Click here for a copy to print:  Summer Reading.pdf  

Note: I will fix the formatting of this document later. In the meantime, click the link above to download a copy.

 

English Department of Colleton County High School

Ms. A. Varnado, Chairperson

The main purpose of the 2011-2012 Summer Reading Program is to extend the curriculum and allow students an opportunity to explore a variety of literature. Our philosophy is that summer reading should be both pleasurable and thought provoking, allowing the students to use this reading as a springboard into the material covered in their particular level of English.

Philosophy

 

Research continues to demonstrate that nothing will improve a student’s overall academic performance in school and in life better than reading. The simple act of reading, regardless of the difficulty level, provides a means of enrichment that society in general cannot afford to lose.

New Enrollees

 

¿ If the student enrolls after the official start of school,

Students who enroll late will also be responsible for summer reading. They need to make sure that they get access to the summer reading packet upon enrollment.

¿

If the student is new to this district and officially enrolls at least two weeks prior to the official start of school, either semester, the student will be responsible for the completion of the summer reading assessment(s), designated for the grade level into which the student has been enrolled. Therefore, the student’s assessment(s) will be due at the same time when everyone else’s is due.  

either semester,

the student will be responsible for getting access to the list and the requirements. It will be left to the discretion of the teacher to determine the timeframe in which the student will complete the assessment(s).

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Summer Reading Book Choices

 

 

* denotes test book NF-nonfiction, F-fiction, and B-biography English 1

Summer Reading Assignments 2010-2011

Students, this year you will have a choice between a project and a test for the summer reading assessment. For the books with an asterisk beside them, you can take a test or create a project. All others are project-based. Tests and projects will be due between the 15th and 20th days of school: September 3-13, 2010 and February 2-8, 2011, as specified by the students’ teacher. Announcements will be made within classes about the final dates for these. If students choose the project-based novel, they may choose to either create a PowerPoint presentation or create a poster representing several key points in the novel. Should a student choose to create a PowerPoint presentation, the student must turn in a hard copy with notes (black and white is acceptable), and the presentation must be saved on either a CD or flash drive that can be opened with Microsoft PowerPoint 2003. (This is easily done. As the work is saved, make sure that it’s saved as PowerPoint 1997-2003 ppt.) College Prep: Students will choose to read one book and either take a test or create a project. This will count as a major test grade. Honors: Honors students will complete two assignments-Students will choose one book from the test list and one book from the project list. Both project and test will count as two major test grades. Please note-If a student takes English second semester, the test or project will be presented second semester with the student’s teacher instead of at the beginning of the year. There will be a week in January when we will remind all students who are taking English second semester that they should brush up on their books to complete the projects/tests. Reader Response Posters/PowerPoints for Fiction Books: Your assignment is to first, describe the two main characters of the book. Use the following questions to help you: Who are they? What do they do? What is a major character trait of each person? Support your answer with details from the book, using at least three quotes, noting the page numbers to complete the project. Second, you should type a short summary, 180-250 words, of the story and explain the theme(s) of the story. Finally, you should explain whether you would or would not recommend this book to someone else and explain your reasons. (Make sure this is about the book, not just about the length or summer reading in general.) Reader Response Posters/PowerPoints for Non-Fiction Books: Your assignment is to first, provide a typed short summary of the book, 180-250 words. Second, describe a special moment or key event from the book in detail using at least three quotes from the book, and make sure you note the page numbers for your project. Next, answer the following questions: Why did you read this book? What did you learn? Would you recommend this book? Why or why not? Finally, you should answer the question, "Is there something in this book that could help other people?" Reader Response Posters/PowerPoints for Biography: Your assignment is to first, describe the individual about whom the book was written. Be sure to include a discussion of his/her life and goals, between 180-250 words, typed. Then, retell a special moment or key event from the biography that had an impact on you, using three quotes from the book, and note the page numbers for your project. Next, relate this to your life by answering the following question, "Did something you learn affect your life or outlook on life?" Be sure to provide a specific example to support your answer. Finally, would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not? All projects should include the following information: -Author’s name -Title of the book -Two graphics that in some way reflect the book’s content -Three quotations (with page numbers) -Major characters (2 minimum) -Summary that includes characters, theme, and a recommendation either for or against the book -Two graphics relevant to the characters -Posters need to be standard poster size-no smaller than 20"x 28." Also, keep in mind this project should be neat and grammatically correct! 4  

Student’s Name: ____________________ Student’s Grade: ___________ Summer Reading Project Poster/PowerPoint Grading Rubric Points Received	Points Possible		Grading Criteria
Technique and Organization
5 points		Student created a project of appropriate size/length: (5 points for size/length) Poster is correct size (no less than 20"x28") PowerPoint is at least 5 slides long
10 points		Student included: (2 points per inclusion) 1. Author’s name 2. Name of book with copyright information 3. Two graphics that represent the book’s characters 4. Teacher’s Name 5. Class Period
30 points		Student included three quotations: (10 points per quote) 1. 2. 3.
10 points		Student included major characters: (Minimum of 2; 5 points per character) 1. 2. Additional:
20 points		Student included a short, typed summary of book, including references to: (5 points apiece) 1. Summary 2. Characters 3. Themes 4. Recommendation
10 points		Student included graphics relevant to the book: This can include, but is not limited to Setting Themes
5 points		Overall Neatness- 1. Is the poster/PowerPoint easily read? 2. Are the graphics clear? 3. Good use of color and space
Grammar
10 points		Grammatical Errors: 10 points = 0-5 Errors 5 points = 5-10 Errors 0 points = 10 or More Errors
Total major points received ______/100	100 major points possible		Summer reading projects count as a major grade.

*And Then There Were None-Agatha Christie F *Their Eyes Were Watching God-Zora Neale Hurston F *Jacob Have I Loved-Katherine Paterson F *Siddhartha- Herman Hesse F I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings; Maya Angelou B A Raisin in the Sun; Lorraine Hansberry F-play The Greatest, Muhammad Ali; Walter Dean Myers B When I was Puerto Rican; Esmeralda Santiago B English 2 *Death Be Not Proud- John Gunther B *Bless the Beasts and Children- Glendon Swarthout F *Watership Down- Richard Adams F *Fahrenheit 451- Ray Bradbury F A Gathering of Old Men; Ernest J. Gaines F Jude; Kate Morgenroth F Things Change; Patrick Jones F The Water is Wide; Pat Conroy NF English 3 *Catcher in the Rye- J.D. Salinger F *Inherit the Wind- Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee F-play *Black Like Me- John Howard Griffin B *The Member of the Wedding-Carson McCullers F Copper Sun; Sharon Draper F Friday Night Lights; H.G. Bissinger NF Into Thin Air; Jon Krakauer NF Speak; Laurie Halse Anderson F English 4 *The Midwife’s Apprentice-Karen Cushman F *Cry, The Beloved Country- Alan Patton F *The Hound of the Baskervilles-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle F *Letters from Rifka-Karen Hesse F The Kite Runner; Khaled Hosseini F My Losing Season; Pat Conroy B The Constant Princess; Phillipa Gregory F I'd Tell You I Love You, but Then I'd Have to Kill You- Ally Carter F Advanced Placement (AP)-Seniors Mythology-Edith Hamilton-Required reading NF (To be read and studied in class with the teacher) *A Farewell to Arms- Ernest Hemingway F *Beloved-Toni Morrison F *One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich-Alexander Solzhenitsyn F *As I Lay Dying-William Faulkner F *The Stranger-Albert Camus F These lists and guidelines can be found online on the CCHS website and in the Guidance Office. 3

Walterboro, South Carolina

Summer Reading Program 2011-2012

Therefore, the English Department of Colleton County High School intends for all students to experience this same wonderful opportunity for enlightenment through our summer reading program. While we hope that summer reading will provide a meaningful extension of the learning process, our greatest hope is that it will stimulate continued appreciation for the joy of reading.