Honors American Literature (123)

Summer Reading Assignment

            Welcome to Honors American Literature! Your summer reading assignment will be to read East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Your project for this novel is made up of three parts:

 

1. Reading the Novel

            As you read make sure to take notes on each of the characters, major events, and settings in the novel. You should also be annotating in your book as you read. Make sure to highlight important passages, make notes about each section in the margins, and write down any questions you may have. This is a long novel and it is not something that should attempt to be tackled overnight or in a weekend. You might want to break up your reading as follows:

 

·             Part One: Chapters 1-7 (pages 1-70)

·                Parts One and Two: Chapters 8-13 (pages 71-146) 

·                Part Two: Chapters 14-18 (pages 147-214) 

·                Parts Two and Three: Chapters 19-23 (pages 215-289) 

·                Part Three: Chapters 24-27 (pages 290-348) 

·                Parts Three and Four: Chapters 28-36 (pages 349-417) 

·                Part Four: Chapters 37-43 (pages 418-489) 

·                Part Four: Chapters 44-48 (pages 490-528) 

·                Part Four: Chapters 49-end (pages 529-end)

 

You will need to manage your time wisely and read in chunks to effectively complete the novel. Any notes that you take about the characters, settings, and events should be done in a notebook which will be used ONLY for this class.

 

2. Timeline

            After reading and selecting a character you would like to focus on, you will create a timeline of the major events in the characters life. This should be done a piece of poster board and should be creative and colorful. Make sure you really take time to go back to the novel and look for quotes or passages which illustrate the changes and progressions of each character. Some quotes from the novel should be used to support your timeline.

 

3. Writing Assignment

            For your writing assignment you will look at one character’s life, decisions, and growth throughout the novel. You will use your own thoughts and events you include in your timeline to provide an in depth analysis of how the character changes (or does not change) throughout the novel. This essay should be no less than three pages, double-spaced, in size 12 Times New Roman font. Remember to cite all of your sources using MLA style citation. If you need help with the citations, please consult your Bedford Handbook. Also remember it is essential that you cite all of the sources you consult in your works cited page and throughout your paper.

 

Please take all of your novel notes in a notebook to be used ONLY for this class.  Your notes, timeline, and essay will be due on AUGUST 25, 2008. Points will be lost for late work. If you have questions or if would like me to read an outline, thesis statement, or draft over the summer please email me at svalentino@rdhs.org. I am happy to help!

 

Good Luck and Happy Writing!