2015-16 Summer Reading Assignment for
English IV/English IV Honors
All students (Standard and Honors)
 Read Monster by Walter Dean Myers.
 There will be a test on Monster during the first week of school. You will be allowed to use a single
page of notes on the test. Your notes must be your original work! Any use of another person’s
notes (including notes found online) is considered academic dishonesty and will be reported as
an Honor Code violation. This includes, but is not limited to notes compiled from sites such as
Sparknotes and Wikipedia, copying notes from a friend, summarizing notes that someone else
took…
Additional assignment for Honors students
 Also Read A Separate Peace by John Knowles.
o As you read, keep a dialectical journal with two entries for each chapter (26 entries total).
See the back of this paper for instructions and tips on creating a dialectical journal.
o 12-point font (Times New Roman or Calibri), double-spaced, student info at top left of first
page.
 Bring your dialectical journal on the first day of class. If you do not turn in the assignment, you
may be dropped from Honors!
 Any use of another person’s notes (including notes found online) is considered academic
dishonesty and will be reported as an Honor Code violation. This includes, but is not limited to
notes compiled from sites such as Sparknotes and Wikipedia, copying notes from a friend,
summarizing notes that someone else took…
 Please note that A Separate Peace takes a chapter or two to really get going, so hang in there!
*You may purchase a copy of either book at your local bookstore (consider used book stores too), check
out a copy from the library or borrow a copy from the English department. Please see Mr. Green (T217)
for a copy. If you borrow a book, you will be held responsible for its return. If you lose it, damage it, or
misplace it, you will need to replace the copy.
*Note: You may listen to the audiobook of Monster for FREE during the week of June 25-July 2 as part of
the SYNC summer reading program at http://www.audiobooksync.com/ !
**We have also attached some information about the College Application Process for the
summer. This is not a required assignment; it is just for your personal use.
DIALECTICAL JOURNALS
The term “Dialectic” means “the art or practice of arriving at the truth by using conversation involving question
and answer.” Think of your dialectical journal as a series of conversations with the texts we read during this
course. The process is meant to help you develop a better understanding of the texts we read. Use your journal to
incorporate your personal responses to the texts, your ideas about the themes we cover and our class discussions.
You will find that it is a useful way to process what you’re reading, prepare yourself for group discussion, and
gather textual evidence for your Literary Analysis assignments.
PROCEDURE:
Create a document with two columns.
As you read, choose passages that stand out to you and record them in the left-hand column the chart (ALWAYS
include page numbers).
In the right-hand column, write your response to the text. See below for types of responses.
CHOOSING PASSAGES FROM THE TEXT:
Look for quotes that seem significant, powerful, thought provoking or puzzling. For example, you might record:
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Effective &/or creative use of stylistic or literary devices
Passages that remind you of your own life or something you’ve seen before
Structural shifts or turns in the plot
A passage that makes you realize something you hadn’t seen before
Examples of patterns: recurring images, ideas, colors, symbols or motifs.
Passages with confusing language or unfamiliar vocabulary
Events you find surprising or confusing
Passages that illustrate a particular character or setting
RESPONDING TO THE TEXT:
You can respond to the text in a variety of ways. The most important thing to remember is that your observations
should be specific and detailed. You should write your response right after choosing a quote; don’t wait until
you’ve finished the book. You can write as much as you want for each entry. Always write in complete sentences!
You must label your responses using the following codes:
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(Q) Question – ask about something in the passage that is unclear
(C) Connect – make a connection to your life, the world, or another text
(P) Predict – anticipate what will occur based on what’s in the passage
(CL) Clarify – answer earlier questions or confirm/disaffirm a prediction
(E) Evaluate – make a judgment about what the author is trying to say
FYI: College Application Process Overview for summer and start of school year
This calendar is not an exhaustive list; it is to be used as a reference only. It has been adapted from The
College Board website www.collegeboard.com
Summer Before Senior Year--ASAP
 Take advantage of summer break and visit colleges. Call ahead for the campus tour schedule. Arrange to
meet with a financial aid representative. If possible, schedule an on-campus interview with the admission
office.
 Finalize your list of colleges. Be sure your list includes "safety" schools, as well as "reach" and "match"
schools. Request college informational packets. Organize materials into separate files by college.
 Keep a MASTER COLLEGE CALENDAR of all admission deadlines.
 Update your resume—list of accomplishments, involvements, and work experiences—including senior
year activities. Be thorough—not the time for modesty. This resume will help her complete applications
and essays, as well as, scholarship applications, teacher recommendations, etc.
 If you plan on competing in Division I or II college sports & want to be eligible to be recruited, you
must register with the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse.
 If you took AP® Exams in May, you can access your AP Grade Report in July.
 You should register early for fall SAT® and/or ACT tests, if needed
 Start considering finances: visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ and http://www.cfnc.org to research
scholarship and grant opportunities, etc. Make a plan.
 Save money!! Don’t forget the incidental $$: enrollment deposit, SAT, ACT, and AP test fees, and
application fees (figure $50-$75 per application). If necessary, visit the College Board SAT fee waiver
webpage: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/the-application/922.html Also, speak to your
guidance counselor if fees are a financial burden.
 Start brainstorming ideas for your college essay(s). Common app prompts options for 2015-16 (max
length is 650 words):
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe
their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your
story.
2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or
time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the
experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you
make the same decision again?
4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual
challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no
matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to
identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from
childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
Start of School (August/September)
 Consider scheduling an appointment with your counselor to talk about college plans and to review
transcript.
 Get started on applications right away if you plan to apply through an early decision or early action
program. Deadlines for early applications are in October or November. Be sure to research this option
thoroughly, as some options are binding.
 Start working on college essays (if you haven’t already)—we will work on them in class too!
 Ask for necessary letters of recommendation from counselor, teachers, and coaches or employers:
 Carefully consider who you will ask to write the recommendation letters.
 Remember that it is a busy time of year, ask early! Letter writers should be given plenty of time
(at least three weeks notice) to meet application deadlines.
 Give each recommender a complete “packet” that includes: clear instructions and due dates for
each school, how they should access the forms (usually online), and a copy of your updated
resume.