E4 and H4: Independent Reading and Vocabulary for 4/6/15 Quiz

Independent Reading 

• The book must be at least 300 pages or approved by instructor. 
• The book needs to be appropriate to the level of a high school senior in content, context, and reading level. 
• This should NOT be a book you have read for another English class. Pick a book about something you actually want to read.

Essay #1: To be written after chapter four, but prior to the halfway point. It should be 500 words and answer one or more of the following questions––

• What’s the point of view and how well is it executed? Support and explain.
• Are the characters believable? Are they well-written? Support and explain.
• What themes are being set up? How do you know?
• What motifs and symbols seem to be important at this point? Support and explain.

Essay #2: To be written after the halfway point, but prior to the end. It should be 650 words and answer one or more of the following questions––

• How well does the author build the characters? Support and explain.
• Is the plot developed naturally and believably? Support and explain.
• Have the themes continued to be weaved into the narrative? Have new themes become apparent? Explain.
• Are there any significant changes to the motifs and or symbols? Have they been developed further? Support and explain.

Essay #3: To be written after you finish the book. It should be 800 words and answer one or more of the following questions (feel free to bring in and acknowledge other sources)––

• How does the book fit into the time which it was written? Support and explain.
• How did the author’s own experiences influence the themes, plot, and characterizations? Support and explain.
• Does the author do a good job writing an interesting story? What areas could use editing or improvement? Support and explain.

Vocabulary List for 4/6/15 Quiz

• Laconic: using few words; expressing much in few words (they may not say much, but they are worth listening to)
• Lamprophony: loudness and clarity of voice
• Liquisipidous: liquid minded (overly focused on the connections rather than the details); often able to wiggle through the smallest holes in instructions to do what they want, the way they want to
• Loquacious: talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling (often they hide the truth in a tidal wave of words)
• Lugubrious: mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner (Eeyore plays at it)
• Lunarganic: grown on the moon without pesticides or chemicals (very expensive and only found in Russia since it's the only country with a known Moon base)
• Marriage: the long-term partnership of like-minded people for support and mutual economic, mental emotional, spiritual, and sexual benefit. (Up until 150 years ago, falling in love was a luxury and people made their marriages work because more than love was riding on them––some people still adopt that view)
• Machiavellian: characterized by subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty (the person who sets up the plan and never gets caught)
• Malaise: a condition of general bodily weakness or discomfort, often marking the onset of a disease