Summer reading and writing is a part of all Advanced and A.P. English courses at Mt. Ararat. For strong writers and readers, reading is a deeply ingrained habit. We hope that you read widely - and for pleasure - ‹throughout the summer. Along with your independent reading selections, we have created two required assignments.

These assignments should introduce you to the level of reading and thinking expected in Advanced English courses. They should be challenging and engaging but not overwhelming. This may be a good opportunity to think about your decision to enroll in Advanced English II. This course requires a significant amount of homework and reading as well as sophisticated intellectual thinking demonstrated in discussion, homework and writing. It is an accelerated English program; students selected for this course are expected to demonstrate competency in the English Language Arts standards from the Maine Learning Results upon completion of this course in order to move on to the Advanced Placement (college-level) courses in the following year.

You should be excited to take this course. You should be eager to be challenged to think more deeply and intellectually. We believe you can meet this challenge and learn a lot in this course.

Before July 30:
The following is a list of recent books that have variously won prizes, received critical acclaim, been popular among the serious reading public, and made their way into school reading lists. These are a diverse collection of books; don't judge by title alone and do not reread one that you've already read. You ought to be able to find them in paperback at any good bookstore or in your local library. Though these books have all made their way into school reading lists around the country, they were written for an adult audience with adult themes. Browse through them to find one that's right for you.

Read at least one of them before July 30 and write a paper of at least 600 words (typed, double-spaced) in which you respond to the book in a way that shows you've had a thoughtful experience reading it. Send your paper to Mrs. Galle - see Part Two. Please don't simply summarize the story or enumerate what you liked and didn't like, but rather write about ideas and elements -- characters, themes, social issues -- that interested you and made you think. Write to assure us that you read with an open and thoughtful mind.

 

See also Part 2