Ten things you can do this summer to get you read for Ms. Curl’s class!

  1. Read! (You really didn’t think it wouldn’t be on here, did you??)

Read books, read newspapers (yes, they still make them), read magazines – sports, fashion, news – doesn’t matter! Read the back of your cereal box, just read! Each time you read you add to your vocabulary and up your writing skills.

  1. Speaking of reading…Challenge yourself to read five books this summer, preferably a classic. I’ve given you a list of American classics to consider below.*
  1. Write. Keep a journal, write a letter (people still do that), write a blog. Just keep writing. You’ll be amazed and what you can come up with.
  1. Watch, read, and listen to the news. Soon you will be voting citizens, adults contributing to the nation’s and the world’s economy. You need to understand the world around you. NPR (National Public Radio), BBC World News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, are all excellent, vetted, unbiased news agencies.
  1. Learn new vocabulary. The best way to pick up new words is through reading. When you see a word for the first time, write it down, look it up, try to use it.
  1. Brush up on your MLA usage. MLA (Modern Language Association) is the principal professional association in the United States for scholars of language and literature. In Language Arts, we use its format for writing papers and citing sources. You will use MLA formatting for papers, headings and citation of your sources. OWL Purdue is a great website for help with MLA. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/11/
  1. Follow a journalist or columnist. One of the ways that we develop our own ideas and opinions is by listening or reading what others have to say. Follow someone on twitter.
  1. Watch Ted talks. There are thousands of interesting talks on virtually every subject. Learn something new!
  1. Join your class on Edmodo: you’ll need the class code:

American Literature code is 58m477

Honors American Literature code is 7an8n2

AP Language and Composition code is 2b87ny

I frequently post assignments, Power Points and other helpful links on Edmodo.

  1. Join Remind. To receive reminders and other class alerts, join the following classes:

For American Literature, text to: 81010 and enter @7d7d7

For Honors American Literature, text to: 81010 and enter @7d7d7d

For AP Language, text to: 81010 and enter @7d7d7d7

*American Classics: This is not a definitive list, but it will get you started! I’ve omitted books we will be reading together in class.

The Last of the Mohicansby James Fenimore Cooper

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklinby Benjamin Franklin

The House of Seven Gablesby Nathaniel Hawthorne

Waldenby Henry David Thoreau

The Red Badge of Courageby Stephen Crane

The Awakeningby Kate Chopin

Portrait of a Ladyby Henry James

The Call of the Wildby Jack London

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finnby Mark Twain

The Age of Innocenceby Edith Wharton

A Farewell to Armsby Ernest Hemingway

Native Sonby Richard Wright

The Streetby Anne Petry

Passingby Nella Larsen

A Tree Grows in Brooklynby Betty Smith

To Kill a Mockingbirdby Harper Lee

In Cold Bloodby Truman Capote

East of Edenby John Steinbeck

The Catcher in Ryeby J.D. Salinger

Catch 22by Joseph Heller

The Invisible Manby Ralph Ellison

The Color Purpleby Alice Walker

All the Pretty Horsesby Cormac McCarthy

The Things They Carriedby Tim O’Brien