Scott High School
A School of Excellence
3400 Old Taylor Mill Road
Taylor Mill, Kentucky 41016
Dear Students and Parents:
This summer, each student at Scott High School has a reading assignment. Literacy is a key component in being successful in high school, and our Summer Reading Program is designed to help students maintain—and even sharpen—the skills they already possess.
This summer’s assignment allows students to choose high-quality books that appeal to their interests. In addition to reading the book, students must prepare a presentation about the book. (Advanced students have additional assignments, too.) Presentations will be given the first week of English class; all other advanced-class assignments are due on the first day of school.
The presentation assignment, rubric and list of acceptable books are available on the school’s web site and in the school office. For Advanced, Honors and Advanced Placement students, the required texts are:
Incoming Freshman Advanced English: Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, plus a presentation on a book from the A.P. list
Incoming Sophomore Advanced English: To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, plus a presentation on a book from the A.P. list
Incoming Junior Honors English: The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck; Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller; plus a presentation on a book from the A.P. list
Incoming Senior Honors English: Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, Lord of the Flies, by William Golding; and a presentation on a book from the A.P. list
Incoming A.P. English Literature: Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley; Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston; and The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini; and a presentation on a book from the A.P. list.
Incoming A.P. English Language: The Elements of Style, by Strunk & White, and a presentation on a book from the A.P. list.
Students searching for a book should read the plot synopses and reviews posted at amazon.com. All of these books may be borrowed at local libraries or purchased at local bookstores. Many can be found at stores specializing in used books, such as The Book Rack and Half-Price Books in Florence, and the used book service on amazon.com. Some students may benefit from using unabridged editions of the books on tape or CD.
We encourage all students to make time in their summer for these assignments. Students who fail to complete the work will earn a 0—which is not the best way to begin a new school year. If you have questions regarding the assignments, please email me at ; I’ll respond as quickly as possible.
Happy reading!
Tom Clark
Chair, English Department
Summer Reading Assignment
Honors English 3
There are four assignments for the summer of 2010.
1. Maintain a reading log throughout the summer. This reading log includes both your assigned reading and your independent reading. Each entry (150 words minimum) should address your analysis and interpretation of what you’re reading. Appropriate topics of analysis include the writer’s viewpoint, the strengths and weaknesses of what you’re reading, and/or the writer’s use of language (think in terms of diction, tone, details, metaphor/simile, symbolism, imagery, allusion, point of view, repetition, irony, and so on). Your analysis should include examples of what you’re discussing.
Your analysis should not focus on a summary of the plot or topic, or whether you “like” what you’re reading. See the rubric on the reverse side for more information. You may keep your log in a notebook or Word file. You will hand in the reading log to Mr. Clark on the first day of school.
2. Select and read a book from the attached “Book List for Advanced/Honors/
A.P. Students” list. Prepare a presentation about the book, according to the attached rubric. You will present your project during the first week of class.
3. Read the novel The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck. Answer the attached reading questions, answering each question in depth appropriate to the question (generally 2-3 sentences). You will hand in your answers to Mr. Clark on the first day of school.
4. Read the play Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller. Answer the attached reading questions, answering each question in depth appropriate to the question (generally 2-3 sentences). You will hand in your answers to Mr. Clark on the first day of school.
Students may borrow both books from Mr. Clark, or you may buy your own editions of these books.
If you have questions about any of these assignments, you may email Mr. Clark at . Be aware that a reply may not be immediate, as I will not always have Internet access when I’m traveling.
Reading Log Rubric
Honors English 3
1 / 4 / 7 / 10Frequency / Fewer than 3 entries / Monthly entries / Bi-weekly entries / Weekly entries
Subject matter / Entries do not reflect assignment / Entries focus on personal connections to the work or other comments not related to the assignment / Entries consist of appropriate analysis or appropriate interpretation / Entries consist of appropriate analysis/interpretation
Examples / Entries do not include examples from the reading being discussed / Entries rarely include examples from the readings being discussed / Entries include sporadic examples from the readings being discussed / All (or nearly all) entries include examples from the readings being discussed
Depth of Insight / Entries reflect a lack of thought or analysis / Entries reflect unoriginal thinking or superficial analysis / Entries reflect some original thought or some depth of analysis / Entries reflect original thought & depth of analysis
THE GRAPES OF WRATH
HONORS ENGLISH 3 SUMMER READING
CHAPTERS 1-11 THE LAND
1. What does the setting of the opening scene suggest about the rest of the novel?
2. How do the tractors operate?
3. What power do the small farmers have against the banks and the tractors?
4. Chapters 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 tell the narrative about Tom Joad and his family the way novels usually do. What is the function of the other short chapters (1, 3, 5, etc.)? What does Chapter 7 imply about used-car salesmen?
5. What are the most important characteristics of Ma and Pa and of the grandparents?
6. What does Ma’s burning of the old stationary box illustrate?
CHAPTERS 12-18 THE MIGRATION
1. What is the first unpleasant event that occurs on the Joads’ journey? What does that event portend about what lies ahead?
2. Of what significance is Grampa Joad’s death? What is the value of Casy’s prayer?
3. When the car breaks down, what is significant about Ma’s reaction? How does the mechanical difficulty affect the relationship between Tom and Al?
4. What effect does the nightly camping have on the people heading for California? How does it give them strength and power?
5. What is the Joads’ first view of California? What impressions of California do the two men from the Panhandle provide?
6. Why does Noah leave? What is Ma’s response?
7. Of what symbolic value is the desert? Does California look the way the characters thought it would?
CHAPTERS 19-30 THE PROMISED LAND
1. How has farming changed according to Chapter 19? Why do the local people fear the migrants?
2. What are the “three great facts of history,” and what do they imply about the outcome of the events in this novel?
3. What does Ma Joad mean when she says “Why, we’re the people–we go on”?
4. In what ways does Mr. Thomas represent the dilemma of the small farmer?
5. Why do the Joads leave the government camp at Weedpatch? How is life at the Hooper ranch different? How is it typical of the lives of migrants? What does Ma’s encounter in the store show about the plight of migrant workers?
6. In hiding, what decision does Tom make? How does Ma feel about that? What conclusion does Ma reach about the family? What keeps them all from giving up?
7. What impact does the stillbirth of Rose of Sharon’s baby have? What does Uncle John do with the dead baby, and what does this act signal about him and the other migrants?
8. Why is Rose of Sharon’s feeding the starving man an appropriate ending for this novel? Why is she smiling “mysteriously”?
DIGGING DEEPER
1. In the beginning, each character has personal reasons for wanting to go to California. In what ways does each individual’s goal change? Which people grow to see a larger purpose in life? What factors contribute to their changes?
2. According to statements made in this novel, of what importance is anger in overcoming fear? What must be done with anger in order to make it productive? Do you agree or disagree with that philosophy as expressed in this novel?
3. What is the effect of the chapters which come between the narrative about the Joads? How would the elimination of those chapters affect the meaning and impact of the novel?
4. Steinbeck wrote to his editor about this novel: “I’ve done my damndest to rip a reader’s nerves to rags, I don’t want him satisfied.” Did he succeed in doing that to you? If so, how did he accomplish it? If not, why weren’t you affected in that way?
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
HONORS ENGLISH 3 SUMMER READING
ACT ONE
1. Why is Willy home? Why is Linda alarmed that he’s home?
2. Why is Willy annoyed at Biff? How does he describe Biff? What does this tell us about Willy?
3. How does Linda treat Willy? How do the boys feel about him? Is Biff trying to spite Willy? Why does Biff come home in the spring?
4. What does Willy’s reaction to Biff ’s theft of the football tell us about Willy? He says the boys look like Adonises. What other clues show that Willy believes in appearances?
5. Willy praises and then curses the Chevrolet; he tells Linda that he’s very well liked, and then says that people don’t seem to take to him. What do these inconsistencies tell us about Willy?
6. Why does Willy make a fuss about Linda’s mending stockings? How is this important to the play?
7. Who is Ben? Why does Ben appear? What does Willy think about the future? About the past? What does Ben teach Biff? Why does Willy feel “kind of temporary” about himself and want Ben to stay?
8. What does Linda think is the trouble with Willy’s life? Why is she angry at her sons? Why does she put the rubber hose back after she had taken it? What does this tell about her?
ACT TWO
1. Why does Willy tell Howard about Dave Singleman? Describe the dramatic effect when Howard listens to the voices of his family while Willy tries to talk business.
2. What is Willy’s philosophy? How does Biff as a football hero embody his father’s dreams? Why does Charley say Willy hasn’t grown up?
3. Why won’t Willy work for Charley? Why is Willy able to ask Charley for money? How is Charley’s view of what a salesman needs different from Willy’s view?
4. In the restaurant, how does Happy reflect Willy’s values? Why does Miller have the girls come in?
5. How does Biff’s realization that his life is a lie underline the theme of the play? Why can’t he tell his father what happened with Bill Oliver? Why do Biff and Happy leave Willy at the restaurant?
6. Why did Biff go to Boston? What does he discover when he sees the Woman? Why is it that Biff never went to summer school? Why can’t he believe in his father?
7. Why does Willy keep planting seeds where they’ve never grown before? Why does Willy think Biff will be impressed with his funeral? Why does Ben say that Biff will call Willy a fool?
REQUIEM
1. What is a requiem? What is the purpose of this final act? To what extent is it successful?
2. Charley says: “No man only needs a little salary.” To what is he referring? What else does a man need?
OVER
3. Explain the irony of Linda’s last speech.
DIGGING DEEPER
1. What is the turning point in Willy’s life? Is Willy the main character in this play or is Biff? Why?
2. What does Biff discover about himself? How does this discovery affect his relationship with Willy? How is Biff ’s self-realization dramatic? What is the climax of the play?
3. Does Linda help or hinder Willy in overlooking his small sales and his dishonest attempts to make them seem bigger?
4. How is Willy’s killing himself for the insurance money symptomatic of the way he has lived? What legacy does Willy leave his family?
5. Some reviewers believe that the play is a criticism of capitalism and the American way of life. Discuss your reasons for agreeing or disagreeing with them.
Scott High School 2010 Summer Reading Project
for Honors English 3 Students
Directions
r Choose a novel or play from the AP List. This should be a book that you must physically bring with you on the day of your presentation. Do not select any novel or play you have previously read for class, nor any others on the summer reading list or ones we will read in class this year.
o Note: This should be a book that you have not read before. (We are English teachers. We pretty much know what your past teachers have assigned.)
r Read the book! As you read, use post-it notes, index cards, or paper inserts in order to mark significant passages/quotes that you find particularly interesting or important. On your insert, write a brief explanation (1-2 sentences) of the chosen important passages. (Why did you choose this passage? How do you know it is important?) You must have one annotation/insert per chapter. Be able to defend your choice!