Honors 11 American Literature Summer Reading Assignment 2019 Mrs. Jodi Beaton, [email protected] Text @hamlitsr to the number 81010 for summer reading reminders. SUMMER READING TEXT Into the Wild Author: Jon Krakauer Paperback: 240 pages Publisher: Anchor Books; 1 edition (February 1, 1997) Language: English ISBN-10: 9780385486804 ‡ The text is available online at Amazon, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, etc. (As of April 29, 2019, new copies are available through Amazon for $11.79, and used are available starting at just $2.50.) ‡ Please purchase a paper copy of the book (not a digital download), as you will be working with the text in class once school begins. SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENTS Step I: Read Into the Wild (Skip chapters 14-15), and complete the assigned reading packet (pages 2-14 of this document) in its entirety. Read the directions carefully and respond thoroughly. This is due at the START of class on FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, and it will count as a MAJOR GRADE. Step II: Essay – Due posted to Canvas by THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, at 11:59 PM; this will count as a MAJOR GRADE. Prompt Chris McCandless is often viewed through two different viewpoints. Some believe that McCandless was a young man with noble ideas who showed courage by taking the actions necessary to fulfill his dreams. Others believe that McCandless was a narcissistic, selfish, and unprepared kid who threw his life away. Write an argumentative essay in which you present your case for one side or the other, in the end concluding with whether you see the final outcome as a tragedy or as a triumph. Essay Specifications Adhere to these guidelines for all essays in Honors 11 American Literature. Do not use outside resources to help you write your essays. These essays are not research papers. Compose each essay in 3rd person. Do not use 1st-person (I, me, my, etc.) or 2nd-person (you, us, we, etc.) pronouns. Use MLA format. ° 12-point font ° Print font – no script (Times New Roman, Georgia, Californian FB, Arial, etc.) ° Double space entire paper ° Explanations and a PDF sample paper available online – look up if you are unfamiliar with MLA format! https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/24/) Include the MLA heading with your name, the class, my name, and the date in the top left corner; include the header with your last name and page number in the top right corner. Include an interesting title, something other than the title of the book, centered and in MLA format. Compose an interesting introduction of no longer than five (5) sentences which includes the author and title of the book, a thesis statement (the message the author conveys/the argument the author makes), and strategies the author uses to convey the message/points supporting your stance on the argument the author makes. Write several specific body paragraphs, which include at least six (6) direct textual references with proper parenthetical documentation (six textual references total, not six per paragraph!). The following is an example of proper parenthetical documentation: The text begins, “It was a pleasure to burn,” alerting readers to the paradox of Montag’s love affair with fire (Bradbury 3). Paragraphs should blend details from the text/textual references with your spectacular insight and analysis. Include a topic sentence for each paragraph and proper transitions between paragraphs. Conclude with a paragraph that establishes a position on the text and provides the reader with something to consider. Do not simply restate the introduction; evaluate the message/strategies the author uses and determine your position on it. This paragraph can be no longer than five (5) sentences. Edit carefully. Part of your essay grade depends on the following: ° proper grammar and spelling ° the use of active voice (avoiding be verbs like am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been) ° variation in sentence structure ° effort and focus – Numerous mistakes reveal lack of both! Into the Wild Reading Packet Name ______________________________________________ 1 Directions: You will complete this packet as you read Into the Wild. All written answers must be done in pen and written as complete sentences in order to receive credit. The packet in its entirety is worth a test grade. Questions to keep in mind as you read the text: 1) Should we admire McCandless for his courage and noble ideas? 2) Was he a reckless fool? 3) Was he crazy? 4) Was he an arrogant and stupid narcissist? Pre-reading Activity: Quickwrite- Think about your experience hiking, backpacking, and/or existing in the wild. What are the benefits of any one of these activities? OR Think about some alternative plans you might have to beginning college immediately after high school. What might you do? Why would you do it, and for how long could you see yourself doing that activity? OR Think about an experience you had when you were alone and made some misjudgments that could have resulted in disaster but didn’t (it doesn’t have to be outdoors). How can having a miscalculation and still avoiding disaster change a person’s views? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Author’s Note: Read the author’s note before we begin to read the text. Answer the following questions on this paper. • What might McCandless’s motives have been for his behavior? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • How difficult would it be to invent a new life? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • Which of the themes introduced by Krakauer are the most interesting to you? Why? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • Krakauer warns us that he will not be an impartial biographer. What does this mean? Are all biographers impartial? What might we expect from Krakauer? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Into the Wild Reading Packet Name ______________________________________________ 2 Chapter Focus Questions: As you read, you will be responsible for keeping up with the questions for each chapter. For each epigraph (short quotes or statements at the beginning of the chapter), you are to write thoughtful responses regarding how you feel the epigraph will pertain to the chapter. For all other questions, you are to answer specifically and in