Honors Sophomore English Summer Reading (and other good stuff)
Rebecca Leamon
rleamon@mdirss.org
667-6681
Welcome to the ranks of Honors English! You’re joining this class because you’ve demonstrated interest and ability in English. I hope you’ll leave it with more of both. I plan for us to work hard, think carefully, read a lot, and write thoughtfully. If that sounds good, carry on.
Summer reading is designed both as a test of your commitment to the class and as a way for us to squeeze one more book into a busy semester. The written/hard copy assignments are due on the first day of class, whether that be in late August or late January; however, the reading and the online assignments are all due during the summer regardless of the semester you’re taking the class! Be prepared: failure to complete the assignments will result in your removal from the class.
=>Your main reading assignment is Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations. It is not a walk in the park, but it is thought-provoking, rewarding, and well-respected--a hit on all counts. In addition, I love it and find it memorable, funny, touching, and very endearing. I’ve divided up the reading due dates to encourage you to read it in reasonable sections, rather than having to sprint through it at the last moment, which is foolproof guarantee to hate any book. However: you need to make the decision to do the reading, despite any deadlines I provide. If you happen to be an audiobook fan, you might like to listen to Great Expectations--just be sure you get an unabridged version with a good reader, and follow along in your book!
=>As you read, flag passages that develop Pip’s character, at least one other interesting character, AND that develop conflict or conflicts in the book. You may buy the same edition and write in the book (my favorite method), you may keep a writing journal, or you may sticky note like a mad researcher. Just use whichever method works for you and keeps you aware and involved in your reading. We will be working with the novel once class starts, so keeping track of key passages will make your life 522 times easier than hunting for passages you vaguely remember seeing somewhere.
=>To facilitate your understanding of the book and our discussion skills as a group, we will be using an online discussion forum. You must start three discussion threads by the following dates:
I am assuming that you will follow general protocol for discussions: respectful, appropriate language; specific references to the novel; thoughtful grammar usage and spelling (does not have to be final draft perfect, but please use capital letters, punctuation as needed, and no texting abbreviations!).
=>A second assignment, this one due the first day of class, is to choose two paragraphs from different parts in the book, and close-read them. To do this, you need to copy them out in a large font, at least double spaced, and then mark them up, writing in and highlighting significant points, so that when the reader looks at your close-read, s/he will see what YOU think about and/or notice when YOU read that passage. You should pay attention to word choice, sentence structure, figurative language devices, characterization, use of symbols, pacing, flow, and anything else that strikes you about your chosen passage. Since you’ll have finished the book when you do this activity, you will also be aware of any foreshadowing or suspense-building that Dickens is doing, but remember that this is designed to be more than just a plot-related activity. Look at how Dickens is putting the passage together as an artist, not just how he’s moving his plot forward as a story-teller (Unless I forget, I’ll do provide an example on the back!).
Okay! I’d also like to encourage you to read at least one book for pleasure this summer, but that’s not a requirement (“Go have fun! I command it!”). If you say you don’t have time to read, consider, my darlings, how much time you spend on Facebook. Honestly. Read a book.
During the summer I will be reachable by email (rleamon@mdirss.org) or by phone (667-6681) if you have any burning questions or issues. Have a lovely summer--be kind to others, the earth, and yourself. Wear sunscreen. Sleep a lot. Notice things. Enjoy the book!
~ Ms. Leamon
PS: There are historical/literary notes to help you at the end of the story. They’re coded to each chapter, and sometimes they are very helpful. You might use a sticky note to mark the Notes section, moving it as you read.
Some Reasons to Stop and Comment (or at least place a sticky note the first time through!)
If you are stuck for discussion forum fodder, you might consider the following list of helpful suggestions:
A passage, chapter, section, chunk, might be worth discussing if:
* These terms all relate to basic reader’s vocabulary. If you don’t know them, you should look them up in a good dictionary or handbook for literary terms.