Summer Reading Unit
Required Reading
Wallace, M. (2008) The way we will be 50 years from today: 60 of the world's greatest minds
        share their vision of the next half century. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Steinbeck, J. (2002) The gatekeepers: Inside the admissions process of a premier
        college. New York: Penguin Books.
 

Summer Reading Writing Projects
20 Say-Mean Matter entries per book as described by the Summer Reading assignment on the school web site.

Analytical Writing.

The Gatekeepers retold the experiences of high school seniors, their parents and counselors, and of college admissions officers. It painted a picture of advantage for those in elitist private education. In a 500 word essay, analyze and comment on the admissions process. Based on this information, how will this affect your own application process? To which colleges are you thinking of applying? Write formally in an academic tone. This is not a reflective essay. You are analyzing the text and drawing conclusions for your own decision making process. Make an argument. Use MLA.

Use at least 5 references from The Gatekeepers and 5 web sites. Ten citations minimum. I recommend you use the Say-Mean-Matter entries you've already done as your references.  Use MLA.

Draft 1 due Friday, Sept 12
Draft 2 due Friday, Sept 19
Draft 3 due when you write a 7,  8, or 9 paper.  (Oct 3)


Speculative Writing.

What do you think you will be doing fifty years from today? This is a good question. Write a speculative essay based upon
The Way We Will be 50 Years from Today: 60 of the World's Greatest Minds Share Their Vision of the Next Half Century.

Use at least 10 references from the book, also one from a newspaper, one from a magazine (no web sites). 12 citations minimum. You may adopt a similar tone as one of the authors in the book; however, you must still have at least 12 references. I recommend you use the Say-Mean-Matter entries you've already done as your references.  Use MLA.


Draft 1 due Friday, Sept. 26
Draft 2 due Friday, Oct 3
Draft 3 due when you write a 7,  8, or 9 paper.  (Oct 19)

Sample Commentary Essay

Sample compare and contrast paper.

 
Summary and Recommendations of Compare and Contrast Essay Assignment 2002
Summary and Recommendations of Jonathan Essay 2003