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Summer Reading List and Advanced Art Assignment

Dear Students and Parents,

The following Summer Reading Lists contain the required texts for each class and grade level.  These books are required to be read before the start of the 2024-25 school year. Remember to make good use of your Public Library this Summer!  If you do not have a library card, you can learn about how to acquire here.

Happy Reading!

English Reading List - Grade 9
9th Grade

Honors English 9 – (Still have to complete 2 books, 1 passion project, and the analytical paper)

Diary of Anne Frank – Anne Frank
The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
Watership Down – Richard Adams
Feed – M.T. Anderson
English 9 – (complete 1 book and either a passion project or the analytical paper)
Caraval – Stephanie Garber
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian – Sherman Alexie
Deadline – Chris Crutcher

Passion Projects – Each project should look like time and effort was put into the assignment. The Passion Projects will be 50 pts.

When creating your passion projects include Key Aspects/Elements of a Story:

  • Figurative Language

    • What is being said? What does it mean?

  • Significant Quotes

    • What is being said? Why is it important?

    • Cite information if using direct quotes

  • Characters and Importance (Characterization)

  • Important Imagery

  • Theme

    • How does the theme develop over the course of the text? What is its significance?

  • Setting

  • Irony

  • Satire

  • Plot

  • Tone 

  • Mood

  • Conflict

  • Inferences 

  • Etc.

  1. Painting/Drawing – Drawn on a half of a poster board

    1. Must be painted/colored/shaded

    2. 2 paragraphs stapled on back of poster board (7-8 sentences)

      1. 1 paragraph summarizing the story and the lesson learned/theme and significance of theme throughout the story.

      2. 1 paragraph on the picture and its significance to the story (why it is important), and what imagery you focused on in helping to create your painting or drawing. (What does your image have to do with the story? Why is it relevant?)

  2. Google Website – https://sites.google.com/u/0/new?pli=1&authuser=0&tgif=d (turn in website link on assignment in Google Classroom)

(Examples: https://sites.google.com/view/themachinestops/home?authuser=0)

  1. Use Google Sites – Link provided

  2. Include a minimum of 4 different pages

    1. Each page must represent something different from the story 

    2. On each page there must be a picture that represents what you are focusing on

      1. Each page must include a minimum of 2 paragraphs made of 5-7 sentences explaining what you chose, why you chose it, and why it is important. 

        1. (If, for example, you use significant quotes – you would include why you are focusing on quotes, put important quotes on the page, and explain their significance.)

  1. Instagram Page –  (Do NOT make an actual instagram – create your project to look like an instagram page. You can find a template on “Picsart” on the App on your phone. Print out and staple page and posts together to turn in hard copy) Does NOT have to be printed in color

    1. A profile picture

    2. A bio – title included here

    3. 9 posts minimum – pictures

      1. Each post has at least 4 sentences relating back to the story.

      2. Each post’s sentences should include an explanation of the relevance of the picture.

  2. Diorama – made out of a shoe box

    1. Title

    2. Inclusion of 2 different scenes

    3. 2 paragraphs (7-8 sentences)

      1. 1 paragraph summarizing the story and the lesson learned/theme

      2. 1 paragraph on the scenes and their significance to the story (why they are important), why you included the pieces you included in your diorama and what imagery you focused on in helping to create your diorama

  3. Poetry – Must be typed and printed out double-sided

    1. Poem should be relevant to story

      1. After printing, you must draw an illustration to represent your poem

    2. The poem must have a name – be creative! Do not just name your poem the title of the story!

    3. Poem should have a minimum of 10 lines

      1. You must include at least 1 form of figurative language (metaphor, simile, alliteration, allusion, repetition, oxymoron, symbolism, etc.) within your poem

    4. 2 paragraphs typed on back side of poem – 2nd page (7-8 sentences)

      1. 1 paragraph on the poem and how it is relevant to the story? What aspect (theme, characterization, plot, conflict, etc.) did you focus on to write your poem?

      2. 1 paragraph on the picture and its significance to the story (What does your image have to do with the story? Why is it relevant?)

  4. Google Slideshow – Submit your Google Slideshow to the assignment on Google Classroom

    1. Minimum of 8 slides (not including title page – 9 slides total)

      1. Each slide should represent a different key aspect

    2. Title of slideshow should be creative – not just the title of the story

      1. Each slide should have a minimum of 5 bullet points or 5 sentences (a paragraph)

    3. Include pictures that are relevant to the story – 1 per slide

  5. Poster Board – you must provide your own poster

    1. Title 

    2. Inclusion of 2 scenes represented on the board (drawn on or printed and pasted)

      1. Scenes represented must be colored on board

    3. Include summary

    4. Inclusion of 4 key aspects from the story

      1. Each aspect (i.e., figurative language, theme, significant quotes, characterization, setting, etc.) should include 5 bullet points focusing on significance to story

    5. Poster Board should be colorful and organized

  6. Flip Book – made out of notecards

    1. Title

    2. Flipbook should be held together in creative manner

    3. Flipbook should depict pivotal scene from the story

      1. Minimum of 25 notecards

    4. Flipbook should be colorful

    5. 2 paragraphs (7-8 sentences)

      1. 1 paragraph summarizing the story and the lesson learned/theme

      2. 1 paragraph on the scene and its significance to the story (why is it important), and the imagery used to depict the scene being focused on

  7. Map of Setting – Important Places

    1. Create a map of the setting in your story

      1. Include 4-5 important places

        1. Make a Key for your map

      2. Color your map

    2. 2 paragraphs stapled on back of your map (7-8 sentences)

      1. Importance of setting in the story and lesson/theme learned

      2. Inclusion of three aspects that represent places on map with detailed explanation to support thought process regarding the key aspects being focused on

English Reading List – Grade 10
10th Grade

English 10

  • Siddhartha – Herman Hesse
  • Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe

Honors English 10

  • Red Scarf Girl:  A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution – Ji-Li Jiang
  •  Siddhartha – Herman Hesse
  •  Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe
English Reading List – Grade 11

English 11

  • The Crucible – Arthur Miller
  • The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway
  • To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee

Honors English 11

  •  A Raisin in the Sun – Lorraine Hansberry
  •  The Crucible – Arthur Miller
  •  To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
  • A Streetcar Named Desire – Tennesse Williams
English Reading List – Grade 12

English 12

  • A Man for All Seasons – Robert Bolt
  • The Lord of the Flies – William Golding

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition II

  • A Man for All Seasons – Robert Bolt
  • Heart of Darkness/Secret Sharer – Joseph Conrad
  • The Lord of the Flies – William Golding
  • Macbeth – William Shakespeare
  • Pygmalion – George Bernard Shaw
Advanced Art Assignments

The primary purpose of this program is to assist students in developing their compositional skills, self-expression, and creativity by providing knowledge, experiences and assignments to do so. The program is rigorous and students are held to high expectations. High-quality artwork requires dedication, determination and the ability to meet deadlines.

The main purpose of this class to help students develop a body of work investigating a strong underlying visual idea that grows out of a coherent plan of action and investigation. The second purpose of the program is to guide the student so that he or she will have the needed skills and experiences to pass the AP examination to attain college credit.

Note that the summer assignments are due at the beginning of class on the first day back from summer.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

1⁄2” binder with pockets to store loose leaf paper, 8” x 10” sketchbook (or something close to those dimensions), drawing supplies.

ABOUT 2D DESIGN

The College Board does not have a preference for any one particular medium when it comes to creating two-dimensional works of art. It does not matter if your work entails any combination of dry media like graphite, Prism color, oil pastel, acrylic paint, oil paint, even photography.

DRAWING – – ABOUT MARK-MAKING

Drawing centers around physical mark-making as a part of the process in your production. The College Board does not require you to only use dry media like graphite pencils or vine charcoal. This means the use of wet media like acrylic or oil paint is just as acceptable as dry media.

COURSE BREAKDOWN

Your summer assignments are divided into two parts:

  • Part 1: Medium-specific Creation
  • Part 2: Sketchbook Exploration

PART 1: MEDIUM-SPECIFIC CREATION

Artwork must be at least 9” in width by 12” in height. No work may exceed 18” x 24”. You have the freedom to do 5 different assignments or all 5 may be the same assignment done in a different way. Each work must be a finished piece that shows a range of value, tones and shades. Any dry, wet or digital medium may be used. Note that you are NOT allowed to draw from photographs. Choose 5 assignments out of the list below:

  1. Create a portrait or self-portrait that expresses a specific mood/emotion: anger/rage, melancholy/loneliness, happiness/joy, etc., in a composition. Work with lighting, values, and color to enhance the psychological atmosphere. Consider the environment/setting. Research portrait artists for inspiration.
  2. A close-up of a bicycle/tricycle from an unusual angle and not just a side view. You must include a shadow.
  3. Still-life arrangement of at least 3 reflective objects. Something should be reflected in the objects.
  4. Drawing of an unusual interior like a closet, cabinet, refrigerator or under a car hood. 5. An extreme close-up of food that is almost to the point of abstraction.
  5. Combine text with art and collage other elements.
  6. Create a colorful design for a handbag, clothing, or chair.
  7. Create an album cover for a musician/music group that does not exist in real life.
  8. Drape a person in clothing with lots of folds. A sheet works well too. The point is to show the correct proportions of the figure and to carefully render the intricate folds. Including the subject will make this drawing even better.
  9. Contrast of textures. Place 3 eggs on a towel, cloth or crumbled paper (preferably patterned) to create an interesting composition.
  10. Create a futuristic cityscape.
  11. Do a drawing of your hands in a variety of poses. You must carefully plan your composition for the separate units to visually work together.
  12. Create a self-portrait that mimics a famous portrait.
  13. Explore mix media by creating a composition that involves at least three different types of mediums (e.g., a wet medium like acrylic paint, a dry medium like using a Sharpie and clippings of text from a magazine).
  14. Create a movie poster for a movie that has never existed. Note: you must create your own title and characters that have never existed before. In other words, do not create a new Star Wars or Marvel movie poster.

PART 2: SKETCHBOOK EXPLORATION

Complete 5 (five) pages of good, solid work in your sketchbook. Drawings must be fully finished and take up the entire page. You may do the sketchbook assignments in any medium. Choose 5 assignments from the following list:

  1. Draw an object in daylight and then again at night by artificial light.
  2. Fill 2 pages with a collage of images and words that appeal to you. You must add at least 2 hand drawn images that overlap.
  3. Draw the interior of a mechanical object. Zoom in then focus on details and shading.
  4. Come up with a new design or improvement to an object that currently exists. Think of something that you might use every day. How can you improve it?
  5. Illustrate a dream that you have had.
  6. Find a quiet place in a crowd. Draw the crowd.
  7. Draw a piece of furniture in your house
  8. Empty your wallet or purse and draw what you find.
  9. Draw something using one continuous line. Put the pencil on the paper and do not take it off the paper until the entire drawing is finished.
  10. Draw tools that belong to a certain profession.

TIPS

Always incorporate a range of value.

Draw from observation and not from published photographs.

Fill up the entire compositional space. Never intentionally leave negative space around the person, place or thing in your composition.

Always give equal consideration to the background. Never focus on just the foreground. Consider the surrounding environment or create non-objective marks that underscore elements of art and principles of organization in your composition.

Summer grading is based on your ideas, craftsmanship, unity in compositions, and meeting the deadline.