Senior Honors

Parents and Students, Class of 2027:

All students enrolled in the English 4 Honors course at Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School for the 2026-2027 school year are required to read the following novels:

Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney

Grendel by John Gardner

There are two (2) required assignments to complete for this project. All written assignments should be completed in either a hard-cover composition notebook or in Google Docs. Notes must be well organized AND legible. Students will take a test covering the material in September. The assignment is also posted in the English 4 Honors Summer Reading Google Classroom. The class code is cfsfc6qd.

Assignments

I. Novels

Carefully read the instructions for keeping a Reading Response Journal. You are expected to keep a journal for each novel.
Take thorough notes.
Record and define every unfamiliar term.
From each novel, choose fifteen (15) quotations and respond to each, explaining their significance in the overall context of the novel. Record the page number(s) where each quote can be found. Be sure to include a personal response to each quote. In other words, why do you think each quote is significant, profound, noteworthy, etc.

II. Additional Resources

Refer to the list of Honors/AP Literary Terms posted on the UCTEnglish website to help you complete your journals. A copy will also be posted in our Google Classroom. A link to helpful resources is also found below.

Due Date and Assessment

Your COMPLETE Summer Reading Assignment is due Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
Your Summer Reading Test will be held on Friday, September 25, 2026. You will be permitted to use your journals, so it is imperative that you take thorough notes.

Contact Information

Any student or parent with questions is welcome to contact me via my school email address - [email protected]. You may use the Google Classroom STREAM feed to interact with your classmates to discuss the books amongst yourselves.

Have a wonderful summer! I look forward to seeing you all in the fall!! Happy Reading!!!!!
Mr. Hill

Summer Reading Assignment Checklist

❏ "Beowulf" translated by Seamus Heaney
❏ Reading Response Journal Complete
❏ Grendel by John Gardner
❏ Reading Response Journal Complete

Assignment Due Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Summer Reading Test Date: Friday, September 25, 2026

Below, you will find links to additional information and guidelines for use with this assignment.

Common Literary Terms

Guide to Journal Entries

Reading Log Instructions