275 Prospect Street, PO Box 67, Norwood, MA 02062
781.762.6804 Phone | 781.762.0229 Fax

Incoming Senior Class 
Summer Assignment

Choose one of the following assignments to complete for your Senior Summer Assignment for English class.  Written work is typed and double-spaced.

  1. You have been hired as English Department Chair and have been tasked with reviewing the curriculum. Keeping in mind the NHS Mission Statement that encourages “students to become independent thinkers who value learning,” choose one text per year (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior) and either defend or refute its place in the curriculum. Then choose one text from your own personal reading experience that should be added to the Senior curriculum and defend your choice. Write your assignment in essay form, making sure to include introduction with thesis, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Length: 3-4 pages.
     
  2. Write an original piece of creative writing of substance. Choose to write a short story, a script, or 3-5 poems. If you choose to write a series of poems, it should be unified by a common theme. Include a written statement in which you reflect on your thinking and process. Length (for both creative and reflective writing): 3-4 pages
     
  3. Track a local, state, national, or international current event through the news. Either write an article investigating and analyzing the current event OR make a video of your investigation and analysis. Make sure to include a script or storyboard with the video. Students will receive extra credit if the article or video is published in a local paper or on the local cable access channel. Length of article: 3-4 pages. Length of script/storyboard: 2-3 pages
     
  4. Attend a play, musical, or art exhibit. Then write a statement in which you reflect on the experience and its significance to you. Length: 3-4 pages
     
  5. Read a book from a 2021 New York Times bestsellers list (avoid the children and young adult list). Then complete one of the following assignments:
    • Write an essay in which you justify why it should be or why it should not be a NYT bestseller. Length: 3-4 pages
    • Create a music soundtrack that traces one character’s development or exemplifies a theme of the book. Then explain your choices in writing. Submit the soundtrack and writing for full credit.  Length of explanation: 2-3 pages
    • Compose and record original music and/or lyrics that either trace one character’s development or exemplify a theme in the book. Then explain your choices in writing. Submit the recording and writing for full credit.  Length of explanation: 2-3 pages
    • Create a two- or three-dimensional representation (artwork, sculpture, photograph, graphics, video) of a character or theme of the book. Then explain your choices in writing. Submit the artwork and writing for full credit.  Length of explanation: 2-3 pages

Senior Summer Assignment Rubric

Click here for a printable copy of the Senior Summer Assignment Rubric

Category Fully Meets Expectations (3) Somewhat Meets Expectations (2) Does Not Meet Expectations (1)
Ideas

Written work:

Demonstrates evidence of thoughtful reflection.

Includes both original ideas and insight. 

Shows deep thinking

Written work:

Demonstrates evidence of reflection.

Attempts both original ideas and insight.

Shows some thoughtfulness.

Written work:

Demonstrates little, if any, reflection.

Includes little, if any, originality and insight.

Shows little, if any, thought.
Content Written work clearly articulates and thoroughly explains the student’s ideas.  Use of detail gives substance to the discussion. Written work articulates and explains the student’s ideas.  Some use of detail gives substance to the discussion. Written work does not clearly nor thoroughly explain the student’s ideas.  Lack of detail results in an insubstantial discussion.
Presentation Presentation is clear.  No grammatical or structural flaws interfere with the reader’s ability to understand the written work. Assignment is the appropriate length. Presentation is mostly clear.  Grammatical and/or structural flaws may occasionally interfere with the reader’s ability to understand the written work.  Assignment is the appropriate length. Presentation is careless and/or unclear.  Grammatical and/or structural flaws interfere with the reader’s ability to understand the written work.  Assignment is an inappropriate length. 

 

Due: The First Day of School

  • If you do not have your assignment on the day it is due, you will lose ten points for each day it is late.  No assignments will be accepted after September 13, 2021.

All seniors will make a two-minute oral presentation of their assignment in the first week of class.

  • This assignment will count as 10% of your final grade for Term 1.

This site provides information using PDF, visit this link to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.