What's in it for Snape: A motive (now, summer assignments)

[MsMeryMac@yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 97564

Potioncat:
> <snip> I remember being surprised there had already 
> been assignments. Although that's the way I understood 
> it. I assumed the list of books included a reading 
> list as well. In later books it's stated very clearly 
> that there are homework assignments over the summer 
> break.
 
Alla:
> Could you please, please provide a quote? I am under very stron 
> assumption that there were no assignments yet before they started 
> Hogwarts. Why would it be? I would say that at least Muggle-born 
> children are not expected to know anything about magic yet.

Luckie:
 
Sorry, Alla, no quote, but I would expect that books designed for 
first year students would be very basic. Also, students would know 
they are not allowed to practice magic outside of Hogwarts (wizard 
parents know that, and Rowling said that special messangers are 
sent 
to muggle households to explain about Hogwarts) so they would 
certainly *only* be reading. The summer before my freshman year of 
high school (and every summer after) I received a list of four 
books 
that had to be read before the first day of class. (For those not 
from the US, this would be American 9th grade, or about 14 years 
old.)I went to a private school that was not an extension of my 
grade school, so I read these books before receiving any kind of 
instruction or before meeting any teachers, really. However, my 
senior (last) year, we had to read a book by Faulkner that many 
students didn't really get, so we read it again in class, under the 
guidence of our teacher. 

I would imagine a similar situation at Hogwarts. Students could 
read 
about potion ingredients, but may not actually take in all the 
knowledge until taught by another or used in a practical situation. 
Everyone learns differently. Hermione appears to be able to learn 
something by reading, whereas Harry is a more practical learner and 
learns by doing.

Luckie