Listed below are the requirements and expectations for your summer reading assignment.

 

Required Texts:          

You will need to read both of the following works:

 

1.  Tuesdays with Morrie – by Mitch Albom (1997) - ISBN-13: 9780767905923

Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher, or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, helped you see the world as a more profound place, gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it.  For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago.

 

2.  Mythology (selected chapters) - by Edith Hamilton (1942) - ISBN-13: 9780446607254

A collection of Greek and Roman myths from various classical sources arranged in sections on the gods and early heroes, love and adventure stories, heroes before and during the Trojan War, and lesser myths.

 

Summer Reading Breakdown (a detailed explanation follows):

1.  Read and annotate Tuesdays with Morrie.

2.  Complete dialectical journals for Tuesdays with Morrie.

3.  Read selected chapters from Mythology.

4.  Choose and complete two of the three options for the projects based on Mythology.

 

1.  Annotations – Tuesdays with Morrie

 

Annotate Tuesdays with Morrie thoroughly, for we will be working extensively with specific details and passages in class discussions and tests.

        Moreover, you will be able to use your book as a resource on the timed writing portion of your test, and an annotated book will allow you to quickly locate important information without having to painstakingly search for details. Methods of annotation include the use of post-it-notes, symbols and abbreviations used to mark common elements and ideas, highlighting of important passages (highlighting does not work well by itself), and any other way that you have been taught or have picked up; however, the single best method is the writing of notes in the margins of the book in coordination with these previously mentioned suggestions.  Use the following tips to help you with the annotations:

 

-          Make notes at the top of the page or on a sticky note to mark important plot events.

-          Circle or highlight words that are unfamiliar or unusual.

-          When new characters are introduced, highlight phrases that describe them.

-          Highlight words, images, and details that seem to form a pattern throughout the text (a motif).

-          Highlight passages you think might be symbolic.

-          Highlight passages in which figurative language appears.

-          When you get an idea while reading the text, note it in a brief form in the margin.

-          Use brackets, checks, stars, bullets, or asterisks to mark very important items or things you want to come back to later.

-          Use different color highlighters for different items (have a key in the front of the book).

-          Don’t mark too much.  If you mark everything, nothing will stand out!

 

2. Dialectical Journals – Tuesdays with Morrie

Dialectical journals are based on the Socratic method of questioning.  Socrates believed that it is through pointed questions that we come to a full understanding about an idea.  You will be creating a journal for the novel based on the reading and your understanding and interpretation of the reading.  From the link below, you will choose ten quotations to respond to.  In addition, you will also choose ten quotations of your own for a total of twenty dialectical journals. 

 

Constructing a dialectical journal:

On notebook paper (or preferably typed), you will need to make two vertical columns.  On the left side of the paper will be the quotations from the novel.  You will also include the chapter and page number on this side as well.  On the right side will be your personal response/reaction to the quotes.  Consider if the quotes express an important theme, imagery, insight about a character, or how the quote speaks to you personally.  Responses/reactions should be a minimum of five sentences each.  See the example below.

 

http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson824/life-lessons.pdf

 

Quotation (include chapter and page)

Response/Reaction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  Selected chapters from Mythology

 

Read the following chapters from Mythology. 

-          Part One:  chapters 1-4

-          Part Three:  chapters 9-12

-          Part Four:  chapters 13-14

 

4.  Choose and complete TWO of the three options for the project based on Mythology.

 

Option 1:

Modern Mythic Allusions - Find, list, categorize and display all the references to ancient mythology that are found in today's world.  Did you know that Ajax cleanser refers to a hero from the Iliad?  Look carefully at the logo for FTD Florists and see whom they have portraying their delivery person.  The Rand-McNally Atlas refers to one of the Titans.  Look at the recent Academy Award winning movie that was based on a doomed ocean liner.  What was the name of the ship?  Look at the symbol for the medical profession, the rod with the snakes twirling up around it.  Do you know what that is called and with which god it is associated?  There are words in our language today that refer to the ancient Greek or Roman myths.  Create an in-depth chart categorizing these references.

 

Option 2:

This Is Who I Am - After extensive exploration into Greek and Roman mythology, write an essay describing the character with whom you can most identify with.  Which god or hero or character is most like you?  Why do you say so?  Write a one to two page description of your comparison of a mythical character to yourself.  One to two pages means more than one page and less than two pages.  If typed, please double space with Times New Roman font and size 12.  Don’t forget a title! 

 

Option 3:

Create a Myth - Create a myth of your own on one of the following topics.  Your myth must be at least one to two pages in length.  One to two pages means more than one page and less than two pages.  If typed, please double space with Times New Roman font and size 12.  Don’t forget a title! 

 

-          Creation of the World

-          Creation of Humankind

-          The Home of the Gods

-          The World of the Dead

-          The Creation of a Flower or Tree

-          The Creation of an Animal

-          The Creation of School, Teachers, Homework, or Detention

 

It is highly recommended to type all your summer reading assignments.  However, if you complete them by hand, please write with extreme neatness.  All assignments will be due on the FIRST day of class.  Also, be prepared to work with, discuss, and test on both selections the first day of class.