Tenth Grade Summer Reading Requirements

Tenth Grade Summer Reading Requirements

In an effort to provide reading enrichment to high school students, the Sylacauga High School English

Department has established a summer reading/writing program for the Honors and AP English courses. As

students grow and mature, they need to continually practice their reading and writing skills. While early

reading skills are basic fundamentals, when students grow older, they need selections that stimulate their

imaginations, improve their thinking skills, and enhance their vocabulary development. With this in mind, the

summer prior to students beginning their tenth grade school year, they will be required to participate in the

summer reading program. A percentage of student grades will come from summer reading assessments.

Assessments may be in the form of tests, essays, or projects.

The content and language of each book has been examined by the Language Arts Department; however,

if the content and/or language of any book are found offensive by the parent/guardian or the student, contact me

as soon as possible for an alternative assignment. It is the student¡¯s responsibility to seek an alternative

assignment if need be. Students will not be allowed to show up on the first day of class and claim they need an

alternate assignment.

Tenth grade literature focuses on American Literature 1600-1900 and a Shakespearean study, thus

making some of the literature difficult to understand. Therefore, students are advised to take notes on the

novels-chapter by chapter- as they read them. The first two reading assignments focus on literature from 16001900. The third reading assignment is modern fiction that deals with current issues facing teens such as suicide,

depression, drugs, and bullying.

Honors English

1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (first week of class)

Teacher-made test (100 points)

Essay (100 points) *see attached essay topics

2. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (second week of class)

Essay (100 points) *see attached essay topics

Soundtrack for selected scenes in the book (100 points) *see attached assignment

It is recommended that students purchase their summer reading books; however, they may also check them out

from the B.B. Comer Memorial Library or the Sylacauga High School Library. Be aware that book availability

at the public library may be limited, and failure to obtain a book is not an excuse for failing to complete the

summer reading requirements. The high school library has copies of all books.

If a student should lose the summer reading assignment sheet, extra copies will be available at the school.

Parents and/or students may also contact me with any questions or concerns. I look forward to our discussion of

these books in the fall.

Natalie Hubbard

(256) 245-5358

hubbardn@sylacauga.k12.al.us

Huck Finn Essay

Final draft is due the end first week of school.

Write a 2 page essay on one of the topics listed below. Your final draft should follow correct MLA form. This is

not a research paper. The content of your essay should be the result of your own analysis of the text.

Assignment is worth 100 points.

1. Huckleberry Finn is not only the narrator of the novel but also its central character. Think about how Huck¡¯s

style of speech helps to reveal his character. Write an essay explaining how Huck¡¯s language helps to reveal

his character.

2. Huckleberry Finn has no real family. Look at the episodes in the novel in which Huck develops relationships

with other characters, such as the Grangerfords, the Wilkses, and the Phelpses. In these episodes, does Huck

appear to be searching for a substitute "family"? Write an essay in which you discuss the idea that some of

Huck¡¯s relationships show that he is searching for a "family." Show how one or more of Huck¡¯s

relationships does or does not conform to this idea.

3. Slavery and racism are major themes of Huckleberry Finn. Review the novel, examining how Twain

develops these themes through incidents, comments by the characters, and statements by the narrator. Write an

essay discussing what can be inferred to be Twain¡¯s attitudes toward slavery or racism in Huckleberry

Finn.

4. Huckleberry Finn faces several important moral choices in the course of the novel. Examine several of these

choices. Why does Huck make those choices? What do the choices reveal about his character? Write an essay

analyzing three crucial moral choices that Huck makes. Explain the background and reasons for each

choice, and show how the choices illustrate Huck¡¯s character.

5. There are two ¡°fathers¡± who figure prominently in Huck Finn¡¯s life ¨C first his Pap Finn and then Jim the

slave. Some feel that the slave Jim is in many ways more of a father figure to Huck (and a greater influence on

his life and development as a person) than his biological father is. Write an essay in which you contrast these

two characters, analyzing the kinds of people they each seem to be and the kinds of influences they have

on Huck. Argue for which one you feel is Huck¡¯s "true father."

Papers must be MLA format, have at least five paragraphs, be two-three pages in length, and contain a welldeveloped thesis statement. You are not allowed to use first or second person point of view.

Rough Drafts-Rough drafts must be typed.

Remember:

Introduction gives necessary information and introduces the subject before jumping to the thesis

statement. Remember that when you write about literature, you must include the author and the title of

the work in the opening. Also-Literature is alive; history is dead. Write about literature in the present

tense.

The thesis makes the point clear and gives a blueprint of your paper.

Essay contains both external (beginning of paragraph) and internal (within paragraph) transition words.

Essay content refers to the story for evidence but does not retell the story.

Conclusion restates the point of your paper without talking to the reader, and it generalizes the point to

all people.

Thirteen Reasons Why Soundtrack Assignment

Students are to work in groups of 2-3 to develop a mini soundtrack for Thirteen Reasons Why

1. Students should choose songs to represent five scenes or characters in the novel. The songs must be

appropriate and contain no offensive language or innuendos.

2. Students should write a paragraph or two explaining why the song fits the scene or character. Students

should use examples from the book.

3. Students should attach a copy of the lyrics to each paragraph.

Each selection and paragraph is worth 15 points for a total of 75 points. Students must present their selections to

the class. Students may just explain their selection, or they can even play one of the selections for the class.

The presentation is worth 25 points. The project is worth 100 points.

Students will work on this assignment when school begins. This assignment will be due the third week of

class.

Thirteen Reasons Why Essay Topics

You will write a cause/effect essay on one of the following topics:

1. Which three characters listed on Hannah¡¯s list are the main causes of her suicide? Why? Explain the

causes (reasons) these three affect her decision the most. You will need details and quotes from the story

to back up your choices.

2. Explain the effects that rumors have on Hannah¡¯s life. You will need quotes and details from the story to

prove your points.

We will work on these papers the second week of class.

This essay will be 1 ?-2 pages in length

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