SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT for English 11AP Students

The objective of this summer's project is to keep students' skills sharp in the areas of reading comprehension and literary analysis as well as gain a head start on the 11AP curriculum. You will be responsible for reading two novels: Richard Wright's Native Son and John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath OR The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. A Clarification: Native son is required reading for all students, a copy of which will be provided by the school. Students have a choice of reading a copy of The Grapes of Wrath which would be provided by the school or to purchase/borrow a copy of The Kite Runner. Hence, all students will be required to read two novels total. Mr. Adams will hold a meeting by the end of the 2007-2008 school year to distribute copies of Native Son and The Grapes of Wrath (for students who choose this option). If you miss the meeting it is important that by the end of the year you see Mr. Adams in order to get a copy of both books. No excuses for not completing the summer reading will be honored. You will be responsible for creating a reader response journal over the summer. The reader response journal is outlined in the section below. If you have any questions regarding the summer reading assignment, please see Mr. Adams or email him at chrisadamsteach@yahoo.com as soon as possible. Reader Response Journal (This will count as your first major homework grade of the new school year.) In order to help you become personally involved in reading the novel, I am requiring a written response to each of the chapters. When you finish reading a certain amount of chapters or sections, you will complete a response journal. When you return to school I will collect and grade the entire project based on the completeness and quality of your responses. Your journals must be typed. This means double-spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman Font. Journals not following this specific format are subject to a ten-point deduction. Part 1: Native Son is broken down by the author into three "books." These "books" serve as long chapters all telling the story of the African-American man, Bigger Thomas. For books one and two only (we will address book three together when we return to school) of Native Son please complete the following: Create a listing of two examples of figurative language from each book. Identify the type of figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification) and explain what you think the author is expressing. (This should be about one-half page for each major section.) Explain something significant a character did, said or thought in each book and what this revealed to you about the character. (This should be about one-half page for each major section.) Explain in detail your emotional or intellectual response to what occured in each book. (This should be about one page for each major section.) Explain any foreshadowing you found in each book (books one and two only) and make predictions about what will happen in the story. (This should be about one-half page for each major section.) Discuss how the novel may have changed or added to your perception of the Black American experience in the 1930's and in general. Do this once for the novel as a whole. (This should be about one page.) Part 2: Grapes of Wrath Option The Grapes of Wrath has thirty chapters describing the struggles of the Joad family. Please break the book down into three sections of ten chapters each. For example, chapters 1-10 would count as section 1, chapter 11-20 would count as section 2 and so on. For each section in the book please complete the following: Create a listing of two examples of figurative language from each section. Identify the type of figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification) and explain what you think the author is expressing. (This should be about one-half page for each major section.) Explain something significant a character did, said or thought in each section and what this revealed to you about the character. (This should be about one-half page for each major section.) Explain in detail your emotional or intellectual response to what occured in each section. (This should be about one page for each major section.) Explain any foreshadowing you found in each book (sections one and two only) and make predictions about what will happen in the story. (This should be about one-half page for each major section.) Discuss how this novel may have influenced or changed your perception of generally poor, legal and illegal Mexican migrant workers. Has the plight of the Joad family altered how you view the plight of these immigrants? Why or why not? Part 2: The Kite Runner Option This option of your assignment requires you to purchase or borrow a copy of The Kite Runner. I highly recommend buying a cheap used copy from Amazon.com or BN.com. Break The Kite Runner up into three sections by chapter or page number and complete the following: Create a listing of two examples of figurative language from each section. Identify the type of figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification) and explain what you think the author is expressing. (This should be about one-half page for each major section.) Explain something significant a character did, said or thought in each section and what this revealed to you about the character. (This should be about one-half page for each major section.) Explain in detail your emotional or intellectual response to what occurred in each section. For example, was there a passage that you thought was particularly well written? Do you have any major criticism of the author's work in this section? (This should be about one page for each major section) Explain any foreshadowing you found in each section and make predictions about what will happen in the story. (This should be about one-half page for each major section.) Discuss how the novel might have changed or added to your understanding of Afghani, Arab or Middle Eastern peoples, the country of Afghanistan, or its culture. Do this once for the novel as a whole. (This should be about one page.) If you have any questions regarding the summer reading assignment, please see Mr. Adams or email him at chrisadamsteach@yahoo.com as soon as possible.