Seaholm Summer Reading:
June 8, 2019
Dear Freshman Student and Parent:
Welcome to Seaholm!!! Each grade level has specific reading requirements, and we wanted to alert you to the reading lists and the reading assignment for your class.
All freshmen enrolled in English 9 Team and Honors English 9 Team for fall 2019 should view the film Fellowship of the Ring, directed by Peter Jackson and based on the J.R.R. Tolkien novel. In addition to watching the film, you need to read one book of your choice. For the 2019 summer reading, please review the following list, and choose one book. Be sure to review the second page which details the assignments required; the hard copy of the assignments are due the first day of class in September.
Also, please note that the Seaholm English department requires this assignment to be submitted electronically to a website that will check the work for plagiarism against Internet sources, previously submitted work, and peers’ work. Work that is found to be plagiarized or copied will not receive credit. We will go over how to submit the assignment online the first week of school; be sure to save an electronic copy of the assignment as well.
We strongly suggest that you go online to view a synopsis of each book before reading, or that you consult a librarian about the books you are considering. You can access this list on our English department website, and the titles are hyperlinked to the Amazon.com summaries. Only you and your parents can make the final decision of which book best fits your parameters. We are certain you will find books on this list engaging and thought provoking.
We look forward to meeting you in the fall! English 9 Team Teachers
Please direct questions regarding books or this assignment to Jane LaBond at jlabond@birmingham.k12.mi.us or Samantha Canfield at scanfield@birmingham.k12.mi.us.
Modern Book Choices:
Peak by Roland Smith A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury An Abundance of Katherines by John Green Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds A Season for Life: A Football Star, A Boy, A Journey to Manhood by Jeffrey Marx A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson The Alchemist by Paul Coelho Watership Down by Richard Adams We Were Liars by E. Lockhart The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon QB1 by Mike Lupica Legend by Marie Lu Crash and Burn by Michael Hassan Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar Bo’s Lasting Lessons by Bo Schembechler and John U. Bacon
Other: You may choose your own modern work of similar literary merit and reading level as the above titles (must be at least 200 pages in length; written after 1950)
English 9 Team Summer Reading Assignment 2019
Directions: We would like you to reflect on your viewing of the film and reading of the book you chose this summer. Please TYPE up your responses; each response should be at least one to two pages long (about 500 words), doublespaced, in a regular font (Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri). These responses will be graded. We are looking for detail in your responses, including references (not necessarily quotations) to specific incidents in the books and film. Do your best to employ proper grammar and mechanics; be sure to proofread your assignment before handing it in. Remember to do your own work to the best of your ability. You will be required to submit these assignments electronically to a website that will check for plagiarism from the Internet, previously submitted papers, and peers’ work. Work that is found to be plagiarized or copied will not receive credit.
A. Fellowship of the Ring directed by Peter Jackson and based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien: Choose ONE of the following prompts.
1. Using your own words, and examples from the movie, define “fellowship” as you see it demonstrated in the film. 2. Explain how the special effects of the film contribute to or enrich the meaning of the film. 3. Describe your favorite character in the film and explain why he or she is so appealing. 4. Gandalf becomes an important mentor to Frodo. Describe how and why. 5. If you have read the book, explain which you believe is a better experience: reading the book or watching the movie. Why?
B. Modern Books: Choose one prompt for your modern book.
1. Explain why you chose the book that you did, and if it met, exceeded or disappointed your expectations. 2. Which character did you find most intriguing and why? 3. If there was a villain in your book, explain how that villain provided meaning and suspense to the story. 4. Describe the setting of the book, and explain how it enhanced the meaning of the story. 5. Describe the writing style of the book and evaluate whether it works for you as the reader. Explain why or why not? Consider point of view, language choice and imagery, dialogue and description, realistic setting . . . etc. 6. Explain the ending of the book. Examine whether you see it as tragic, uplifting, satisfying or annoying, or if it provides the reader with some other emotional outcome. 7. Write a letter to a character or to the author describing how he or she has affected you with his or her story. 8. Write an alternate ending to the book.
Groves Summer Reading:
Ninth Grade:
English
9A and Honors English 9A
Students
should read at least one book of choice over the summer.
Be
prepared to discuss and write about it during the first week of English 9A.
Fiction:
Thomas,
Angie On The Come Up
Niven,
Jennifer All The Bright Things
Lu,
Marie Warcross
Alexander,
Kwame The Crossover
Meyer,
Marissa Cinder
Abdel-Fattah,
Randa Does My Head Look Big in This?
Non-Fiction:
Skloot,
Rebecca The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
French,
Michael Flags of our Fathers: A Young People’s Edition
Dumas,
Firoozeh Funny in Farsi
Hillenbrand,
Laura Unbroken (Young Adult Adaptation)
Shetterly,
Margot Lee Hidden Figures
Lomong,
Lopez Running for My Life
Excel
9 Honors and Excel 9 College Prep
- Choose one (1) of the six (6)
books from the list below to read over the summer. Be prepared to
answers questions and write about it.
- Also, study one area of history
that fascinates you, and bring in two articles you read on
the subject for the first day of class.
Abdel-Fattah, Randa Does My Head Look Big in This?
Hillenbrand, Laura Unbroken (Young Adult Adaptation is okay)
Lang, Gene Luen Boxers and Saints
Lomong, Lopez Running for My Life
Marshall, James Vance Walkabout
McCormick, Patricia Sold
*Parents
and students: Please look over the books in Goodreads.com,
Amazon.com or Commonsense.com
to read reviews and make appropriate choices.
