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Required Summer Reading for 2011 - School Starts Monday, August 29th.
If you are not sure which English class you will be taking this fall, please call the school at 415-564-1063. Students enrolling late in the summer should discuss with a school representative what their requirement will be.
All assignments related to this summer reading will be factored into the studentʼs first progress report grade.
New and Returning American Students:
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Incoming Freshmen and Sophomores
Best American Short Stories of the Century by John Updike
Publisher: Mariner Books, ISBN-10: 0395843677
You will need a copy of "Best American Short Stories of the Century" (paperback) edited by John Updike. It's a great value for the price. Read at least eight stories from 1960 on. Some places to start might be O'Brien's "The Things they Carried", Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" Carver's "Where I'm Calling From" and Jen's "Birthmates". Pick some titles which seem intriguing to you.
Instructions: After you've read the stories, write a personal response about one character with whom you felt a connection. It could be because of their background, their personality, some choice they had to make, etc. Why did you identify with that character and his or her experience? About 500 words.
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Incoming Juniors
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
Publisher: Vintage (June 30, 1992) ISBN-10: 0679740678; ISBN-13: 978-0679740674
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics ISBN-13: 9780060837020
Please purchase the book early. You may experience difficulty finding it if you wait until the last minute. Amazon.com carries these titles as do most local bookstores. Be sure to read carefully and take notes. Be prepared to take a test on the material during the first week of school.
Instructions: Write a commentary of about 450 words, typed and double-spaced. Comment on any aspect of the book you find interesting.
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Incoming Seniors
Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy
Publisher: Vintage (May 5, 1992) ISBN-10: 9780679728757; ISBN-13: 9780679728757
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
Publisher: Vintage (June 30, 1992) ISBN-10: 0679740678; ISBN-13: 9780679740674
Please purchase the book early. You may experience difficulty finding it if you wait until the last minute. Amazon.com carries these titles as do most local bookstores. Be sure to read carefully and take notes. Be prepared to take a test on the material during the first week of school.
Seniors must also research colleges that they are considering, and bring in the application (with the essay question) on the FIRST DAY of school. A minimum of three applications is required. We will be working on college essays upon your return from summer.
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New and Returning International Students:
There are two English teachers for international students. Each teacher has a separate requirement. Students who find these assignments too challenging need to email the school at info@wissf.org. We recommend that all Beginning ELL students take intensive English classes during the summer. Please call or email the office if you have any questions.
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ELL A with Mr. Noonan - Beginning to Intermediate English
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll ISBN-10: 1936594064
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Instructions
Make a list of 25 words you donʼt know. Look them up in a dictionary. Write down each word, its part of speech, and a definition. Use each word in a sentence of your own.
Write a summary of the book in your own words. It should be one page long, typed, and double-spaced.
You can find these well-known, classic books at the library or any bookstore. If you'd like to order online from Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com, search by the title and author.
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English II/III A with Mr. Noonan - Intermediate to Advanced English
Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
ISBN-10: 0743451791
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ELL B with Mr. Welch - Beginning to Intermediate English
Write a one-page description of one place you stayed at or visited this summer. Write a short composition of about 200-400 words that describes the place and some things that a visitor might be interested in: places to see, food, nightlife, weather, environment, natural and historical sites, etc.
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English II/III B with Mr. Welch - Intermediate to Advanced English
Choose a topic which is of interest to you, and which has been in the news lately. This could be a national or international issue, or a topic in the arts or sciences. Find three articles of at least 500 words (10 paragraphs or more) about that topic in different papers, magazines or websites. Highlight or underline any new words and look them up. Then write a one-page response where you give your own opinion of the topic, and also explain how that articles influenced your opinion. Bring the response and copies of the articles.
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