Post Graduate Summer Reading Assignments
Click here to view PDF
Summer reading expectations at NMH are divided into two categories: an English department assignment and a selection for a book discussion group held at the beginning of the academic year.
The book required for English class and the subsequent writing assignments are designed to introduce students to and help them prepare for the academic challenges they will face in each course. These readings are an integral part of the NMH classroom experience and it is important that students read with intention, take meaningful notes, complete the writing assignment, and think about the important characteristics of the work before they return to school. The required reading assignment for English class and subsequent writing assignments are listed below.
Tim O’Brien, The Things They Carried
From the two assignments below, select one and write about 250 words to demonstrate your knowledge and grasp of the book’s themes and points.
- Find a significant passage and show specifically how that passage helps a reader understand the whole book.
- Find a gap that you think should be filled. Write a scene or episode to fill that gap. At the start of your episode, say exactly and explicitly where the episode belongs (give a page number).
Students are expected to email their written responses to summer_reading_notes@nmhschool.org prior to the first day of classes. Please bring The Things They Carried to the first English class meeting. If you have questions regarding the English reading call Sandy Messer at 413-498-0010.
The second reading assignment is for a school-wide book discussion initiative. The goal of each book group is to have people with a common interest to discuss a book at length. It is important for students to read with close attention to detail, but there is no writing assigned. Students will be evaluated based on thoughtful participation in the discussion group.
Students will be placed in grade-level discussion groups based on books they select. The books listed below have been chosen by NMH faculty and staff. Students provide us with their top seven selections (for the books allotted to their specific grade) via this link: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AWcHFNpe3AsTR7ilP6GZ5KOkWMZvr8yuhmKuUwP...). Student selections must be made by May 20th. Students will be notified of their assigned book by Diane Garland of the dean of the faculty’s office during the first week in June.
Those students who do not submit selections will be randomly placed in a discussion group. If you have difficulty with the link for the Google docs selection page, please contact Diane Garland at 413-498-3432 or at dgarland@nmhschool.org.