Outside Reading Assignment: English II

Transcription

1 Outside Reading Assignment: English II Welcome to English II Honors! This course is designed to expand your knowledge and understanding of language and literature, while aligning with AP (Advanced Placement) Language and Literature. You will be required to read Anthem by Ayn Rand (novel) and Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut (short story) over the summer. Your summer reading assignment will help you on your way to becoming a good literary critic. Perhaps you have read this novel in the past; if so, this will be a perfect opportunity for you to read it again with a more analytical approach. Along with actively reading and marking this text, you will complete evidence based analysis charts and an essay prompt on the novel in addition to reading and citing articles regarding historical and allegorical context for the novel. See below for details about this assignment. *If you have any questions, please your teacher. Looking forward to meeting you! Sara.cumberlidge@polk-fl.net (Summerlin) lindsey.hanger@polk-fl.net (BHS) Summer Assignment Glossary: Active Reading As you read the novel, you will need to underline, circle, and/or box significant elements in the text. Theme A central big idea about life that unifies and controls an entire literary work. It may be directly stated in the book, or it may only be implied. Keep in mind that you will be documenting themes and evidence in support of those themes in addition to writing for a prompt regarding a theme by the time you ve completed your reading. Annotate You need to develop a system to take notes WITHIN the text while actively reading. You may use post-its, color coding (with a key) on the pages of the book, index cards---the choice is yours. Assignment Requirements: Step 1. Obtain a copy of the novel, Anthem by Ayn Rand, new or used, at any local bookstore or at the public library. Step 2. As you actively read the novel, annotate for the following: Conflict determine and analyze the major conflicts of the novel: man vs. man (external); man vs. self (internal); man vs. authority (external); man vs. society (external) Symbolism analyze the use of symbols (objects or places meant to represent something more than the literal) that convey something significant within the plot or character development. Evidence of dystopian setting- Dystopia is an imagined and typically futuristic place/society created with the intent to ensure everyone is in a perfect and equal society (Utopia), but the intent goes horribly wrong. Most often, the citizens are often unaware of their treatment because of the rules and expectations in place by those in authority. Analyze the society of the novel for elements of a dystopian environment. **Points: 25** Step 3. In addition to the novel, read the short story Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut (printed copy attached). Electronic copy can also be found at the following website: Complete the set of guided reading questions for the short story. **Points: 45** Continued on back

2 Step 4. After reading the novel, complete the evidence-based graphic organizers/handouts about the novels themes, character development/change AND plot analysis. The graphic organizers have been created for you. Your job is to document, specifically, with quoted text and explanation each required element of the chart. You will NOT receive credit if you are missing ANY of the required aspects. Expect to have to write small in order to fit all that is expected. **Points: 120 FOR ALL THREE** Step 5. Write a fully developed (an introduction, three-four body paragraphs, and conclusion) based on a theme evident in both the novel and the short story. Use the following prompt to write you essay: Select a theme (equality, conformity, individualism, or control). Compare and contrast how the theme is conveyed throughout each text. Your essay MUST INCLUDE specific, quoted text to support your examination of the theme from the novel. **Points: 60** IMPORTANT: All Summer Reading Assignments will be due exactly one week after your first day in this course. They will be graded for CORRECTNESS, NOT COMPLETION! Start the year off right; arrive prepared! You will be turning in your marked book, your essay, your responses to the questions and your graphic organizers. Read the text carefully and come to school, on that first day, ready to discuss it. Have a great summer, and enjoy the novel! Name Pd

3 An Introduction to Anthem by Ayn Rand In her book Anthem, Ayn Rand draws a picture of a future utopia society in which people live manageable lives, unified by their conformity to a lifestyle diligently created by the superior elders of the City Council. The people of this future society have ordinary days. There are no holidays or special events in order to keep everyone on schedule. The whole community lives in perfect order and harmony. Everything during the day is done upon the sound of a bell - when it rings people wake up and go to work; when it rings again they go to lunch; and when it rings for the last time they go back to bed. This unbelievable orderly manner is maintained by a group of elders that form the City Council. Anthem describes a society in which no one is allowed to question the will of the Council, and no one does. It is a natural manner that has been known to the people for so long that none of those who live have ever seen anything different and can't imagine a world in which people would think for themselves. To sustain this order the people are constantly bound together by songs, poetry, and the strong belief that they now have, and which was implanted in their minds as they grew up - that there is no "them", but only a conglomerated, conforming "we", which is above everything else and that nothing done alone by one man can be any good. Everyone looks pretty much the same. Everyone lives in the same kind of home. Everyone works for the good of we, the good of all the community members. There s no need to fight or argue. You don t have to do anything but get your work done. Isn t that easy?

4 Harrison Bergeron Standards-based Guided Reading questions. You must cite evidence from the text for each response. Recall: Why does the Handicapper General require different people to wear different kinds of handicaps? Why was Harrison supposedly jailed? Where does Harrison go to when he escapes, and why does he go there? How is equality enforced in this society? Consider: If all handicaps were based on making everyone normal, who do you think came up with the definition of normal? How would they decide what is the normal height, weight, appearance, intelligence, strength? What about the below average people? It s never mentioned, but do you think they were given reverse handicaps to make them normal? Or was everyone brought down to their level? Analyze: What does the government believe regarding equality versus equity? Cite several examples from the text. How is Harrison different from or how does he challenge these beliefs? Cite examples from the text. Deduce: According to the text, there have been over 200 Amendments made to the Constitution to make an equal society. Consider how many Amendments we have currently (after over 230 years). What is significant about all these Amendments that are supposedly written in the next 60 or so years? Conclude: We already know Vonnegut is strongly commenting on the movement toward removal of competition. Television also plays a strong role in this story, so what do you think Vonnegut is trying to say about mass media? Be specific to the text as well as our current society. Debate: Create a T-Chart. What are the pros and cons about a completely equal society (no competition)? What are your overall conclusions and insights about the results of the T-Chart?

5 Character Change Activity Anthem by Ayn Rand The development of a character also contributes to the development of a theme. Remember the themes we are tracking include CONTOL - CONFORMITY - EQUALITY - INDIVIDUALISM. Equality has, from the beginning, been different from the rest of the people in his world. Throughout the book, provide the needed information (CHARACTER TRAIT/PERSONALITY TRAIT EVIDENCE HOW HE HAS CHANGED WHICH THEM IS DEVELOPED) for the chart below. Character traits may be repeated as they further develop, but try to find a variety, as he is a well-rounded character, thus one of the only remaining individuals. Remember to document your quoted or paraphrased evidence. CHARACTER TRAIT CHAPTER 1 EVIDENCE Is this character trait introduced or further developed at this point? Explain. Which theme does this characteristic of Equality s help develop? How? CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3

6 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8

7 CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 12

8 Plot Analysis Chart Anthem One goal of plot is develop a theme by the author. In Anthem, the following themes are addressed directly and indirectly: CONTOL - CONFORMITY - EQUALITY - INDIVIDUALISM As you read each chapter of the novel, create a plot diagram with one significant plot event from each chapter. Also, include the significance of the event, provide a quotation or specific text example for support and identify which theme the event helps develop. You will use this chart to help create your essay. Here is a sample of one event for your plot diagram. Do not forget to label your diagram with the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution and to place your events accordingly. There are 12 chapters, so you should end up with 12 event charts/responses. Chapter: Event (be specific and use text evidence): Which theme does this event help develop? What is the significance? Quote/text support? Where is this placed on a plot diagram?

9 Themes Anthem by Ayn Rand AND Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut The novel and the short story explore many concepts and ideas expressed as themes throughout the literature. The following themes are addressed directly and indirectly. CONTOL - CONFORMITY - EQUALITY - INDIVIDUALISM In order to understand how these concepts are explored in the novel and short story, we must first understand what they are. Complete the guide using both the novel and short story (direct evidence from the text is a must). You may use this guide to help formulate your essay. Provide the requested information in the following blanks: 1. Theme: CONTROL How is it defined (can be an implied definition) according to both the novel and the short story? What is it like for both Equality and Harrison s society? What are some examples from both texts? 2. Theme: CONFORMITY How is it defined (can be an implied definition) according to both the novel and the short story? What is it like for both Equality and Harrison s society? What are some examples?

10 3. Theme: EQUALITY How is it defined (can be an implied definition) according to both the novel and the short story? What is it like for both Equality and Harrison s society? What are some examples? 4. Theme: INDIVIDUALISM How is it defined (can be an implied definition) according to both the novel and the short story? What is it like for both Equality and Harrison s society? What are some examples?