys’ attitude towards the beast?
  1. Why does Ralph call a meeting?
  1. Why does Piggy dissuade Ralph from giving up his position as chief?

Chapter 6

  1. What is the irony of the dead parachutist landing on the mountain?
  1. Why is Simon the only one to doubt the existence of the beast?
  1. Why do Ralph and Jack both insist on going after the beast?
  1. Why does Jack say they don’t need the conch any longer?

Extras

1. In a paragraph answer the following question, does Ralph change in chapter five, why or why not?

2. Brainstorm names for the beast. Give me ten.

Define-

Chapter 4

belligerence

chastisement

ecstasy

Chapter 5

tacit

effigy

lamentably

assent

Chapter 6

decorous

diffident

incredulous

interminable

Chapter 7

  1. Why does Simon tell Ralph that “you” will get back all right?
  1. What happens when Ralph wounds the boar?
  1. What does Ralph ask Jack?
  1. Why do the boys run from the dead chutist?

Chapter 8

  1. Why do the boys refuse to vote for Jack as chief but slip off to join him later?
  1. What does Jack tell his new tribe?
  1. Why is the killing of the sow discussed in such detail?
  1. What does the Lord of the Flies tell Simon?

Chapter 9

  1. What reason does Ralph give for the boys’ defection to Jack?
  1. What kind of leader is Jack?
  1. How does Jack propose to rule without the conch?
  1. Why do Ralph and Piggy join the dance?
  1. Why is Simon’s dead body carried out to sea in terms of glorification? Answer-Simon serves as a literary “Christ-figure”, a redeemer who has information that can save the boys, but he is murdered as he attempts to tell them about the chutist. The imagery here is very angelic and beautiful as his body washed out to sea.

Extras

  1. In one paragraph, tell me what qualities make Jack a good hunter.
  2. Have you ever been an outcast because you have stood up for your beliefs? Discuss this in a paragraph.

Define- Chapter 7

frenzy

vulnerable

impervious

Chapter 8 -Furtive

fervor

sanctity

covert

Chapter 9- Superficial

Derisioncorruptiondemented

Chapter 10

  1. What is the significance of the title “The Shell and the Glasses”?
  1. How is Wilfred punished?
  1. How does Jack account for the death of Simon?

Chapter 11

  1. Why do Ralph and Piggy decide to visit Jack’s camp?
  1. What is the reaction of Jack’s tribe to Ralph’s talk of rescue?
  1. What happens when Piggy holds up the conch and tries to talk?
  1. Why does Roger shove his way past Jack, only just managing not to edge him aside?

Chapter 12

  1. How does Ralph learn of Jack’s plans for him?
  1. What does Ralph say to the twins when they refuse to help him?
  1. Does Ralph understand why he must be killed?
  1. What is the irony of Sameneric’s behavior?
  1. How does Golding describe Ralph’s flight across the island?
  1. What is the irony of the fire?
  1. Why is Percival unable to remember his name and address?
  1. Why is Piggy’s fall emphasized? Compare it to the aftermath of Simon’s death.
  1. Why does Ralph say he is in charge of the island?
  1. What comparison is implied at the end of the novel?

Extras- Does Piggy make a good friend? Explain in a paragraph.

Define-

Chapter 10

gesticulateChapter 12

obscene

compositecordon

anonymousobscurity

antiphonal

Chapter 11inimical

ludicrousincantation

inscrutable

talisman

ineffectual

devastate

propitiate