Freshmen English II 112
Summer Assignments
mharris@rdhs.org

All summer assignments are to be typed (double-spaced, 12pt.) and handed in
on the first day of class.

Read Inside the Walls of Troy  by Clemence McLaren and
Big Mouth and Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates.

Writing:

I. Inside the Walls of Troy

a. Choose one of the following characters from Inside the Walls of Troy:
Helen, Hector, Agamemnon, Cassandra, Odysseus, Athena, Hera, or Eris.

b. Write several paragraphs about the character to include the following
criteria. The paragraphs should be typed and double-spaced:

• Name of character
• Side of Trojan War he or she favored
• Gift or flaw
• How he or she received this gift or flaw
• This character's significance to the story
• The fate of the character in the story.

II. Big Mouth and Ugly Girl
Both Ursula and Matt struggle with their own ideas about who they are.  They
both have nicknames that they have chosen for themselves.  In several
paragraphs answer the following questions:

a. Pick either Ursula or Matt.  Give the nickname that he/she has chosen for
him/herself and at least three reasons why he/she has given him/herself this
nickname.

b. Do you believe that the nickname fairly assesses his/her true character? 
Why or why not?

c. Do you have a nickname for yourself?  Or, a nickname that has been given
to you by others?  Is this nickname a true reflection of who you are?  Why
or why not?  OR  If  you don’t have a nickname, why do you think that is? 
Would you like to have a nickname?  If so, what would it be?  Why would you
pick this nickname?

Looking for more “great reads”?

The English Department recommends that students enrolled in English 112 read
the following:

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Night by Elie Wiesel
Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates