English 9 Summer Reading Assignment

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ENGLISH 9 SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT The Science and Technology Program at Charles H. Flowers High School requires ALL incoming 9th graders to complete summer packets in the areas of science and English. Students are expected to complete the packets and submit them to their English and Biology teachers. The book The Poisonwood Bible can be purchased from your local bookstore. I do not recommend checking the book out of the library as you will need to mark passages in the book.

Please be aware that if you copy another student’s work, both you and the student from whom you copied with receive a grade of 0. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be dealt with severely.

This project will count as 2 assessment grades and is due on the first day of school. A test will be given on the book within the first 3 weeks of school.

If you have any questions please contact me.

Have a great summer!

Mrs. Morton-Wilson Science and Technology Program Coordinator 301-636-8000 [email protected]

Read the Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver’s

Format: All responses should be :

(1) typed using print no larger than size 12 and Cambria or Times font. (2) double spaced and include a cover page with the title of the book, your name and the date August 19, 2013. (3) detailed in response.

Part 1: Characters in the Novel 1. List all the important characters in the novel. 2. For each character, provide detailed physical and emotional descriptions of the character. 3. Describe the role each character plays in the novel. 4. Do you identify with these characters? Explain why or why not. Notice that for each important character you will write at least three paragraphs. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ENGLISH 9 SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT Part 2: Theme What is the theme of Kingslover’s The Poisonwood Bible?

In this section you will write a one page typed essay explaining the theme of this novel. Theme is the main message or central idea that a writer conveys through his or her work. It is an insight or perception about life or human nature that a writer communicates through the story.

Part 3: Quotations or Key Passages

1. Find 10 quotations or Key Passages 2. Copy the quotations or key passages, noting their page numbers. 3. Explain why each quotation is important or relevant in the novel. 4. Show relevance of the quotation or passage to the theme, character or plot development. Does the quotation or passage reveal a character’s trait? Does it demonstrate the theme? Does it show a change in plot? What else does it show?

Part 4: Plot

The plot is the sequence of events in a story, a road map of what happens in a story. In this part you will write a ONE-page summary of what happens in The Poisonwood Bible. Your summary should focus on the main events in the story and describe them as briefly as possible. A summary is NOT a mere retelling of the story, but a concise account of the main points of a story. Do NOT exceed one page!

Part 5: Vocabulary

1. Make a list of 30-35 unfamiliar or difficult words that you have come across in the novel. 2. Write the dictionary definitions of the words. 3. For each word, write a synonym and an antonym. 4. Explain the relevance of each word to the story 5. Use 20 of the unfamiliar words in separate 20 sentences; each sentence should be at least seven words long.