11th Grade Summer Reading
Greetings:
This year we are stream-lining the 11th grade summer reading assignment so that all of us will be reading the same set of texts:
These texts share a common geographical origin – Alabama – but represent different genres of writing, points of view, and/or time periods. Set in the mid-1930’s, To Kill a Mockingbird is Harper Lee’s classic 1960 novel about a white lawyer, Atticus Finch, standing up to prejudice to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, against charges of murder. Seen through his daughter Scout’s eyes, he is an American hero. In Go Set a Watchman, written before Mockingbird but not published until 2015, a grown-up Scout develops a new view of her father which calls into question not only his heroism but more importantly his moral character.
Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy (2014) is an autobiographical account of his work with death row prisoners in Alabama, a vast majority of whom are African-American and some of whom are unjustly charged. Based out of the same town – Monroeville – which served as the real life inspiration for Lee’s fictional Maycomb, Stevens – like Finch – is a lawyer who defends black men. The difference is that Stevenson works in the real world and is himself an African-American. His work is inspirational in revealing a man seemingly selfless in his compassion for the most vulnerable of people – the “broken” as he calls them – in our country.
Martin Luther King’s 1963 letter is a masterpiece. In fact, it is the brilliance of this letter which gave birth to this text set. The letter is long though as King explains “it would have been shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk, but what else can one do when he is alone in a narrow jail cell, other than write long letters, think long thoughts and pray long prayers.” Filled with many famous lines, the letter is a tour de force of rhetorical precision and is essential reading for all Americans. It is unlikely that a better letter has ever been penned. King’s missive will serve as a wonderful starting place for our study of rhetoric, argument and the American character.
We are excited to discuss these writings with you in the fall. King’s essay and TKaM can readily be accessed on line; Just Mercy and GSaW are in high demand and available in local bookstores. We expect you to read King’s letter, Stevenson’s book (and/or watch his TED talk) and one of Lee’s novels. As you read, talk to the text (literally!) and record your discussions on your phone (flip sheet over for more info).
Best,
Ms. Fraser, Ms. McKittrick, Mr. Mulder and Mr. Uhlman
Talking to the Texts—Literally
A How-To:
1) Read Dr. King’s letter—when you come across a thoughtful or thought-provoking passage, get out your phone and record yourself reading the passage out loud, then say why you chose it. Just audio file works, no need to record video; also, make sure you save it somewhere in your phone or online where you can easily access in the fall. If you’d prefer to write your thoughts instead, that’s fine.
2) Read To Kill a Mockingbird and/or Go Set a Watchman. Again, when you come across a thoughtful or thought-provoking passage, grab your phone and record yourself reading the passage, and again say why you chose it. BONUS: pay particular attention to passages that connect to those you responded to in Dr. King’s letter.
3) Repeat with Just Mercy/TED talk--again, as you read/watch, record thoughtful/thought-provoking passages and your response, looking for those that connect with main ideas in Dr. King’s letter and/or Harper Lee’s novel(s).
4) When you return to Hale in the fall, be prepared to upload your responses to an online discussion forum.
This year we are stream-lining the 11th grade summer reading assignment so that all of us will be reading the same set of texts:
- Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
- Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy and/or watch his TED talk “We Need to Talk About an Injustice”
- Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and/or Go Set a Watchman
These texts share a common geographical origin – Alabama – but represent different genres of writing, points of view, and/or time periods. Set in the mid-1930’s, To Kill a Mockingbird is Harper Lee’s classic 1960 novel about a white lawyer, Atticus Finch, standing up to prejudice to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, against charges of murder. Seen through his daughter Scout’s eyes, he is an American hero. In Go Set a Watchman, written before Mockingbird but not published until 2015, a grown-up Scout develops a new view of her father which calls into question not only his heroism but more importantly his moral character.
Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy (2014) is an autobiographical account of his work with death row prisoners in Alabama, a vast majority of whom are African-American and some of whom are unjustly charged. Based out of the same town – Monroeville – which served as the real life inspiration for Lee’s fictional Maycomb, Stevens – like Finch – is a lawyer who defends black men. The difference is that Stevenson works in the real world and is himself an African-American. His work is inspirational in revealing a man seemingly selfless in his compassion for the most vulnerable of people – the “broken” as he calls them – in our country.
Martin Luther King’s 1963 letter is a masterpiece. In fact, it is the brilliance of this letter which gave birth to this text set. The letter is long though as King explains “it would have been shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk, but what else can one do when he is alone in a narrow jail cell, other than write long letters, think long thoughts and pray long prayers.” Filled with many famous lines, the letter is a tour de force of rhetorical precision and is essential reading for all Americans. It is unlikely that a better letter has ever been penned. King’s missive will serve as a wonderful starting place for our study of rhetoric, argument and the American character.
We are excited to discuss these writings with you in the fall. King’s essay and TKaM can readily be accessed on line; Just Mercy and GSaW are in high demand and available in local bookstores. We expect you to read King’s letter, Stevenson’s book (and/or watch his TED talk) and one of Lee’s novels. As you read, talk to the text (literally!) and record your discussions on your phone (flip sheet over for more info).
Best,
Ms. Fraser, Ms. McKittrick, Mr. Mulder and Mr. Uhlman
Talking to the Texts—Literally
A How-To:
1) Read Dr. King’s letter—when you come across a thoughtful or thought-provoking passage, get out your phone and record yourself reading the passage out loud, then say why you chose it. Just audio file works, no need to record video; also, make sure you save it somewhere in your phone or online where you can easily access in the fall. If you’d prefer to write your thoughts instead, that’s fine.
2) Read To Kill a Mockingbird and/or Go Set a Watchman. Again, when you come across a thoughtful or thought-provoking passage, grab your phone and record yourself reading the passage, and again say why you chose it. BONUS: pay particular attention to passages that connect to those you responded to in Dr. King’s letter.
3) Repeat with Just Mercy/TED talk--again, as you read/watch, record thoughtful/thought-provoking passages and your response, looking for those that connect with main ideas in Dr. King’s letter and/or Harper Lee’s novel(s).
4) When you return to Hale in the fall, be prepared to upload your responses to an online discussion forum.