What is R.I.P.?
R.I.P. is a chance to read 25 dead (or almost dead) writers of distinction. Sounds exciting, huh? Actually, the R.I.P. list is a diverse collection of writers. In fact, more than a fourth of the writers on the list are female and half are people of color. However, what makes all the books R.I.P. material is that they are texts that people are talking about on college campuses.
Ready to “Get R.I.P.’d?” Here are guidelines:
Before you graduate from high school, you are invited to read and reflect on 25 texts
- Fifteen of the books must be from the R.I.P. Reading List. This list is posted on this website.
- Ten of the books are your choice. However, as a part of your reflection you will need to justify why you feel these novels should be on a college-bound reading list so chose wisely.
- Books for R.I.P. must be read outside of the confines of school. In other words, these books are in addition to the reading you will do for school. You cannot count books that are read as a part of a school assignment.
- Once you have completed a text, you will click on R.I.P. reflections and write about your reading experience. As a part of your reflection you will be asked three questions about the text:
- Choose one part of the text that moved you either because you liked or disliked it, agreed or disagreed with it. Then describe that part of the book and your reaction to it. Provide detailed evidence of why the text moved you in the ways that it did.
- If this book was from the R.I.P. list, argue for its continuation or its removal from the list. If this is one of your choice books, defend why you feel this book should be on a college-bound reading list (or if you don’t feel it should be on such a list after reading it, then argue to the contrary). Remember an argument should acknowledge the other side(s) and then provide evidence as to why your belief is the strongest.
- Finally, connect this text to other things you have read or seen or experienced. How is this book like or unlike other texts you have read, movies or television you have seen or situations you have experienced in your life? What is the significance of this text in the larger scheme of things?
*You should plan at least one hour to complete a book reflection. At the end of the reflection, you will need to provide the name (and contact information, if this person does not work with Boys Hope Girls Hope) of your literary witness. The literary witness is the person who can confirm that you read this book, in its entirety, outside of the confines of school. Your can have a different literary witness for each book on your list.
- Once you have completed your reflection, you will receive, via e-mail, a response stating that your reflection has been approved or a request for more details about your reading experience. If more information is required, you will have one week after receiving the e-mail to update your reflection.
College is just a few years away. Get ready by getting R.I.P.’d!