Dual Enrollment English Summer Assignment

First Baptist Academy

Dual Enrollment English 

Mrs. Lopez ~ LLopez@fbalions.org

SUMMER REQUIREMENTS

Required Materials

• 1 notebook 

• Loose-leaf paper

• Highlighters (blue, green, yellow)

• Black or blue pens

• The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne

All summer assignments must be hand written in notebooks and are due on the first day of school. 

Rhetoric: the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing 

SUMMER ASSIGNMENT 1:  TED Talk Analysis

Explore the TED website and select one Talk that interests you to analyze and complete the following questions in your notebook; be specific and give supporting evidence.

Title of TED Talk:     Speaker:     Date:

1. What is the main idea (argument), or major claim of the speaker? 

2. How did the speaker open his/her talk? What effect does this have on the audience?

3. What concrete ‘thing’ is being discussed by the speaker? 

4. What 3 abstract ideas or concepts are discussed by the speaker? 

5. Does the speaker define any terms? If so, which and how?

6. What does the speaker want viewers to think or do because of his/her talk? How do you know?

7. What strategies does the speaker use to strengthen his/her argument and keep his listener’s attention?

8. Is the speaker’s argument coming from an ethical, logical, or emotional perspective or a combination of persuasive appeals? How do you know? Give specific examples.

SUMMER ASSIGNMENT 2: Documentary Film Analysis 

Analyze the rhetoric and argument in a documentary.  Your task is to watch one 90 minute or longer documentary and complete the questions below.  Essentially you are analyzing the argument and rhetoric that the filmmaker uses.  How is it developed?  Is it successful? Focus on how the filmmaker presents his or her case. You are not watching the documentary for entertainment purposes, you are analyzing the rhetoric and creating an arsenal for your argument/synthesis essays. 

Documentary Title: Duration:      Documentary Director:  Site, database, or streaming service: Publication Date:

1. Who is the main speaker? Title? Position? 

2. Who is the intended audience? 

3. What is the occasion of the documentary? A certain anniversary? etc..

4. What emotions did you feel while watching the documentary? Exactly what did you see or hear to cause those feelings/emotions?

5. Who are the speakers?   Is each credible?  Do you believe him/her? Is there a bias? 

6. What argument is the documentary making? 

7. What type of evidence is given in the documentary? 

8. What did you notice about the syntax/language that was used? 

9. What is the purpose of the documentary? What does the speaker want you to understand, do, act on, etc?

10. One full paragraph: What opinion did you form/what is your position on the subject presented in this documentary? Give evidence to support your position and explain HOW your evidence supports your position. 

SUMMER ASSIGNMENT 3: The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne (students must read and annotate a new hard copy, not an audiobook or electronic copy, and it must be brought to class on day 1)

Nathaniel Hawthorne is an artist; this novel is his masterpiece. As Dual Enrollment students studying language and composition, our purpose in reading The Scarlet Letter is not to study it as a work of fiction, but as a masterpiece of language. We will draw our attention to the details of language. We will analyze the elements of language he uses and strategies he chooses with his reader and his purpose constantly in mind. With that being said, there is no substitute for this work; reading anything other than the novel itself will not allow you to analyze Hawthorne’s writing style. If you choose shortcuts or other methods in lieu of reading the novel in its entirety, then Dual Enrollment English is not for you - and that’s okay. 

Rhetorical Devices to achieve purpose: 

We are ultimately studying Hawthorne’s STYLE and the components that comprise it. Style involves the author’s choice and arrangement of words in sentences (diction/syntax), and the use of sensory and/or figurative language, tone and mood. Look for such things as the length and complexity of sentences; the use of words that are obscure; the balanced, often parallel syntax; occasional metaphors; excessive punctuation; and tone of friendly formality. As you read, think about what effect his style has on the reader. 

Watch for the following as you read. When you find prominent examples of each, actively consider why he used it and how he used it. What is his purpose, and how does his use of rhetorical devices help him convey his purpose to the reader? 

Ambiguity, Allegory, Symbolism, Description, Word, Choice, Contradiction/Irony, Connotations, Motif, Tone 

Task: 

1. Select 6 pivotal points in the novel. For each part, indicate the chapter and explain why it is significant. Analyze the rhetoric of your chosen passage and discuss what these parts of the novel reveal about the author’s position and purpose or about a character. Make sure to discuss the language used by the author and the effect it has on the reader. Re-read the first three paragraphs on this page to help you know what to look for and discuss. Do not give plot summaries. 

2. After you have read the book, find one poem that relates and connects to one of the pivotal moments you chose in part A. The poem must have an author (first and last name). (You cannot make up a poem for this section.) The connection must be related to rhetoric/language and the purpose of the pivotal point (your response in part A will help you.) You must bring a physical copy of the poem to class. Write a paragraph in which you explain the connections and relationships between the literature and the poem. Make specific references to each text and be ready to discuss in class. 

The Scarlet Letter annotated, poem, and the three summer handwritten assignments in your notebook are due in class on the first day of school.