Summer Reading 2011

The English Department encourages all students to begin their summer reading projects early and to do a particularly good job on this important assignment. Summer reading is a vital part of any college preparatory curriculum. The English Department wants very much to engender a sense of appreciation for good literature. In addition, we know that the very best way to develop vocabulary and a sense of language structure and usage is to read widely and deeply. Clearly, the best students are those who have begun to read early and who continue to do so throughout their academic experience.

The books that the department has assigned are considered a part of the curriculum; they will be referred to and discussed in class, and, in some cases, essay assignments will be based on them. They are books of recognized literary merit that should be a part of the background of a well-educated person.

The books that students choose are in many cases more contemporary than classic. They should engage students' interest and stimulate their thinking.

We encourage the parents to support the summer reading program. They may even want to read the books themselves and discuss them with the students. This type of serious intellectual experience really is the essence of a college preparatory education; it gives students the cultural touchstones that they will need not only to have a successful academic experience but also to examine and evaluate the quality of their life's experiences.