The process of learning requires not only hearing and applying but also forgetting and remembering again
John Gray, "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus"

Tips for Better Summer Reading___________________________________________________________________
(From the Holy Name High School English Department)

"But if I read the books in June, I won't remember what I read"

This is something we hear all the time, so we offer these suggestions for taking notes while you are reading. Please understand that these are guidelines. You may decide to use some, many, all or none of these suggestions. How you decide to take notes is up to you. Just remember that during the first quarter your English teacher will require a series of writing assignments based on summer reading.

1. Write down each character's name as he or she is introduced and describe each one. As you read, indicate the importance of each character in this book.

2. Summarize what happens in the book. What are the important conflicts?

3. Put down a few statements or ideas from the books that are especially noteworthy or meaningful. Include the page numbers.

4. Is the ending of the book satisfactory? What are the implications of the ending and its effect on the main character? Was the main character successful in overcoming a difficulty? Why or why not? How much do you sympathize with him or her?

5. To what extent do you think that the book is worthwhile? Did it help you to gain some insight or to come to a greater understanding in any way?

Tip & Resources for Parents________________________________________________________________________

Click here for a list of tips compiled from the American Library Association (ALA) and the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the ALA.

Resources about your Work________________________________________________________________________

Literary Criticism and Author Biographies

• Oplin Databases: Ohio Public Library Information Network Research Databases
  • BioPlus
  • Ebsco Academic Search Premier
  • Sirs Discoverer
  • Novelist
• IPL Literary Criticism Guide - This collection of critical and biographical links. Browse by author, title or time period.
• Lakewood High School: British Authors Literary Criticism Pathfinder
• Lakewood High School Research Databases
• Pink Monkey: A completely "G" rated study resource for junior high, high school, college students, teachers and home schooling parents.(**Students please don't use this website instead of reading the assigned book; teachers know if you haven't read the book. This site should only be used as a guide to better understand what you have already read.)
• Sparknotes: Today's most popular study guide, (**Students please don't use this website instead of reading the assigned book; teachers know if you haven't read the book. This site should only be used as a guide to better understand what you have already read.)
• Bibliomania - Free Online Literature and Study Guides for more than 100 of the most studied texts.
• Literature on the Web - sample of literature resources online for your exploration.
• Bartleby - publishes thousands of free online classics of reference, literature and nonfiction.
• Yahoo Literary Criticisms - directory of literary criticisms and theories

Reference Books

• Gale LiteraryGale Literary Criticism Series:
  • Contemporary Literary Criticism. REF 801.95 Contemporary
  • Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism REF 809.046 Twentieth
  • Nineteenth-Century Literary Criticism REF 809.04 Nineteenth
    
• The Critical Perspective: Twentieth Century Criticism of British and American Literature to 1904.
  REF 820.9 C933
  
• The Critical Temper: A Survey of Modern Criticism on English and American Literature from the Beginnings to the Twentieth Century. 3 vols. REF 820.9 C934
  
• The New Moulton's Pre-Twentieth Century Criticism of British and American Literature to 1904. 10 vols.
  REF 820.9 N523