Pre-Modern World

Whitaker, 9/16/10

Summer Reading Assignment

Over the summer, in preparation for an exciting year of world history, you were
assigned the task of reading The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad. Lucky you!

Now it is time for you to share with me your thoughts.

As opposed to having you write a “book report,” or a mere summary of your

findings, I would prefer to read your response to one of the eleven questions at the
back of your book. You may notice there are in fact twelve questions found there,
but I write eleven because we will discuss the first one in class together as a model,
and it is therefore excluded from your options for homework.

Please construct an essay that is no more than one page, as I will not read anything
beyond that. Writing a concise essay is a learned skill. An essay is typically 3-5
paragraphs, the first paragraph serving as an introduction and the final as a
conclusion. A paragraph has between 3-5 sentences. Please include your thesis
statement in your first paragraph (it does not need to be the opening line, but
should be strong enough that it is evidently your thesis and discernible as such).
Include topic sentences to help your transitions between paragraphs.

This assignment is serving as both a testament to the completion of your summer

reading and as an initial evaluation of your competency as a writer. I expect you will
pay attention to diction, syntax, spelling and grammar.

Due Monday September 20th. Review your blue expectations hand out if you have
any questions about due date policies, and please feel free to seek me out if you find
yourself in need of assistance!