Summer Reading

The teachers of Norristown Area High School and the Roosevelt Campus of NAHS feel it is important for students to continue to maintain and improve reading and analysis skills through the summer months as well as appreciate literature for personal enjoyment. To that end, the teachers in the English department have put together the following list of suggested titles for grades 9-12. Students in grades 9-12 will select a book from this list or one that is on grade level and 200+ pages. Students will read their chosen title and complete the assignment linked on this page within the first two weeks of the school year.

Summer Reading for the Main Campus of NAHS and the Roosevelt Campus of NAHS are the same. This list can be found on both school's websites.

Summer Reading Assignment Form

Español Summer Reading Assignment Form

All AP Summer Reading Assignments are also available on the NAHS website.

Titles with an asterisk (*) next to them are available for check out in the NAHS library before the close of school.

Summer Reading Lists

Advanced Placement (AP) Summer Reading

AP Literature (12th grade):

AP Literature Summer Reading Assignment

Saving the reading for the fall means falling behind in reading.

Summer Reading: Othello, The Moor, by William Shakespeare

Materials: 

1. PDF Copy of Othello or Othello from The Compact Bedford Introduction Literature: Reading, Thinking, Writing 12th Edition by Michael Meyer and D. Quentin Miller found in the NAHS library

2. Spiral notebook (summer journal)--composition notebooks not allowed

While you READ the play, write 10 annotated notes for EACH ACT of the play. This equals 50 notations.

→ Inside your spiral notebook: Write down your thoughts, reactions, and questions you have about the characters, plot, conflict, language, setting, time period, government structure, etc. 

  • Label each ACT (Act I, Act II, Act III, etc); write the page number/line number of each quote or scene you are commenting on. Then, write your reaction, question, or thought. 

Minimum sentence length:        2

Maximum sentence length:       6

  • The summer journal will be due the 1st week of school after Labor Day weekend. (10 annotations for each act of play)

  • This annotated assignment is worth 100 points.

  • Seminar will be based on your notations.

  • An AP Practice Test will conclude the unit, along with another set of journals: Dialectical Journals

  • Dialectical Journal writing will be completed in class, before each seminar commences.

Students may reach out to their instructor (Mrs. Loebig) with questions: mloebighaberle@nasd.k12.pa.us

AP Language and Composition (11th grade): 

Students should pick up a copy of selected readings from Ms. Boyle in room 351 before leaving for summer break.

“Welcome Guide to the AP Lang Essay”

  • Read and annotate the packet.

  • Create a study guide for any/all of the vocabulary

Tone Words packet

  • Each word has a specific definition related to rhetoric and an example of how a writer would use that tone to influence the audience. You should know the definition as well as the purpose. 

  • Study the words’ definitions and be able to identify the purpose of specific words and how writers use them in persuasive writing.

Elements of Style Part I packet

  • For each of the 11 rules, write:

    • A brief summary of the rule in your own words (1–2 sentences).

    • One original sentence that correctly follows the rule.

    • One original sentence that breaks the rule (label it as incorrect and explain why).

English Language and Composition Section II Packet

  • This packet contains the three essay prompts explained in the “Welcome Guide to the AP Lang Essay.” You will be writing/typing these three essays in a google doc to be shared with me at kboyle@nasd.k12.pa.us. You must time yourself, giving yourself a maximum of an extra 15 minutes for each essay (70 minutes for synthesis, 55 for rhetorical analysis, and 55 for argument.) This should be the last thing you do before you come back to school as we will discuss your essays the first week and “I don’t remember what I wrote” is not an appropriate response. 

    • Do not use AI for any reason for these essays. Each should be typed in one sitting on a google doc which I will be given edit access to so that I can see key strokes and how long you spent on the essay. 

Three Rubrics--grade your three essays according to the rubric. 

  • Synthesis

  • Rhetorical Analysis

  • Argument

Students may reach out to their instructor (Ms. Boyle) with questions: kboyle@nasd.k12.pa.us

AP Seminar:

Complete Summer Work Packet for AP Seminar.

Students may reach out to their instructor (Mr. Dinenno) with questions: sdinenno@nasd.k12.pa.us

AP Research:

Complete Summer Work Packet for AP Research.

Students may reach out to their instructor (Mr. Dinenno) with questions: sdinenno@nasd.k12.pa.us

AP Chemistry:

Students can join Ms. Bovenkerk's Khan Academy Course and complete the assigned tasks. 

Students may reach out to their instructor (Ms. Bovenkerk) with questions: nbovenkerk@nasd.k12.pa.us 

*This list was developed through a survey of young adult book recommendations listed throughout Montgomery County PA and those listed on various websites including MCIU#23, American Library Association (ALA), American Association of School Librarians (AASL), Goodreads.com, Amazon.com, and The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).