English 10 Summer Reading Assignment s1

English 10 Summer Reading Assignment

*The assignments must be printed out and ready to turn in to me on the first day of classes.

Required Summer Reading:

The Giver by Louis Lowry

Set in the future through the eyes of a twelve year old Jonas, readers learn about a seemingly perfect community where there is no war, no hunger, and no pain. Everything seems perfect until we discover that everything is planned for all families. Jonas is selected at the age of twelve to become the new receiver of memories from the giver and discovers the truth about the society in which he has always lived. He plans to leave the community. He learns through all his senses that there is more to life than colorless, mechanical living.

Choose one of the following to read in addition to The Giver:

Divergent by Veronica Roth Matched by Allie Condie The Maze Runner by James Dashner Feed by MT Anderson

Building on Background Parts 1 – 5 Should be 4 – 6 sentences each (one large paragraph), typed

Part 1: Affirming Identity What Will the Future Bring? (page 35) The Giver is set in a possible future many years away. So many changes have happened in this future that students may have trouble understanding the differences in Jonas’ community. Think about the kinds of changes that may occur in the future by predicting changes that may occur in your own lifetime. Students may consider changes in their own life, as well as changes in society such as government, transportation, education, relationships, technology, and science.

Part 2: Utopia/Dystopia (page 36) You are about to enter a world very different than our own; a world where everyone is the same, and everyone lives in peace. However, these people had to give up certain freedoms to have that peace. This world of sameness has no colors, no memory of love, traditions, or history as we do. Realizing that knowing history is important, so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past, the community has chosen one member to hold all the memories of the past, to act as an adviser to the community.

Predict what the future will be like 1000 years in the future.

Part 3: What are Memories? As an introduction to memory, recall and share some of your own memories. To elicit prior knowledge and build on prior background, reflect on your memories by answering the following questions:

1. What is memory? 2. What are the different kinds of memory? 3. Why are memories important? 4. Where do individuals keep their memories? 5. Where do groups of people keep their memories? 6. How are memories passed from generation to generation? 7. In our society, who decides whose memories are valid and worth saving, telling, or teaching? 8. What can we learn from our own memories? From those of others? 9. What kind of memories do you remember clearest, happy or sad? 10. What is your oldest memory? 11. Do your memories fade over time? 12. Have you ever had a certain smell trigger a memory? 13. Which of our memories are cherished? 14. Why are others more difficult or troubling? 15. What would our lives be like without memories? 16. Without our history?

Part 4: Happy and Unhappy Memories (pages 38-39) Most people prefer to remember happy memories, but often, it is the sad or embarrassing memories that stick most strongly with us. Explore why Jonas’ community were willing to give up their happy experiences to avoid the painful ones. Discuss the question: Would you be willing to give up feelings such as love, if it meant you would never experience feelings such as pain?

Part 5: Family Interview (page 44) We all have family traditions or rituals. In The Giver, Jonas’ family has a morning ritual and an evening ritual. They also have rituals of the community. Explore your family’s traditions and rituals and find out how long your family has been practicing them. Each student needs to interview a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or anyone else in their family who is older. They will come up with at least 10 questions to ask their interviewee. Type your questions, responses received, and a paragraph reaction/reflection of your own. Part 6: Comparison between The Giver and Another Dystopian Novel (one of the four options given) *Minimum of 5 paragraphs (which means at least 3 points of comparison between the two books), typed

Possible focuses: examine the dystopian in terms of their characteristics, protagonists and antagonists, themes, characters, concepts (government control, fear, apathy, etc.), daily life, structure of world, etc.

Point by Point Compare/Contrast Outline 1. Introduction a. Attention Grabber b. Background Information (context of dystopias, details, introduce works) c. If contrasting: Mention differences of the two d. If comparing: Mention similarities of the two e. Controlling idea (themes, purposes, big idea) f. Thesis Example: The world of The Giver is similar/different to [Dystopian 2] because it [similarity/difference 1], [similarity/difference 2], and [similarity/difference 3]. 2. Body Paragraphs- discusses similarity or difference a. Topic Sentence: point of comparison [similarity or difference] a.i. Major: The Giver a.i.1. Minor 1: Example a.i.2. Minor 2: Example a.ii. Major: Dystopian 2 a.ii.1. Minor 1: Example a.ii.2. Minor 2: Example 3. Repeat Step 2 as many times as necessary using commentary throughout to explain and analyze 4. Conclusion – revisit major ideas (don’t just list your points again), rewritten thesis (focus on central idea, why are these dystopias important?), and STRONG closing/clincher statement (may be a call-to-action).

Characteristics of the Dystopian Novel Traits of the Dystopian Hero  Propaganda is used to control the citizens  Often feels trapped and is struggling to of society escape.  Information, independent thought, and  Part of the society, “insider” not freedom are restricted. “outsider”  A figurehead or concept is worshipped by  Questions the existing social and political the citizens of the society systems.  Citizens are under constant surveillance  Believes or feels that something si terribly  Citizens have a fear of the outside world. wrong with the society in which he or she  Citizens live in a dehumanized state. lives.  Citizens conform to uniform expectations.  Helps the audience recognize the negative Individuality and dissent are bad. aspects of the dystopian world through his  The society is the illusion of a perfect or her perspective. utopian world.

Some ideas gleaned from:  Writing Unit for Reflective Essay: The Giver AUHSD Write Institute 06/03  http://www.skitsap.wednet.edu/cms/lib/WA01000495/Centricity/Domain/1693/Dystopia%20comparison%20or%20contrast %20essay.pdf