A Tale of a Required High School Reading Assignment by Emily

A Tale of a Required High School Reading Assignment by Emily - February 2015 Scholarship Essay

High school students might feel "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times," if they were required to read "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens. Most students do not understand that Dickens' book is not just a dry, drawn out tale. It is masterfully written with crafty humor, deep meaningful descriptions, and suspense. It is a sentimental piece of entertainment that should be required by teachers everywhere. "A Tale of Two Cities" would not only give students a chance to expand their vocabularies, but also allow them to briefly learn of the French Revolution and read one of the most beautiful novels to be written.

Upon reading "A Tale of Two Cities", students will come to realize that maybe their vocabularies are not as broad as they thought. Charles Dickens uses words and phrases that are rarely used and would be some what inappropriate in this day and time. No one uses the phrase “over the broomstick” and words such as pards and pannikins are not used in everyday conversations. Just a glimpse at "A Tale of Two Cities" will give students a better vocabulary to use when writing, since writing has become an essential part of a student’s life.

Also, the novel would provide an opportunity for students to briefly learn of the French Revolution. Most students are required to take some sort of world history course in high school, but that may not cover or very briefly cover the French Revolution. Students are forced to read about the French Revolution as it is an essential key in the book. It may also spark the curiosity of those who wish to know more than and inspire them to learn about the revolution. The book educates in more than one subject.

By requiring the book students would read one of the most classic, beautifully written novels. Some students would fall in love with the book right away while it might take others longer, and there is no guarantee they would like it at all. Not all students are avid readers, but by requiring a reading assignment students may be awakened to the world of books. By introducing them to a classic, students are more likely to follow that path or genre in books. They would be choosing books that would further educate them and increase their intelligence. Instead of picking up a book filled with useless, degrading garbage, students would be reading a safe material.

In conclusion, Charles Dickens’ "A Tale of Two Cities" should be a required reading material for students before they graduate. It would not only be chance for students to expand their vocabularies, but also an opportunity to learn of the French Revolution and to read one of the most classically written novels of the time.