SUMMER READING IS IMPORTANT

The English Department recognizes the importance of continued reading for personal growth, pleasure, and learning.  As a result, the Department has established the Summer Reading Program for all levels of IC students, including the in-coming freshmen.  Below is a breakdown for all levels's reading selections and the Summer Reading requirements for that level.

Summer Reading Selections for 2010

English II (Regular)

During the summer, read The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. Take thorough notes on the novel.  Includes specific details about character, setting, and plot (events of the novel).  These notes should help you with preparation for a test  on the first day of school.  This test will determine how well you read, took notes, and studied.

English II (Honors)

During the summer, read The Secret Life of Bees (ISBN#0142001740) and 1984 (ISBN# 9780451524935).  Take thorough notes on each chapter and include specific details about character, setting, and plot (events in the novel).

Write an analytical paper on each novel.  Papers must be typed and double-spaced, and 2 full pages in length.  In addition, you should create an outline and at least one rough draft of each paper.  These materials (outline, rough draft and final draft) will be collected on the first day of class.  The materials for each paper should be placed in a pocket folder, which will be used throughout the year whenever you turn in a paper.

Also, be prepared to take a test on 1984 the first day of school.  This test will determine how well you read, took notes, and studied.

FORMAT OF ANALYTICAL PAPER

Written in 3rd person - do not use "I", "me", "my"

INTRODUCTION:  Include the following: an attention getter (i.e. rhetorical question, quote, short anecdote, definition, strong statistic/fact), a one or two sentence summary of the novel, a thesis statement (written in third person without "In this paper") that explains what you will prove and HOW you will prove it.

BODY:  Three body paragraph minimum that supports your thesis (the "how you will prove it" explained in greater detail).  Includes specific examples in your body paragraphs.

CONCLUSION:  Restatement of your thesis and how you went about proving it.  Also include your opinion (in THIRD PERSON) or commentary about the novel in relation to your thesis.  End with a strong unifying statement.

DO NOT WRITE A PLOT SUMMARY!

POSSIBLE TOPICS FOR THE ANALYTICAL PAPERS

These are just some suggestions

• Analyze a character or group's development throughout the novel.
• Analyze a theme that threads through the novel.
• Analyze a symbol that recurs throughout the novel.
• Analyze a specific conflict that develops throughout the novel and the result of that conflict.

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