Ms. Callis
Survey of Literature
Summer 2008
Summer Reading List
Each student is required to read and report on two books during the summer. One book is required and will be read by every member of the class. The second book should be chosen from the list of selections. A report on the required book is due the first day of school. The book of choice report will be due for the second six weeks.
Required Reading: The Once and Future King by T. H. White
Selections for Second Book:
Title Author(s)
Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe
The House of the Spirits Isabel Allende
Northanger Abby Jane Austen
Circle of Friends Maeve Binchy
Cold Sassy Tree Olive Ann Burns
The Hero with a Thousand Faces (nonfiction) Joseph Campbell
And Then There Were None Agatha Christie
Where are the Children? Mary Higgins Clark
Where the Lilies Bloom Vera and Bill Cleaver
The Lords of Discipline Pat Conroy
Invisible Man Ralph Ellison
Samurai Shortstop Alan Gratz
Autobiography of a Face Lucy Grealy
Maltese Falcon Dashiell Hammett
Jack A. M. Homes
A Prayer for Owen Meany John Irving
Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes
Jubal Sackett Louis L’Amour
Spoon River Anthology (poetry) Edgar Lee Masters
Lisa, Bright and Dark John Neufeld
The Golden Compass Philip Pullman
Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit Daniel Quinn
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Betty Smith
The Cape Ann Faith Sullivan
In Pharaoh’s Army: Memories of the Lost War Tobias Wolff
Both reports should be typed in Times New Roman font with a size of twelve-point. The report should be printed in black on white 11 ½ by 8-inch paper with one-inch margins on all sides. The report should be prepared in MLA format. This means it should be double spaced, have a heading [Name/Teacher/Class/Date] on the first page, should have page numbers with last name on each page of text, and conclude with a works cited page. For details refer to the MLA handbook. Do not use first person. Any deviation from these instructions will result in a reduced grade. Grammar and content will also factor into the grade. Use the format that follows only. Each report should be stapled in the proper order.
Type the report in paragraph format. Do not number or put extra lines between paragraphs. “I don’t know” or its equivalent is not an acceptable answer. Be sure to use appropriate paragraph format (topic sentence and supporting sentences). Please note that the plot summary is to be one paragraph. This format has been developed for novel. Books which are not novels should follow this format as closely as possible. Explain any deviation in a final paragraph.
1-Introduce your report with a bibliographic paragraph. What is the title of the book, the author’s name, the publisher, place of publication, original publication date, and the copyright date of your version/edition? [This information should also appear in the works cited entry]
2-There are five elements of a novel: setting, plot, characters, point of view, and theme. Write one well developed paragraph discussing each of these. Setting is the time and place of the story. Plot is the events in the story. Note how and where the climax occurs. Characters are the people in the story. Focus on the major characters. Point of view is usually first or third person. Theme is what the author is trying to communicate by writing this novel; it is often subjective.
3-Conclude by choosing one of the elements and discussing how the author uses it and why it is the most important or outstanding element.
The required report is due the first day of class. If it is late for any reason, points will be deducted. Prepare your reports early. Do not come to school and try to justify your tardiness by saying that there was a problem with the printer or the computer. You have all of July and most of June and August to do this. There is no guarantee that the book you choose for your second report is available. Look for it early in case you have to order it. Print your rough drafts in order to prevent a total loss due to computer/printer malfunction. No excuses will be accepted.
Other Required Materials:
Classroom materials
Paper
Blue or black pen
Red pen
Notebook or other organization system
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers by Joseph Gibaldi [same as for Grammar & Lit.]