Summer Reading 2020

The Hanover High School English Department is requiring that you select at least one (1) book to read over the summer. The book can be fiction or non-fiction and should be something you are eager to read—what you select is up to you.If you enjoy history, music, or sports, you might select a work that investigates those topics. If you are thinking of taking the Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition Exam, you might want to select a work from the list of commonly appearing titles Conversely, if you enjoy history, music, or sports, you might select a work that investigates those topics. Read for reading’s sake, but don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

To acquire summer reading titles, a number of options exist. 
  

    •    Check out ebooks and audiobooks from the HHS Library or The Howe or your local library. Learn how


    •    Keep checking your local library websites for information about curbside pick-up options. 

 

Students enrolled in honors literature classes in the fall (Modern American Dramatic Lit) or spring (Russian Lit): You will have required summer reading and assessments for these courses.  For Modern American Dramatic Lit you will be reading Long Day’s Journey into Night by Eugene O’Neill, and for Russian Lit you will be reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (translation by Joel Carmichael, Bantam Classic edition).  If you requested an honors class, you should check your school email to learn when these books will be available for pick up.  

Seniors, we also recommend that you get started on the college essay process by reading several sample essays—readily available online—to get ideas.  Here are some New York Times selections: < http://tiny.cc/6r676y>.  The more thought and effort you can give this task in advance, the easier the process will go for you.  The 2020-2021 Common Application essay prompts are:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? 

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. 
    
You might also consider answering the optional COVID-19 essay on the Common App.

Enjoy your summer and your summer reading! 
-The Hanover High School English Department