Honors English IV Summer Reading

"The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them." --Mark Twain


I have selected four books for you to read over the summer as preparation for Honors English IV. I have chosen these books because I believe that they are interesting and will introduce you to information that is highly relevant for an English class. I think that you will enjoy them. You will be tested over these books during the first week of school. The tests will involve some objective information (names, events, etc.) and a possible essay question.

If you want to purchase these books, any Borders or Barnes and Noble bookstore will carry them. However, you could probably find them for cheaper on amazon.com. If you'd rather not spend money on them, I encourage you to use your local public library. Or, you could buy them (at least the older ones) for a very low cost at a used book store like Wonder Book and Video.

Bauerlein, Mark. The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future. New York: Tarcher, 2008.



Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. any edition is fine.



Bryson, Bill. Shakespeare: The World as Stage. New York: Harper Collins, 2007.



Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. any edition is fine.



Those of you who are NOT taking Honors English IV could still read the books for your outside reading requirement, if they sound interesting to you. If you got the assignment done during the summer, then you wouldn't have to worry about it during the school year! First semester is a non-fiction reading requirement(you could choose either the Bauerlein or the Bryson book) and second semester is supposed to be a classic (either the Dickens or the Bradbury).

Happy Summer Reading to you!

Careers!

The seniors have been researching different careers, and in this process we have had many guest speakers come to share their careers. Special thanks to:










Sasha Ross, ADRA International
Andrew Nichols, Attorney-at-law
Pastor Rick Remmers, Hagerstown SDA Church
Pastor Franke Zollman, Williamsport SDA Church
Rose Gamblin, radio production and broadcasting
Dennis Altman, law enforcement
Dr. Mario Ochoa, Vice President, ADRA International
Jennifer Nichols, Speech Language Pathologist

Guest Poet

On Monday, April 27, the English II class had a special treat: a guest poet. Ms. Julia Kudravetz, a poet and teacher at Johns Hopkins University, came to class for a special lesson in Ekphrastic poetry (poetry inspired by art). She led a very interesting discussion about Winslow Homer's painting The Veteran in a New Field. We also discussed Edward Hopper's House by the Railroad. The students created some powerful poetry in response to these paintings. The Highland View Academy English Department was blessed to receive a grant from the Maryland Humanities Council to make this exciting opportunity possible.

My Walk to Work

Isn't my walk to school beautiful? It makes me think of Anne of Green Gables walking through the gorgeous springs of Prince Edward Island on her way to her little school house. It makes me think of Robert Frost's way of celebrating nature. It makes me happy to be alive and thankful for where I live and the job that I love.

A Prayer in Spring
by Robert Frost

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfil.

Final Extra Credit

Grammar errors annoy me, especially in places where they should have been edited by a number of different people before becoming public (books, brochures, websites, signs, etc.). So, I've decided to start taking pictures of these grammar errors when I find them, so that I can use them for extra credit opportunities.

On my way to the airport for my trip to Ireland, I encountered this sign. For extra credit in English class, please do the following:

1) Write out the text of the sign as it appears
2) Rewrite the text, with the grammar correct
3) Turn it in by Friday, May 15, 2009