For Honors Afrocentric Literature applicants, you will need to complete a readiness assessment. Your Modern World History teacher has the information about the test. Bring your completed application, a pencil, and lined paper to the test. Check Mr. Batchelor’s webpage for pertinent information: https://sites.google.com/a/cv.k12.ca.us/batch/
There is a summer assignment for Honors Afrocentric U.S. History and Literature. Like most of your major assignments next year, all parts of the assignment will be worth points in both classes. This assignment will introduce you to many of the major themes, ideas and concepts that we will cover during the year. It will also help you to contextualize the historical experiences of African Americans within the modern day. Finally, it will help us to begin to assess where you are as a reader, writer and thinker so that we can best serve you as a student during the year.
The readings for the summer assignment are posted online on Mr. Batchelor’s website (links are included within the assignment itself). One of those readings is from your future textbook. The other is from a collection of short stories called The Ways of White Folks written by Langston Hughes. If you would prefer to have a paper copy of The Ways of White Folk you can check one out in the bookroom before the school year ends. If you will be unable to access the textbook online, please go see Mr. Batchelor in room 310 by May 17th so that he can make you a copy of the textbook reading.
The summer assignment is due on the first Friday of school, but you should not wait until the last minute to begin. The reading in The Ways of White Folks is around 100 pages long. The textbook reading is another 15-20 pages or so, depending on the options you choose. You will also have to complete some brief interviews and write a short essay. So, plan accordingly.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
STUDENTS WHO DO NOT TURN IN THE SUMMER HOMEWORK WILL BEGIN THE YEAR WITH A ZERO FOR THE ASSIGNMENT AND WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY BEHIND.
We suspect many of you are feeling end-of-the-year pressures right now and a summer assignment may leave you with a bit of a sinking feeling. We are confident that you can handle the reading. You were carefully evaluated prior to being enrolled in the class, and that means that you likely have what it takes to succeed in Honors Afrocentric U.S. History and Literature. You will find that keeping up with the assigned reading is critical to doing well in both courses. This is good practice for you as the pace of the course will be significantly more rapid during the school year.
We look forward to working with you next year and are excited to see you on the first day of school. If you have any questions about the assignment (or anything else), please e-mail both Mr. Batchelor and Ms. Lew.
Sincerely, Mr. Batchelor (kbatchelor@cv.k12.ca.us) and Ms. Lew (mlew@cv.k12.ca.us)