Summer Reading Requirements and Suggestions

I.                  Overview

The Primary goal of the Honors American Literature course at Lower Cape May Regional High School is to develop a student’s ability as a reader and a writer to evaluate literature critically. The course regularly emphasizes the development of independent thought and mature habits of critical thinking. Classroom discussion and active participation are vital means of testing ideas. Writing assignments, both short and long term, will be an important and frequent feature of the course.

 

Honors English is both demanding and intellectually stimulating. Less than a total effort leads inevitably to frustration and a weakened commitment. The course requires your best effort consistently.

 

A student signing up for Honors English should possess the following:

 

·        The desire to learn more than the obvious or the superficial

·        The ability to engage in intelligent discussion, involving active listening and constructive speaking.

·        A strong sense of responsibility, sufficient enough to keep up with the individual workload and contribute meaningfully to group efforts.

·        The willingness to accept criticism from both peers and teacher.

·        The patience to accept a variety of answers or unresolved questions as starting points for further thinking and exploring of ideas in works of literature.

·        A good basic command of language and the willingness to work hard to catch up with students who possess such skill.

 

The following issues are worth noting at this time:

1.      Summer reading and writing is a course requirement. If you do not complete it you will be removed from the class immediately.

2.      Analytical writing will be the primary course focus.

3.      All major papers and most short assignments must be typed.

4.      Meeting deadlines is an essential part of the course. (No late work will be accepted).

5.      A literary research paper is a course requirement.

6.      Students who plan to work hard only part of the year or who break out in a rash when they hear words like “essay” or “read” or “study” should head immediately to our guidance office to have the course removed from their schedule.

 

 

II.            Summer Reading

  1. See the summer reading list choices for what you must read.
  2. You must keep a journal on each of the books that you are required to read for Honors English.
  3. Your journal will count toward your first marking period grade.
  4. We might share journal ideas with classmates at the beginning of the school year. Your written observations will be critical to our early class discussions.
  5. Your first analytical essay will be based on your required summer reading.
  6. You can type or hand write your journal.
  7. If you hand write your journal, you can type it, please be neat and do not use pencil.
  8. What do I write in my journal. Consider the following questions to guide your written responses to the books that you read. These questions are meant to prompt your reading no more, no less. The best journals flow smoothly from textual analysis to autobiographical connections to comparisons with other books and subjects. The more you journal write the easier the process becomes.

·        What is my first reaction or response to the book?

·         What did I see happening in the book? Can I retell the major events clearly and succinctly?

·        What are the major themes or the “big ideas” of the book?

·        Which character was my favorite? Why? Least Favorite? Why?

·        Do I see myself in any of the characters? In what way(s)?

·        Does the book provoke memories or associations in my own life? What places, people, events, sights, feelings or attitudes do I find the book brings to mind?

·        Upon what in the book did I focus most intently? What stood out for me? The book’s style? Imagery? Structure? Conflicts? Symbolism?

·        Is the title of the book significant or appropriate? Why?

·        Does the book call to mind any other literary work (poem, play, film, story) ? If it does, what is the work and what is the connection I see between the two

 

Recommendation: write in your journal as you are reading the book instead of waiting until you have completed your reading. This way your observations are more likely to be specific than general.

 

 

The books are available at the local book stores: The Book Shoppe in North Cape May and Atlantic Books in Cape May. Additionally, our school library has multiple copies of each and the county library will have these books available.

 

Enjoy your reading! I look forward to seeing you in September.

 

Back to 10th Grade Honors American Literature Page

 

Back to 9th Grade Honors Literature