Students entering the 12th grade IB English class for the 2008–2009
school year are required to complete a reading journal for the
assigned summer reading texts. This journal is due when students
return to school in the fall. Journal guidelines and the requirements
are provided below.
Required Texts for IB English 12 Summer
Reading
*The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
*For Whom the Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemingway
Selected Poems by Wilfred Owen and Elizabeth Bishop (Attached)
Owen—“Dulce et Decorum Est,” “Anthem for
Doomed Youth,” “Disabled”
Bishop—“The Fish,” “Filling Station,”
“One Art”
If possible, try to secure your own copies of these works. It
will be helpful to have personal copies, as you can then annotate
them freely. Annotate texts as you read by underlining, writing
notes in the margins, or using post-it notes. Annotations are
not limited to the summer reading journal assignments! Identify
aspects of the works that speak to you.
The books that have been asterisked (*) are available through
the English Department.
Before You Begin:
- Use a composition notebook for your journal. These are the
black and white “retro-looking” notebooks. Do not
use spirals or full sized ‘bound’ notebooks –
they fall apart!
- Read the specific assignments closely. They are listed on
the back of this handout. If you lose your handout, the assignment
can be found on the B-CC web page under the English Department
page and the IB page as a link to the “Summer Reading
Assignment for IB 12.”
- REMEMBER! You must complete the assigned tasks for each work
as indicated.
- Do not attempt to complete your assignment the night before
school starts! Plan ahead!
The journal will be used in class and will be collected for a
grade at the end of the first week of school. These assignments
will be evaluated for prior knowledge and mastery of ideas covered
in IB 11. Do the entries when it seems most fitting, but do not
forget to enjoy the stories as well—this assignment should
enhance your interaction with the texts, not
replace your reading of them. Close reading of each text and the
thoughtful completion of the summer reading journal assignments
are an important part of your success in IB English 12. A comprehensive
selected response test on these novels will be given at the end
of the first week of school.
We look forward to working with you in the fall
– see you then!
The aAssignments will be a total of four paragraphs—one
on each different writer:
- Evaluate the effect of syntax and diction in a selected sentence
or line from each novel and from one poem. Write a one-paragraph
(100-150 words) reaction to this line, looking at language and
content. Be sure to cite page number(s) and/or chapter or section
when applicable.
- Chose one character from a novel (consider secondary characters
as well as main characters.) Discuss the writer’s presentation
of that character using examples from throughout the story.
Evaluate the method and effect of characterization. Write a
one-paragraph (100-150 words) response on each character. Be
sure to cite page number(s) and/or chapter or section when applicable.
Be sure to choose a different writer from question 1.
- Identify one literary techniques used by a writer. Be sure
to name the literary technique and explain how it is used in
a one-paragraph (100-150 words) response. Be sure to cite page
number(s) and/or chapter or section when applicable. Be sure
to choose a different writer.
- What does the writer value in his/her writing and how do you
know this? Write a one-paragraph (100-150 words) response based
on the reading of the novel or the poet's works. Be sure to
cite page number(s) and/or chapter or section when applicable.
Be sure to discuss the fourth writer for this question.
Don’t forget: you may take any other notes in your journal
or book as you read. Look for significant quotes, quotes you like,
questions you have, issues you want to discuss in class, etc.
Web Links
For The God of Small Things
A great study guide with many terms explained – http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/anglophone/roy.html
Hemingway and the Spanish Civil War
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/scw/scw.htm
Elizabeth Bishop
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/bishop/bishop.htm
Wilfred Owen
http://www.hcu.ox.ac.uk/jtap/warpoems.htm
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