11th Grade Summer Reading

11th Grade Summer ReadingThe Autobiography of Malcolm X & The Great Gatsby

A driving and compelling component of American history is the belief that everyone can achieve The American Dream. This is one of the themes we will explore this year. To truly appreciate The Great Gatsby it is critical to understand the context of when it was written and why. Listed below are key concepts to understanding its historical significance.Prior to ReadingConduct a Web search of some key sites to help you understand the historical context of the novel. If you do not have access to the Internet over the summer, read the novel and maintain a dialectical journal.http://www.kn.att.com/wire/fil/pages/listthe1920ma.htmlhttp://www.shmoop.com/great-gatsby/http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/hpolscrv/jbolhofer.htmlhttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/americannovel/timeline/lostgeneration.html1. Describe the American Dream2. Identify the Lost Generation writers. Describe the impact WWI had on Fitzgerald and the other expatriates.3. Describe the effects of WWI on Americans during and after the war. Comment on the positive and negative events or issues.4. Explain prohibition and its effect on Americans.As you are readingMaintain a dialectical journal. Pull 12 key quotes from the text to support each of the concepts listed above. There must be at least 3 quotes per concept. In addition to these 12 quotes, include quotes which reference color, eyes, and the Valley of Ashes. Minimum number of quotes is 20.Suggested structure for the work:ConceptPage No.QuoteHow does in reflect the concept?

1 American Dream21Copy quote word for wordExplanation/Interpretation

2 Lost Generation, 3 Effect on AmericansCh. 3, pg. 78Nick says, I felt a haunting loneliness sometimes, and felt it in others young clerks in the dusk, wasting the most poignant moments of night and life.The devastation of WWI caused many people to feel that life was pointless. This quote emphasizes the feelings of disgust and despair felt by the Lost Generation writers like Fitzgerald.

An overarching theme for our AP English Language and Composition course is the examination of American Voices. Texts we will read, analyze and synthesize will encompass a myriad of ideas, philosophies and beliefs. As we work with these writers, we will look for immediate and long-term effects of their words. We will discover the subtleties and nuances of language that make the written and spoken word moving and powerful words that can change the world.The following assignments are due the first day of instruction. You may contact me during the summer at debra.thomas@ideapublicschools.org for clarification of the expectations, assurance you are one the right track or to discuss any component of the assignment. Let us begin our journey in Voices with the summer reading selection The Autobiography of Malcolm X.Although Americans have endured many hardships in the past few centuries, the Civil Rights Movement was more widespread and was more highly publicized because were cheaper and in many more homes. As you read The Autobiography of Malcolm X, 1. Create a chronological log of Malcolm Xs life that lead up to and through the Civil Rights Movement. (See below for suggested structure.)2. Write a 500-word essay describing how Xs work impacted the social and political times during his life and what impact his legacy has on Americans today.3. Select two of the following quotes by Malcolm X and write a 150-200 word assertion paper. (An assertion is the point the thesis statement, if you willof a paper supported by evidence. In this instance you may use evidence from the book to support your thesis. If you use evidence from the book, cite the page number. Be sure to identify which quote you are addressing.a. A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.b. There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.c. Dont be in a hurry to condemn because he doesnt do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didnt know what you know today.d. You dont have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to be is an intelligent human being.e. I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination. I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of color.Suggested Chronological LogDatePg. NumberMalcolms AgeEvent/Incident

May, 19252*0Malcolm is born

June, 192931*4House is burned down; arson is suspected

* Information is not accurate