High school students who are in a college prep program have to do a tremendous amount of reading. Because of the heavy academic load during the school year, English teachers will often assign as many as six titles during the summer from a required book list. To prepare for the Critical Reading section of the SAT, teachers require vocabulary studies on top of reading assignments.
How Many Books Are Usually Required for College Prep High School Students to Read?
High school students should not have any problem finding college prep book lists from which to make their book selections. English teachers require one book per six weeks period as a minimum. Many require one title per month, and in some schools, one novel per month is required on top of other regular reading assignments. Sometimes a reading response journal is assigned. Reading response journals are a great way for English teachers to find out if a student has really understood a book. They also help to assess a student's reading comprehension skills and writing capabilities.
Even with a high school student's busy schedule, he should never short-change himself by skimping on reading time. Not only should the student read fiction novels, he should read poetry, plays, essays, magazine articles, blog posts, and news articles. On top of his English assignments, he will also read for history and other subjects. If he enrolls in AP or dual credit classes, he may see his reading load double. Time management becomes a valuable skill.
Reading Requirements By High School Grade Level
Ninth grade freshmen usually take World History. Their reading assignments usually reflect a taste of literature from around the world. Often, classics like the Illiad by Homer and Plato's Republic are suggested, along with Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare. At least one book every six weeks in each class is usually required, plus at least one fiction novel during the summer.
Tenth graders, or sophomores, often take a course in World History, too. Their literature reflects world culture after 1500 A.D. (or C.E.) Book titles for tenth graders can come from many countries and genres. One might see Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead, or Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Sophomore English teachers often require a book per month for each class, plus two books as a minimum during the summer.
Eleventh grade juniors almost always take American History, either as an AP course or a regular high school class. Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and John Steinbeck may be studied during American History. Interestingly, with many students opting to also take AP English or college freshman English as a dual enrollment class, the reading selections for English can be all over the map. The same can be said of seniors. With dual credit classes, a year's worth of work is done in a semester, doubling the normal reading load. Often students elect to take college English during the summer because of this.
It is extremely important to be well-read in a college prep high school program. The critical reading portion of the SAT is just as important as the math side. The ACT requires a great working knowledge of reading and vocabulary skills as well. Having a large vocabulary definitely helps to boost scores on the SAT, and with the Critical Reading section incorporating vocabulary into the reading selections, reading a large volume of great literature has become crucial.
Sources:
Hsawaco.org, "Mandatory Summer Reading for 4th-11th Grade Students"
Education Planner.org, "College Bound Reading List"
College Board.com, "SAT Reading Tips"
Donna Pravel - Donna Earnest Pravel is the owner and senior editor of www.Heart of Texas Copywriting Solutions.com.
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