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FOR ALL STUDENTS OHS Summer Reading 2012:
Update on Oakton High School Summer Reading
At the end of May, the Oakton community chose Outliers and The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth via online voting as our school-wide summer reading assignments. After discussion with a number of parents and faculty members about the language and behaviors represented in The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth, Oakton High School administration would like to amend the summer reading assignment. While rising seniors may choose whichever option they prefer, rising freshmen, sophomores, and juniors should read Outliers. Parents, unless you have already permitted your underclass students to read The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth, please direct them to read Outliers. All other aspects of the assignment (central question, instructions for annotation) remain the same. If you have any questions regarding this change, please contact Ms. Kannapell at LMKannapell@fcps.edu.
FOR ALL STUDENTS OHS Summer Reading 2012:
The Outliers or The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth
What defines success? Is success determined by popularity? By academic or athletic accomplishments? By innovation, integrity, or personal satisfaction? Through Oakton High School’s summer reading selections for 2012, students will reflect on their own mindsets, talents, choices, and ambitions as they investigate what two writers believe are the keys to successful living.
Through a community-wide vote, teachers, students and parents selected two books as their top choices for this year’s summer reading: The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell and The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth by Alexandra Robbins*. Rising freshmen, sophomores and juniors should read The Outliers and rising seniors may choose whichever book they prefer. Read actively by taking notes in the margins or on your paper so that you will be able to recall and discuss what you have read when you arrive at Oakton in September. Here are some ideas to prompt your annotation of the book:
- Connect—How can you personally connect to an example or argument in a particular passage?
- Predict—Think ahead. What are the implications of the anecdote or example in a particular passage or chapter?
- Visualize and Respond—What images does the author conjure in your mind? Why does he or she choose that image?
- Question and Clarify—What confuses you or does not seem to make sense? Can you clarify later?
- Summarize—What are the main ideas in each chapter and in the book as a whole?
- Analyze—How does the author construct his or her argument? What key details and stylistic features comprise the argument?
- Evaluate—What is your opinion of the author’s perspective? Is it thoroughly logical? Is it realistic?
Ultimately, the book you read should help you to reflect personally: how do you define success in high school and beyond? Compare or contrast your own understanding of success with the perspectives of Gladwell and/or Robbins. Your reactions and notes will contribute to school-wide discussions at the beginning of September.
If you have any questions about Oakton’s all-school reading assignment, you may contact Colleen Eddy, English Department Chair, at CAEddy@fcps.edu. Students enrolled in AP courses should check the Oakton website for additional assignments.
*Important note: The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth follows the lives of several high school students and incorporates potentially offensive language and behaviors that are unfortunately present at the high school level. Parents, please assist your child in making the best choice of summer reading for his or her individual needs.
AP English Literature and Composition
AP US Government Comparative and Honors
AP Music Theory: There is no summer reading assignment. Students must purchase the workbook for Music in Theory and Practice, 8th edition, by Benward and Saker.
Last update:
July 2, 2012
Curator: Cris Bradshaw
Banner Design By: Hallie Eilerts '08