Honors English I Summer Reading Assignment for 2014-2015
Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch (We will only read the “Age of Fable” section, p. 3-196)
The study of mythology is necessary for becoming a well-rounded student. Because many authors expect a reader to recognize the allusions which are made in their writing, you are asked to read Bulfinch’s Mythology as a preparation for the study of the classical and contemporary literature which will be encountered throughout your high school career. This text is free online at http://bartleby.com/bulfinch/ (Vol. I and II, Stories of Heroes and Gods) or can be downloaded for free on Kindle or purchased for approximately $4.00 on Nook. Hard copies may also be obtained in new or used forms online or at the library. In addition, a dictionary may be needed as you read.
Summer Reading Directions and Assignment
This is an honors class. Successful honors students have two defining characteristics—they are smart and they are willing to work hard. You are expected to honor your commitment to read this book and complete the assignment.
Two Part Assignment:
1. Read the book. Start now—do not wait until the end of the summer. As you read annotate your book. This means highlight any important passage AND write in the margins why it is important. Highlight answers to the study guide so it will be easier to refer back to the passage when being asked to defend your answer. Also, underline words that are unfamiliar to you. Look them up in the dictionary and write an abbreviated definition in the margin. This will help you to understand on a deeper level as well as expand your vocabulary.
2. Complete the Study Guide. Answer the questions on the study guide as you read. A copy of the study guide can also be found online on the Union Grove High School homepage under the “Summer Assignments” link. It is required that all answers to study guide questions be neatly HANDWRITTEN. Typed study guides will not be accepted.
Bulfinch’s Mythology Study Guide
The study guide is designed to help you focus as you read through the material this summer. Answering these questions is a required assignment and will be allowed as notes when taking the comprehensive test that will be given the second Friday of school (August 15, 2014). If there is another technique that you would like to include as you read, feel free to do so. You may want to create graphic organizers, a series of timelines, charts maps, illustration, or a combination of any or all of these methods. Each student approaches material in a unique way, so use whichever technique will be most useful to you in learning the material. You will turn in any materials you create as study material by the second Friday of school. This is an individual assignment, and students should not work together or collaborate in any way on study guide responses. You will be allowed to use this information on the test as long as it is your original work. This means the work is both handwritten and not copied from another student. Student work that is plagiarized(*) or copied from another student will receive a grade of zero.
As this is an honors program, keep in mind that you will be expected to know the material (which involves studying and reviewing it rather than just reading through it once). Know places and people (who each mythological character is, why she/he is recognized, what he/she represents, how he/she is related to other mythological characters, etc.). In-depth understanding, rather than rote memorization, is the key!
Please do not put off the reading until the last part of the summer. Instead, develop the habit of reading regularly, daily if possible, for 30-45 minutes. This class and this assignment are the first steps to preparing you for the rigors of Honors classes, AP classes, and AP tests at Union Grove High School. As with all of the reading we will do this year, it will not be possible to be successful without actually reading and understanding the book.
(*) PLAGARISM
In its most simple form, plagiarism is the act of claiming someone else’s work or ideas as your own (this can be a published author or another student). If you do research and get ideas or words from somewhere else, you must give credit. If you are unfamiliar with MLA citations, you can learn how to give credit at http://owl.english.perdue.edu.