LuvingLife Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Does anyone know of any good books that are great for English? I am in the 10th grade and would like to start reading some books that I can use to write essays and summarys. I am considering getting the Scarlett Letter and using Sparknotes for that, any other books that your daughters use for English? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Do you have a copy of The Well Trained Mind? If not, then get one from the library or purchase it. . . It has GREAT book list! (And lots of other great stuff!) The Well Educated Mind would be super for you in guiding you on how to read/study the books you are going to read. Meanwhile, you can google up the AP English Literature book lists and choose some from there, as they are presumably a good bunch of classics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvingLife Posted October 22, 2010 Author Share Posted October 22, 2010 Do you have a copy of The Well Trained Mind? If not, then get one from the library or purchase it. . . It has GREAT book list! (And lots of other great stuff!) The Well Educated Mind would be super for you in guiding you on how to read/study the books you are going to read. Meanwhile, you can google up the AP English Literature book lists and choose some from there, as they are presumably a good bunch of classics! I will check that out the next time I get to go to the library. My family went yesterday while I was at violin practice, and I had my sister check out The Great Gatsby, An American Tragedy, and Scarlett Letter. Right now I am reading The Great Gatsby, and it looks pretty good to me. Thank you for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 I second The Well Educated Mind. You may not enjoy the process ;) but you will never regret one minute spent on learning and practicing analytical reading skills. Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvingLife Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share Posted October 23, 2010 I second The Well Educated Mind. You may not enjoy the process ;) but you will never regret one minute spent on learning and practicing analytical reading skills. Rosie Thanks Rosie, I actually am enjoying the analytical skill aspect of it right now. It's better than I thought it would be, I like it a lot more than geometry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Wisc Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Animal Farm Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Beowulf Catcher in the Rye Christmas Carol Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court Dracula Epic of Gilgamesh Ethan Frome Evangeline (Longfellow) Fahrenheit 451 Frankenstein Giants in the Earth Grapes of Wrath Great Gatsby Hobbit Huckleberry Finn Importance of Being Ernest Invisible Man (H.G. Wells) Last of the Mohicans Light in the Forest Lord of the Flies Lord of the Rings Trilogy Macbeth Man in the Iron Mask Man Who Was Thursday Man without a Country Mere Christianity O Pioneers Odyssey Oedipus Rex Of Mice and Men Old Man and the Sea One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Oresteia Our Town Pride and Prejudice Prince and the Pauper Red Badge of Courage Rime of the Ancient Mariner Robinson Crusoe Scarlet Letter Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Song of Roland Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde The Screwtape Letters Theban Trilogy Three Musketeers Till We Have Faces Time Machine To Kill a Mockingbird Tom Sawyer Treasure Island Up From Slavery Walden William Bradford Plymouth’s Faithful Pilgrim Short stories: Legend of Sleepy Hallow Rip Van Winkle The Gift of the Magi The Lady and the Tiger The Black Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 I'm finding it easier to read short stories rather than novels. I'm able to read the story several times to really understand it well enough to discuss it and write about it. You will see some of the curricula that I am using right now in my signature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvingLife Posted October 26, 2010 Author Share Posted October 26, 2010 Adventures of Huckleberry FinnAnimal Farm Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Beowulf Catcher in the Rye Christmas Carol Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court Dracula Epic of Gilgamesh Ethan Frome Evangeline (Longfellow) Fahrenheit 451 Frankenstein Giants in the Earth Grapes of Wrath Great Gatsby Hobbit Huckleberry Finn Importance of Being Ernest Invisible Man (H.G. Wells) Last of the Mohicans Light in the Forest Lord of the Flies Lord of the Rings Trilogy Macbeth Man in the Iron Mask Man Who Was Thursday Man without a Country Mere Christianity O Pioneers Odyssey Oedipus Rex Of Mice and Men Old Man and the Sea One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Oresteia Our Town Pride and Prejudice Prince and the Pauper Red Badge of Courage Rime of the Ancient Mariner Robinson Crusoe Scarlet Letter Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Song of Roland Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde The Screwtape Letters Theban Trilogy Three Musketeers Till We Have Faces Time Machine To Kill a Mockingbird Tom Sawyer Treasure Island Up From Slavery Walden William Bradford Plymouth’s Faithful Pilgrim Short stories: Legend of Sleepy Hallow Rip Van Winkle The Gift of the Magi The Lady and the Tiger The Black Cat Thank you so much for this list, now I can really choose what I need for high school. And did she read all of those books? She sure is a fast reader! And Hunter, thank you for you help as well!:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Wisc Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 Thank you so much for this list, now I can really choose what I need for high school. And did she read all of those books? She sure is a fast reader! And Hunter, thank you for you help as well!:) This was the list of books that included what my son read for school and on his own. He is the kind of kid who curls up with the Autobiography of Ben Franklin for an evening read....most kids aren't so inclined. So, yes. He read them. But no, I would not put all of these into 4 years of high school English classes. I prefer that each year we do 6 to 8 books/units (a unit might be a set of short stories), pondered deeply, studied, and essayed rather than 2 dozen books read quickly and not chewed. Then I stack my bookshelves with good books I would like my kids to read, and I keep track of all the titles they read that I consider good literature for a final list that can be sent out to colleges if they request it. Does that help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 Take a look at the book lists in the Lightning Literature (Hewitt) curriculum--wonderful classics, and the selection is very user-friendly. Some random, off-the-top-of-my-head favorites: Jane Eyre Sense and Sensibility Pride and Prejudice Their Eyes Were Watching God--Zora Neal Hurston Uncle Tom's Cabin To Kill a Mockingbird A Separate Peace Great Gatsby Shakespeare Utopia Beowulf (Heaney translation) Canterbury Tales That should get you started . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam L in Mid Tenn Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 If you are interested in a textbook, "The Language of Literature" has a great selection of all forms of literature plus vocabulary, grammar, and writing assignments. Most of the literature selections are complete short stories and not bits from novels. We add a few whole novels during the year. But this text can easily be a complete English credit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 :iagree: I second The Well Educated Mind. You may not enjoy the process ;) but you will never regret one minute spent on learning and practicing analytical reading skills. Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvingLife Posted October 26, 2010 Author Share Posted October 26, 2010 This was the list of books that included what my son read for school and on his own. He is the kind of kid who curls up with the Autobiography of Ben Franklin for an evening read....most kids aren't so inclined. So, yes. He read them. But no, I would not put all of these into 4 years of high school English classes. I prefer that each year we do 6 to 8 books/units (a unit might be a set of short stories), pondered deeply, studied, and essayed rather than 2 dozen books read quickly and not chewed. Then I stack my bookshelves with good books I would like my kids to read, and I keep track of all the titles they read that I consider good literature for a final list that can be sent out to colleges if they request it. Does that help? Sorry, I meant son not daughter, lol I got mixed up! But yes this does help me very much, I get what you are saying and I agree with you that it is better to study a book thoroughly rather than reading a whole bunch of books and not really getting the point of the book. Thank you so much for the help Jean I appreciate it!:001_smile: If you are interested in a textbook, "The Language of Literature" has a great selection of all forms of literature plus vocabulary, grammar, and writing assignments. Most of the literature selections are complete short stories and not bits from novels. We add a few whole novels during the year. But this text can easily be a complete English credit. This is the exact book I am using Pam!! I'm really enjoying the book and enjoy reading the short stories that they have in there. It makes me think in ways I haven't before, and I also like history, so this is a great book. IT gives you almost everything you need for a complete English credit like you said. Thank you all so much for helping me out here. It is very appreciated and I am enjoying school so much more now! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RENEEinVA Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 Just pick up a book of reading lists for the college-bound student. They are full of wonderful info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBS Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I have not used the Language of Literature books, but have seen that they offer some nice online support. It appears that you do not need an access code and among other features you can take practice tests geared to the type of testing you may be considering: SAT, ACT Reading and ACT English. The grading is not individualized, but the answers are shown so you can keep track of how well you did. LBS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvingLife Posted October 27, 2010 Author Share Posted October 27, 2010 I have not used the Language of Literature books, but have seen that they offer some nice online support. It appears that you do not need an access code and among other features you can take practice tests geared to the type of testing you may be considering: SAT, ACT Reading and ACT English. The grading is not individualized, but the answers are shown so you can keep track of how well you did. LBS Thank you so much, I didn't really know that, this will be great help for the SAT/ACT!! Thanks LBS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Erick Tait Posted November 19, 2010 Share Posted November 19, 2010 I think you’re just about the right age to read 'The Catcher in the Rye' I first read it when I was in 10th grade too. It’s a book that you will relate to quite easily – with all the frustrations and disillusionments of the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. It’s tough growing up! The world around you is not what it seems to be and it’s difficult to come to terms with it. We all go through this phase. Salinger has expressed the feelings and emotions of all of us at one time or another in our lives. Shmoop really enlightened me about this book. Like, do you know the significance of the title? This site is worth a visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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