Dear Honors American History Student,

Congratulations on accepting the challenge of Honors American History! As a freshman, you will be adjusting to many changes and challenges over the course of the next year. In order to get you prepared for history at the secondary level, you will be required to complete a summer assignment for this course which will be due the first day of school. Your success depends largely on your dedication and commitment to growing both personally and academically. I am here to help you along on that journey. Together, we will be successful!!

If you have questions on this assignment, you may reach me at my school email:

I look forward to meeting you this fall. Have a relaxing and enjoyable summer but you’ll want to have a good book to read to keep you mind active and this assignment will achieve just that. Have fun!!

Sincerely,

Mrs. C. Chupek

Honors American History Summer Assignment

  • This assignment is due the first day of school.
  • This assignment is to be typed, double-spaced, one inch margins, 14 pt font. Include the following information in the upper right corner of your paper---name, mods, and date.
  • Type each question/topic in bold italics, return, and type your answer/response in regular font.
  • Find the book assigned to the first letter of your LAST name. That will be the book you are responsible for reporting on. All of these books are easily found and most are printed in paperback so they should be relatively inexpensive. You are required to purchase the hard copy book (no digital forms please).
  • You will address the following topics/questions in regards to your assigned reading.
  • Give a brief summary biography of the author.
  • Give a brief summary of the era in which the book was written including such things as political, social and economic climate, major events and/or important people and overall experience of life during the time period in America.
  • Who was the author’s intended audience at the time the book was written?
  • What the main message or goal of the book? Is this book particularly biased or is it a fair assessment of events at the time?
  • What was its effect at the time it was published? Consider things such as regulatory or legislative changes and social/cultural impact.
  • Why do we still talk or care about this book today? Why did history pick this publication to remember?
  • What did you learn from this book? Were you surprised or shocked by what you read or did you already know what was going at this time or with this era? Now is the time for your general impressions.
  • Spelling, punctuation and grammar will be considered in your score so be sure to proofread. Be clear and succinct with your thoughts. It should be evident you responses that you read the book and understand its meaning and detail.
  • You must cite from this book to support your above answers by either using quotations for direct quotes (no more than two or three sentences in length) or the page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence in which the citation occurs (i.e. p. 45).
  • Some of these books contain graphic descriptions and/or mature content or language. Each book was selected for its cultural impact, accurate portrayal of events, and historical perspective. Any instance of mature language or content are necessary to the validity of the publication and is not intended to be lascivious or licentious. Most of these books are referenced in your American History textbook as suggested further reading.

Book List

AGospel of Wealth Andrew Carnegie

BHow the Other Half LivesJacob Riis

CShame of the CitiesLincoln Steffens

DThe JungleUpton Sinclair

ESouls of Black FolksW.E.B. DuBois

FRagged DickHoratio Alger Jr.

GUp From SlaveryBooker T. Washington

HSouthern Horrors and Other WritingsIda B. Wells

IThe Wonderful Wizard of OzFrank L. Baum

JTales of the Jazz AgeF. Scott Fitzgerald

KDust Tracks on a RoadZora Neale Hurston

LGrapes of WrathJohn Steinbeck

MThe Girls of Atomic CityDenise Kiernan

NHarry Truman’s Excellent AdventureMatthew Algeo

OFeminine MystiqueBetty Friedan

PThe Man in the Gray Flannel SuitSloane Wilson

QThe Other AmericaMichael Harrington

RThe Hidden PersuadersVance Packard

SThe Montgomery Bus BoycottJo Ann Gibson Robinson

TWarriors Don’t CryMelba Pattillo Beals

UUnsafe At Any SpeedRalph Nader

VSilent SprintRachel Carson

WAll the President’s MenBob Woodward & Carl Bernstein

XThe World Is FlatThomas Friedman

YFast Food NationEric Scholosser

ZProfiles in CourageJohn F. Kennedy

Scoring Guidelines for Summer Reading Assignment

  • Topic Questions Proposed_____/70
  • Answered fully, comprehensively
  • Uses citations for support
  • Well-constructed, formulated answers
  • Grammar, Punctuation, & Sentence Structure_____/25
  • Sentences are free of run-ons, errors,

make sense, not overly wordy

  • Paragraphs are well-constructed,

minimum 5-7 sentences, on topic

  • Paper Set Up As Requested_____/5
  • Follow specifics as to paper format

** The possible points listed is for exemplary work. Points will be deducted for work that is less than the expectation listed. It is always advisable to provide more information than less as long as it is relevant and pertinent to the task of the paper. There is no “minimum” number of pages, etc. You determine if you’ve answered the questions fully and to the best of your ability.