Dear Upcoming IB Juniors,
I would like to officially welcome you to the IB Diploma Program. I am happy and excited to be your teacher and to be a part of your literary journey over the next two years. I highly encourage you to secure a personal copy of the works we study in class for annotation purposes; however, if you are not financially able, we may have a few extra copies of select pieces.
While some of you have become quite attached to virtual reading or audiobooks, I would be remiss if I did not warn you ahead of time of their disadvantages. You will be required to access page numbers for documentation purposes and citations; sometimes, electronic versions of texts pose problems for students. Furthermore, research proves that reader interaction with the text on the page via annotations is the most effective way to retain what you read.
The easiest way to find copies of novels is to purchase them from Amazon.
Your summer reading will be to read half (Parts I, II, III, and IV) of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. We will be exploring 19th century Russian culture, politics, etc, and you guys will be taking a multiple choice test over the first four parts (not on the first day of class); therefore, make sure your annotations are accurate, detailed, and plentiful. Furthermore, Anna Karenina will be the first text to begin the IB curriculum, so take it very seriously. IB has this text on their prescribed reading list (as a work in translation) for a reason, and it is not because it is without challenges. Keep an open mind. And remember, it is ok to dislike all of the characters. : )
The version of Anna Karenina you will need is translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. Every student must have the SAME translation when we study a work in translation, and this version is easily accessible.
Should you have questions between now and the beginning of the school year, please feel free to stop by my classroom, Banks 216, or email me at shea.st.john@dcssga.org
Please have an enjoyable, productive summer!
I sincerely look forward to next year; I have heard really great things about your class!
Ms. St. John
