American Literature L Class!

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen!

I look forward to seeing you all bright and early every weekday morning for Period 1!

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Summer 2007 Assignment

• Read two books:

    -The one required book: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

    - The second book of your choice from your grade level’s list:

   1. East of Eden John Steinbeck
   2. My Antonia Willa Cather
   3. A Thousand Acres Jane Smiley
   4. Snow Falling on Cedars David Guterson
   5. The Sound and the Fury William Faulkner
   6. Eye of the Needle Ken Follett
   7. I Know This Much Is True Wally Lamb
   8. White Oleander Janet Fitch
   9. Friday Night Lights H. G. Bissinger
  10. The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd
  11. Catalyst Laurie Halse Anderson
  12. Nickled and Dimed Barbara Ehrenreich
  13. A Widow for One Year John Irving
  14. Sophie’s Choice William Styron
  15. The Stand Stephen King
  16. Goodbye, Columbus Philip Roth
  17. A Child Called It David Pelzer
  18. Picturing Will Anne Beatttie
  19. The Women of Brewster Place Gloria Naylor
  20. The Killer Angels Michael Shaara

• As you are reading your required book, take notes on plot development, characterization, and theme. Minimum of three pages – Roman numeral outline or bullets outline or paragraph notes.

When you are finished reading and taking notes, do the following:
• Choose a theme that you are confident you can explain and support with passages.
• Find a poem by an established poet relating to one of the themes you found.

Expectations for the first day of class (9/6/07)
You should bring the following materials with you:
  • The one required book;
  • A poem by an established poet relating to a chosen theme;
  • At least three pages of notes on your book.

Culminating Assessment
In the third week of September, you will write an in-class essay that discusses ideas that connect the novel, the poem, and your free read. This essay will count as a grade for the first marking period.