English 10H

Summer Reading Assignments 2015

This course is for students who have academic integrity and a strong work ethic, attend school regularly, and who would like a challenging, rigorous curriculum. The curriculum throughout the year is driven by the NY State Common Core Learning Standards with a focus on the 11th Grade Regents Exam, the SAT, and AP Preparation. All assignments are prepared with the goal of presenting students with higher-level texts and tasks that foster critical thinking. Students will be required to read and write on an advanced, independent level. In addition, students must be organized, for they will be working on various tasks simultaneously.

In order to prepare students for the type of assignments that will be required as part of the course, all students who are entering the course in the fall must complete the tasks listed below. Students must complete the tasks independently and to the best of their ability; the products must represent students’ best effort and quality of work.

If students and/or parents have questions or concerns about the assignments, I can be reached via email at .

Exploring World Cultures Through Literature

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.6 Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States, drawing on a wide reading of world literature.

Culture in its broadest sense is cultivated behavior; that is the totality of a person's learned, accumulated experience which is socially transmitted, or more briefly, behavior through social learning; A culture is a way of life of a group of people--the behaviors, beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, generally without thinking about them, and that are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next.

When you think about culture, think about the following things:Values, Religion(s), Language, Clothing, Cuisine, Music and Arts, Social Customs (Family, Marriage, Age, Interactions, etc.) and Laws, Gender Relations, Living Conditions & Arrangements.

Your Tasks:

  1. Read the short story, “By Any Other Name” and annotate the text when you discover evidence of Indian culture in the story. Answer the questions at the end of the story, and be prepared for a TEST on this story on the second day of school. The annotations will be checked on the first day of school.
  1. Read the short story, “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan, and annotate the text when you discover evidence of American culture in the story. Answer the questions at the end of the story, and be prepared for a TEST on this story on the second day of school. The annotations will be checked on the first day of school.
  1. Choose a work of literature (novel/literary nonfiction/memoir)that portrays a culture outside of the United States. As you read the book, look for details that describe the culture associated with the setting of the story. Flag passages in the text according to the chart below and record explanations on separate paper. Selections must meet parental approval and expectation. The 20 text flags and explanations will be checked and collected on the first day of school.
  • You must email Mrs. Martino with the title and author of the work you’ve chosen no later than Wednesday, June 24, 2015!
  • Students should not read the same book or a book that they have already read in the past.
  • I have posted a few lists of acceptable titles to choose from on my website. You are not limited to these titles.
  • *Students DO NOT have to purchase a book; many books are available at the local libraries. In addition, students can borrow books from Mrs. Martino/MHS Library. There is a cart full of books in Room 237.
  1. Using evidence from the two short stories and the book, answer the questions to prepare for the Socratic Seminar. Responses to these questions must be text-based, written in full sentences, and reveal an insightful understanding of all three texts. When we return to school, you will participate in a Socratic Seminar in which we will explore the values/detriments of learning about other cultures. Written responses will be checked on the first day of school.
  1. Building Vocabulary:
  2. Study the vocabulary words in the two stories. They will be included on the TEST.
  3. Define any unfamiliar words that you discover in the book and keep a “Glossary” of words, parts of speech, and definitions. This glossary will be checked on the first day of school.

English 10H

Summer Reading Assignments 2015

First Day of School Checklist

Visible annotations on the text of “Two Kinds”

Questions were answered in preparation for the TEST on “Two Kinds”

Visible annotations on “By Any Other Name”

Vocabulary in the two short stories was studied and reviewed in preparation for the TEST

Questions were answered in preparation for the TEST on “By Any Other Name”

TextFlags throughout the entire book to evidence a thorough reading

Twenty (20) written explanations for corresponding Text Flags

Thorough, insightful written responses for the SocraticSeminar questions

Glossary for vocabulary

Part I: Reading and Text Flags

Your Task: As you read the book, look for details that describe the culture associated with the setting of the story. Flag passages in the text according to the chart below and record explanations of the passages in well-developed explanations. Explanations should be typed or neatly written on separate paper.

Guidelines for “flags” and explanations:

  • Each “flag” must contain a LETTER (L, V, etc.) that refers to the focus of the material and a NUMBER (1, 2, etc.).
  • The corresponding explanation should be labeled with the LETTER and NUMBER that appear on the “flag.”
  • The text must be “flagged” from beginning to end.
  • In each explanation you must explain how this particular passage reveals something about the culture being portrayed in the novel OR a question about the culture that was raised through a particular passage in the novel.
  • Explanations must be written in complete sentences and include quotes/excerpts from the novelwith page numbersso that the connection between the text and your learning/inquiry is clear. Quotes must be cited using properly formatted MLA internal citations.
  • Twenty (20) Explanations are DUE on the first day of school.
  • Explanations should be typed or neatly written.
  • Explanations should be proofread and free of errors.

“Flagging” Chart”

LETTER / MEANING
V / “V” stands for VALUES. Flag the text anytime you learn something about what people in the part of the world being described value or view as important. Values are concepts such as honesty, family, hard work, dignity, etc.
R / “R” stands for RELIGION. Flag the text any time you learn something about the religion in the part of the world that you are reading about.
L / “L” stands for LANGUAGE. Flag the text any time you learn something about the language (or languages) spoken in this part of the world. Sometimes language can distinguish social classes or groups of people, so pay close attention to references to language.
C / “C” stands for CLOTHING. Flag the text any time you learn something about the clothing or style of dress in the region you are reading about. Again, clothing can be associated with social class, customs, and climate, so pay close attention and discover any significance associated with clothing.
F / “F” stands for FOOD/CUISINE. Flag the text any time you learn something about the food or typical cuisine in the region. You should also look for customs associated with meals. Food and meals are usually a very important part of a culture!
M & A / “M & A” stands for MUSIC and ARTS. Flag the text any time you learn something about the type of music or other arts that are popular in the culture.
SC / “SC” stands for SOCIAL CUSTOMS. Flag the text any time you learn something about the social customs in the region. Look for customs especially pertaining to marriage, family, gender, interactions between people of different generations/social classes/races, laws, and governmental affairs.

**You are required to have a minimum of 20 “flags” with corresponding explanations. You can, of course, have more.**

**A complete reading of the text and 20 explanations are DUE on the first day of school!**

**Example Explanations**

English 10HName

Summer Reading AssignmentText Flag Explanations

Title:The Pearl

Author: John Steinbeck

Setting:LaPaz, Mexico

Flag / Quote/Text Evidence / Explanation
SC 1 / “Have I nothing better to do than cure insect bites for ‘little Indians’? I am a doctor, not a veterinary” (Steinbeck 11). / The novel depicts a culture that is dominated by classism and gender inequality; an unjust social hierarchy is at the epicenter of the culture of LaPaz, Mexico. For instance, at the beginning of the story, the main character’s infant son is stung by a scorpion, and they are afraid that the sting will be fatal. Since the main characters are members of the lower class of native pearl divers, they rarely travel to the town or interact with members of the upper social class. Considering the gravity of their son’s situation, they consult a doctor, who is a representative of the richer, more powerful social class. The quote above shows how the culture in LaPaz is one that is dominated by classism because the doctor clearly considers himself to be superior to the main characters due to his class and race. His refusal to treat a critically ill baby because he is a “little Indian” shows how little regard this upper class has for the natives; he feels as though this “little Indian’s” life is not worth saving. Moreover, he compares this Indian baby to an animal by saying, “I am … not a veterinary” (Steinbeck 11). This is further evidence that the culture is dominated by a class system that breads unfairness.

Part II: Socratic Seminar

Your Task: After you have read and “flagged” all three texts, prepare to participate in the Socratic Seminar by providing detailed, insightful responses to the questions below.

  • You must answer all of the eight questions. Your responses must be written in fullsentences and contain quotes/excerpts from the short stories and novel to demonstrate your ideas.
  • Be sure to provide page numbers for quotes and text references using properly formatted MLA internal citations.Type or neatly write your answers on separate paper.
  • The Socratic Seminar will take place in class on the third day of school.

Guiding Questions:

1. Would you recommend the book that you read over the summer to your peers? Why/why not?

2. Describe the culture (the behaviors, beliefs, values, and symbols)that is represented in the book. *Use your text flags to help you.

3. How did the main character’s experiences help you to understand the culture that is portrayed?

4. How is the culture represented in the book similar to American culture?

5. How is the culture represented in the book different from American culture?

Essential Questions:

6. What is the importance of having knowledge of other cultures?

7. How does reading literature about other cultures strengthen our understanding of the way other groups of people live and why they live that way?

8. How did reading about another culture change your perspective of American culture, either in apositive or negative way?

EXTRA CREDIT: You can earn extra credit on the day of the Socratic Seminar if you do one of the following:

(1) Dress according to the culture described in your book

(2) Prepare a meal or snack that was described in your book

(3) Share some of the music that is popular in the part of the world described in the book.