Homework Hero:Wardlaw-Hartridge School

SOPHOMORES: Your first Summer Essays were due on July 20; if you have not submitted your essays on Foster's book you should attend to it as soon as possible. The second essay (concerning "Equus") is due August 1. Read and follow ALL directions; do your best work; follow the MLA format you have learned. Late assignments will be penalized; papers more than 5 days late will NOT be accepted.

Integrity: Doing what you said you would do and doing it on time. Doing what you know to do and doing it as it was meant to be done, and doing it on time. Doing what others would expect you to do, even if you never said you were going to do it, and doing it on time. Dealing with the consequences of not doing it, not doing it on time and being responsible to all of those impacted by your not doing what you said and were expected to do.

English II - All Sections	USEFUL RESOURCES: quickstudy.com has a number of good outlines to assist you in English. You may want to order (and use on a regular basis) the titles, English Composision & Style, English Grammar & Punctuation, Essays & Term Papers, and SAT Verbal Tips. These will answer some basic questions you may have and may be of great and on-going use to you. "100 Words to Make You Sound Smart" - American Heritage Dictionaries. We will use this book for our first 100 vocabulary words of the year. I will reproduce lists or 20 words each for you, but the book gives you the full resource. There is no penalty for working ahead.
English II
English II
English II

FYI - Random Information	Books Worth Reading: "The Pact" and "19 Minutes" by Jodi Picoult. Timely and well written books about difficult issues confronting both teens and their parents. These are books that could be read and discussed by the family, generally rated 'PG-13'. "Rant" - from the author of "Fight Club" another dark and twisted tale of disease, outlaw behavior and time travel; very meta-fiction like. Written in the form of an oral history it demands something of the reader. For Mature Audiences; Parental Advisory! "The Kite-Runner" - An excellent and insightful read. Now a major motion picture. "Shopgirl" - Steve Martin. Some adult content but an interesting insight to relationships and how we create them. "Into Thin Air" - John Krokauer. One of the suggest summer reading books. Fast moving and intense recounting of events for an ill-fated group on climbers on Mt. Everest. "A Million Little Pieces" and "My Friend Leonard" - both by James Frey. Despite the whirlwind of controversy thess books are still a powerful and dynamic read. For readers high school aged and up. "Teacher Man" - Frank McCourt. The author of "Angela's Ashes" and "'Tis" recounts his experiences of 30 years of teaching in the NYC public school system. Lyrical and enjoyable (especially for a teacher). "The Ninth Life of Louis Drax" - Liz Jensen. Interesting story interestingly told. Fifty percent of the narrative is communicated by a 9 year old boy who is in a coma. "Slammerkin" - Emma Donoghue. For mature readers, it is a fascinating and quick-moving story of a young and unfortunate girl in England in the mid-1700's. (PG-13) "Every Inch of Her" - Peter Sheridan. In the vein on "Angela's Ashes" it discusses the daily tragedies and triumphs of a derelict Dublin neighborhood and its inhabitants. "Ahab's Wife" - Sena J. Naslund. Exceptionally well-written story of the woman who grows up to marry the (in)famous character from Melville's classic work. Gives great insight into Ahab BEFORE he lost his leg. Lengthy but a joy to read. "You Remind Me of Me" - Dan Chaon. Well-wriiten and insightful telling of a family secret and unknown connections. Very entertaining and enjoyable. Good summer reading. "The Confessions of Max Tivoli" - Andrew Sean Geer. Written in the form of a letter to his son, Max reveals what he has learned about life and love by having lived it "backwards." Extremely articulate and touching. "Angels & Demons" - Dan Brown. Published before the now famous "Da Vinci Code" this book is an exciting, fast-paced story set in Rome. Be careful or you might learn something along the way! "Charming Billy" - Alice McDermott. Superbly written, it is lyrical, amusing, touching and poingant. The greatest tragedy is the book is fewer than 250 pages. "That Night" - Alice McDermott. A book for young lovers, a sort of 'Romeo and Juliet' story. Written with sensitivity and a poetic turn. A winner! 'A Bigamist's Daughter' - Alice McDermott. What can I say, I'm a fan... "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" - Thomas C. Foster. REQUIRED of students enterin ghte sophomore year, recommend to all who want a better understanding of books and how they are made. With chapters titled, "Every Trip is a Quest (Except When It's Not)" and "If It's Square, It's a Sonnet" how can you resist? Helpful to those who find reading a mystery. "We Need to Talk About Kevin" - Lionel Shriver. A well-written and deeply disturbing look at the raising of a Columbine-type teenaged mass murderer. If you liked "Equus"... "The Dante Club" - Matthew Pearl. A good read for English and Psychology majors and anyone who enjoys a twisted murder mystery. The story is set in Boston in 1865 and features the leading literary figures of the times. "The Language Police" - Diane Ravich. How political correctness and influence from the Religious Right and the Liberal Left are controlling the contents of your library and standardized tests. "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom - touching and well-written; makes me feel good about being a teacher. I also recommend his latest work, "Five People You Meet in Heaven" which is a good, quick read and lingers in the reader's mind. "Five People You Meet in Heaven" also by Mitch Albom. A touching parable for all ages. Short read, long think. "Stargirl" - Spinelli. A simple tale of friendship and love. A quick and enjoyable read that leaves the reader very satisfied and thinking. Is a requred read for some middle schools. "Man of the Century" by James Thayer. A light, semi-historical look at the most remarkable man of the 20th Century. "Everything's Eventual" by Stephen King. "14 Dark Tales" from the modern master. An entertaining anytime read, especially "1408" - later made into a film. "Ray Bradbury Stories" - 100 of the best short stories by one of the best fiction writers on this generation. Very entertaining and enjoyable. Classics: "Lost Horizon" - James Hilton. A bit dated and politically incorrect by today's standards but still a great story at the heart of it. "Mother Night" - Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. A serio-comic, ultimately tragic morality tale. Easy to read, harder to consider. What if it were me.... "Animal Farm" - George Orwell. Consider it "1984" Lite. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" - Ken Kesey. "Are you on the bus or off the bus?" Rent the film and re-live the experience. Also used in the senior elective, "Individual and Society." "Beowulf" as translated by Seamus Heaney. A great story that is far easier to read than most previous versions. It's not just for English majors any more! A good primer for Sophomores who will read the tale in the first marking period of the school year.