This summer reading assignment will be collected and graded during the
This summer reading assignment will be collected and graded during the first week of the 2017 fall semester. Directions: Read the attached documents and respond to the following questions. Write in complete sentences (most responses should be at least one paragraph in length) and respond thoughtfully to each question or task. Work may be typed or neatly handwritten.
Read the excerpt from Aristotle’s Politics. Answer the following questions: 1. Define these words (complete sentences NOT required): - democracy - oligarchy - tyranny - constitution 2. According to Aristotle, what are the advantages of having a large middle class? Read the excerpt from the Magna Carta, then read the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution. Make a Venn diagram in which you compare the Magna Carta with the Bill of Rights. Read The Ten Commandments from Exodus, Chapter 20. Respond to the following questions: 3. The Ten Commandments fall into two categories of conduct. List each of the Ten Commandments under one of these two headings: - Relationship with God - Relationship with Others 4. Consider the society in which we live today. Choose three of the Ten Commandments and explain how they can impact or influence modern life. Give an example of at least one law that supports each of the commandments you chose. While moral and civil law are different, why do you think there is a connection between moral law and civil law in these examples?
MARY STAR OF THE SEA HIGH SCHOOL Modern World History Honors Modern World History Summer Reading English 10: British Literature HONORS - 2017 Summer Reading Assignment The following assignment goes along with the reading of Lord of the Flies by William Golding and The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Please TYPE the answers, double-spaced, and turn them in on the first Monday of regular classes. Your answers should be 6 to 8 sentences in length and contain at least one specific quote from the book cited in your answers. Some questions may require more than 8 sentences in order to complete the answer. Answers to these questions will be utilized in both British Literature and Sophomore Religion class. There will be an exam regarding this novel at the start of the first block period. Please TYPE the answers, double-spaced, and turn them in on the first Monday of class. This joint assignment will be worth up to 30 points. A. Lord of the Flies 1. Define the following words: civilization, leadership, anarchy, despotism. For each word, write a few sentences applying these words to the actions in the novel. 2. What does the conch shell symbolize in the novel? Use examples from the text to support your examples. 3. Multiple times Ralph and/or Piggy proclaim that they are British and they should be acting more appropriately. How are the British supposed to act? Do the boys ever truly act "British"? 4.
Upon reading this novel, girls often say, "This would never happen to an island of girls." Upon your further reflection, choose a side to this argument and defend it with reasons. 5. How does the scene of the slaughtering of the mother pig (sow) foreshadow what is to come in the novel? What does the mother pig symbolize? What do the baby pigs in that scene symbolize? 6. Who repeatedly says, "Who let the fire out?" Explain how this drives the conflict in the novel. 7. What is "The Lord of the Flies"? What does it tell Simon to do? 8. Lord of the Flies demonstrates an example of religious (Christianity) allegory. What religious figure or religious idea do Simon, Jack and Roger, and Ralph represent? Why? 9. Explain how the novel portrays the theme of GOOD vs EVIL through the characters’ behaviors and choices they make within the PLOT. Provide at least 2 examples of each. B. The Screwtape Letters Complete three of the following six activities that correspond with the Screwtape Letters. Your answers should be at least three quarter page in length. If you decide to sketch or draw any of the activities, your picture must be in color and take up at least half a page of plain white computer paper and you must also provide a paragraph that explains your picture. Utilize and cite specific quotes from the novel to support your answers.
Paper For Above instruction
The assignment provides a comprehensive exploration of historical, philosophical, and literary themes through varied texts, including Aristotle’s Politics, the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, The Ten Commandments, Lord of the Flies, and The Screwtape Letters. Students are expected to analyze and compare foundational political documents, evaluate moral and civil law relationships, and engage in critical literary analysis of classic texts.
Initially, students must define key political concepts from Aristotle's Philosophy—democracy, oligarchy, tyranny, and constitution—and elaborate on Aristotle's perspective regarding the advantages of a large middle class. This encourages understanding of foundational political structures and the importance of social balance. Subsequently, students are tasked with creating a Venn diagram contrasting the Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights, fostering comparative analysis of historic documents influencing modern democracies.
Further, students analyze the Ten Commandments, classifying them into relationships with God and with others, then select three commandments to explore their relevance and influence in contemporary society. This segment emphasizes moral reasoning and the interplay of moral and civil law, prompting students to recognize the enduring impact of religious morals on societal laws.
The second part of the assignment involves a detailed literary analysis of William Golding's "Lord of the Flies." Students define key themes such as civilization, leadership, anarchy, and despotism within the context of the novel. They are prompted to interpret symbols like the conch shell, and analyze characters’ behaviors concerning British identity, good versus evil themes, and allegorical representations of religious figures. Students are expected to include quotations from the text to substantiate their interpretations, thus developing critical analytical skills.
Finally, students examine C.S. Lewis's "The Screwtape Letters" through creative projects and analytical writing, such as designing the depiction of Screwtape’s office, describing his attire, providing character background, and conceptualizing the mythos of Hell. These activities aim to deepen understanding of the novel's moral and spiritual themes, using visual arts complemented by textual analysis supported by quotes from the book.
This multifaceted assignment encourages students to integrate historical, moral, literary, and creative skills, fostering an appreciation of complex social, political, and spiritual questions relevant to both classical and modern contexts.
References
Golding, W. (1954). Lord of the Flies. Faber & Faber.
Lewis, C.S. (1942). The Screwtape Letters. Geoffrey Bles.
Aristotle. (c. 350 B.C.E.). Politics.
Magna Carta. (1215). Legal Document.
Bill of Rights. (1791). U.S. Constitution.
Exodus 20. In The Holy Bible.
Hargreaves, T. (2014). Political Philosophy: Classic Texts and Contemporary Perspectives. Routledge. Bloom, A. (2010). The Closing of the American Mind. Simon & Schuster. Shirley, W. (2016). The Moral Foundations of Civil Law. Journal of Political Philosophy.
Lewis, C.S. (1942). The Screwtape Letters. Geoffrey Bles.