Pre-AP Summer Reading Assignment (Grade 10)

How to Post Comments to Your Classmates OnlineAs you read Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor, you will be required to make connectionsbetween the information presented in certain chapters and movies, novels, and other stories you are alreadyfamiliar with. All that is required here is to make a comment like: “What Foster says about quests reminds meof Hiro Nakamura from the NBC show Heroes. He’s always talking to his friend Ando about his ‘mission’ tosave the world.” It’s that simple. You may not use examples already given in the Foster text. You mayrespond to what others say, but simply “piggybacking” on others’ comments does not qualify for earning yourcredit; your contributions must be original.Later in the summer, after reading Dorian Gray and your choice book (from the list), you will go online twomore times: once to give ONE example of ONE of the suggested motifs in Dorian Gray, and again to connectthe Foster text to the choice novel. Therefore, before returning to school in the fall, you will have posted aminimum of SIX times. The following schedule shows your deadlines for each posting. I will monitor yourparticipation for a grade, and no credit will be given for postings made beyond the deadline. Also, postingcomments that would be inappropriate for the classroom will NOT be tolerated. Those who do so endanger notonly their grades on this assignment but also their conduct grades. This assignment will be part of your firstmajor test/project grade for the first grading period (Test/Project category = 30-35%).Online Posting DeadlinesJune 12June 19June 26HTRLLaP Ch. 1-3 (Heroic quests, meals, and vampires)HTRLLaP Ch. 5-9 (Allusions)HTRLLaP Ch. 10-15 and 18 (Symbols)July 3 HTRLLaP Ch. 19-24 (Setting and character archetypes)July 31 Motifs in Wilde’s Picture of Dorian Gray – Find ONE, unique quote (different from the othersthat have been posted) that mentions flowers, hands, eyes, mouth, voices, curtain, pall, mask,mirror, white, red, or an allusion (Biblical, mythological, etc.). Cite the page #.July 31 Connection between HTRLLaP and your Choice Book (ONE REQUIRED, but a secondconnection may be made to make up ONE earlier missed deadline. This must be clearlymarked - as in “Make-Up Comment.” Again, ONE MAKE-UP POSTING MAXIMUM.IMPORTANT: You may post your connections and comments at any time prior to the deadline. In fact, you can easily complete theFoster text and post on the first four topics within the first week of summer. Anyone who will be away from internet access because ofcamps or family vacation should strive to complete his or her postings prior to traveling.How and where to post comments? The site that we are using for this assignment is www.NiceNet.org. Thissite is free for you to use and is devoid of obnoxious advertising.1. Go to www.nicenet.org (please notice the “.org”, not “.com”).2. Locate the box on the right that says, “New Users Start Here,” and click on “Join a Class.”3. In the box labeled “Class Key,” type the following code: 3346065P984. Create a user name and password. Your user name must be your first name and your last name (for instance,I would be “Scott Harrison”). Your password is entirely up to you, but I strongly encourage you to writeboth of these down inside the front cover of your copy of the Foster book.5. Click on “Conferencing” (on the left), locate the thread you wish to post to, and click on the topic for anexample of the type of posting that I am expecting. You may then add your own comment.Why an online discussion? The best way to develop critical reading and rhetorical analysis skills, which arethe basis for college-level literary analysis, is through the experience of class discussions following readings.Unfortunately, summer schedules do not afford us the opportunity to come together for such discussions. Theonline site is the most convenient way for you to share ideas with your classmates over the summer months. Iexpect you not only to post your original thoughts, but also to read and respond to the posts of others.