RIO AMERICANO HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Summer Reading for 2009
All reading assignments must be completed by the first day of school.
For incoming Honors Freshmen:
The following books are suggested for summer reading by Ms. Reed. The books will prepare students for the rigor of freshman Honors English but are not required.
Of Mice and Men
Romeo and Juliet
Count of Monte Cristo
Les Miserable
For students entering Honors Sophomore English: (this has been revised on 6/3/09)
All sophomore honor students are required to read A Lesson Before Dying, a short novel by Ernest Gaines.
In addition, select one of the following titles:
Friday Night Lights—H. G. Bissinger (nonfiction sports)
The Color of Water—James McBride (memoir)
For additional reading pleasure and enlightenment, you might consider the following titles:
The World Without Us—Alan Weisman (nonfiction/social science/speculation)
Slouching Towards Bethlehem—Joan Didion (essays)
Unaccustomed Earth—Jhumpa Lahiri (short stories)
Cornell notes are required for A Lesson Before Dying and for the book you select from the list above. It is expected that there be one page of notes for every ten pages read or one page for every chapter, story, or essay, as appropriate. Any notes submitted that do not include a summary on each page and a complete left column will receive only half credit. NOTE: The left column should be used for categories and your personal responses, comments, questions, and reflections; do not use a question/answer format for these notes!
For students entering Honors Junior English:
All students must read and take notes on George Orwell’s 1984. Students must then read three of the following four books.
Red Badge of Courage
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Native Son
Prodigal Summer
During the first week of school, you will have a test on 1984 plus two of the books. Notes will be allow to be used on the tests. In addition, you will be expected to write an essay on one of the books. Have fun and enjoy! --Ms. Seibel
For students entering senior AP English Literature and Composition:
Read and take about 10 pages of double entry notes on
Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude.
Read the following sections of the Bible (King James Version preferred): Genesis, Exodus in the Old Testament and Matthew and Luke in the New Testament. You must also read brief sections of other books to find allusions.
Complete information on this assignment is available on Mr. Mahoney’s web site:
www.sanjuan.edu/webpages/mmahoney/
