Summer Reading AP Literature and Composition Preface Welcome ...
Summer Reading AP Literature and Composition Preface Welcome ...
Summer Reading AP Literature and Composition Preface Welcome ...
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<strong>Summer</strong> <strong>Reading</strong><br />
<strong>AP</strong> <strong>Literature</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Composition</strong><br />
<strong>Preface</strong><br />
<strong>Welcome</strong> to <strong>AP</strong> Lit! From this point forward , you will be known as my <strong>AP</strong>ES (<strong>AP</strong><br />
English Students). Hopefully, you will grow fond of this term <strong>and</strong> be proud to be an<br />
<strong>AP</strong>E. <br />
This summer, I am requiring a lengthier reading assignment than what you’ve been<br />
assigned in the past. <strong>AP</strong> Lit is an intensive reading course, which also requires<br />
written analysis. Therefore, it is important to me that you use the summer to get<br />
some <strong>AP</strong>E‐level reading under your belt as well as some familiarity with what<br />
constitutes effective college‐level writing.<br />
I do believe that students are best served when given the power of choice over what<br />
they will read whenever possible <strong>and</strong> practical, so you will find opportunities to<br />
choose what you find most compelling. All of the literary selections are from the <strong>AP</strong><br />
recommended reading list. This list has been painstakingly compiled by teachers of<br />
<strong>AP</strong> Lit who have pored over <strong>AP</strong> tests to determine those books which <strong>AP</strong> deems as<br />
having “literary merit.” The composition text has been around for thirty years, <strong>and</strong> a<br />
recent review reads, “Well worth re‐reading every year or two if you do any writing<br />
at all.” It will be an excellent writing reference for you this year <strong>and</strong> every year<br />
throughout your high school <strong>and</strong> college career <strong>and</strong> beyond.<br />
Assignment<br />
In addition to reading the three assigned books, I am requiring that your write a 3‐5<br />
page compare‐contrast essay in MLA format focusing on one literary element of the<br />
two novels you select from the list. You may compare any ONE of the following:<br />
1) Main Characters: characterization <strong>and</strong> motivation<br />
2) Setting: how it affects the story’s action<br />
3) Theme: implicit or explicit, <strong>and</strong> how it reveals the author’s purpose<br />
4) Conflict: how it drives plot <strong>and</strong> how or whether it is resolved<br />
I am expecting you to show me how deeply you can assess these basic aspects of<br />
each text <strong>and</strong> connect or contrast the elements of each. You may need to do a little<br />
research about the finer aspects of character, setting, theme <strong>and</strong> conflict in order to<br />
write an effective analysis. I expect you to go beyond the most obvious <strong>and</strong> dig into<br />
the more subtle aspects of each book the best you can. I would also like your<br />
writing to reflect what you learn from Zinsser, so be sure to read Zinsser before you<br />
write.<br />
Remember, this essay will be the first academic impression you make on me. Strive<br />
to make it a positive one. Remember, also, that I have a lot to teach you, <strong>and</strong> this<br />
essay will show me where I need to begin <strong>and</strong> help me to gauge how far we can<br />
reach. Let’s aim high.
Required <strong>Reading</strong><br />
Everyone must read:<br />
On Writing Well by William Zinsser<br />
ALSO<br />
Choose ONE of the following PAIRS of books:<br />
Women:<br />
The Color Purple by Alice Walker<br />
Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy<br />
Science Fiction:<br />
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury<br />
1984 by George Orwell<br />
Gothic:<br />
The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne<br />
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley<br />
Travelogue/Social Satire:<br />
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain<br />
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift<br />
Historical:<br />
Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow<br />
Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro<br />
Short Stories:<br />
Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Connor<br />
Dubliners by James Joyce<br />
I will be sending this list to Barnes <strong>and</strong> Noble. You may also find new or used copies<br />
for a very reasonable price at half.com or amazon.com. If purchasing is not an<br />
option for you, I will also send this list to the New Carlisle Library so that they can<br />
be sure the books are on their shelves. I highly recommend purchase if at all<br />
possible so that you may freely annotate your texts as you read.<br />
Have a fantastic summer, <strong>and</strong> I’ll see you in August! <br />
Mrs. Wilkeson
<strong>Summer</strong> <strong>Reading</strong><br />
<strong>AP</strong> <strong>Literature</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Composition</strong><br />
HELPFUL WEBSITES<br />
Writing a Literary Comparison:<br />
http://www.nvcc.edu/home/ataormina/eng256/support/litcompare.htm<br />
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/documents/CompAnalysis.html<br />
MLA Format:<br />
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/<br />
http://www.calstatela.edu/library/guides/3mla.pdf<br />
Annotating Text:<br />
http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/fitchf/readlit/annotating.htm<br />
http://www.lex5.k12.sc.us/files/39696/How%20to%20Annotate%20in%2<br />
0Your%20English%20Class.pdf<br />
http://www.slideshare.net/mtalspaugh/how‐to‐annotate<br />
Also, become familiar with:<br />
www.docs.google.com<br />
You may contact me via email with any questions<br />
cwilkeson@npusc.k12.in.us OR cwilkeson@aol.com.<br />
***DO NOT wait until the last minute***<br />
Rushing is a GUARANTEE<br />
that you will not demonstrate your best work.
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