| Summer before Freshman Year |
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The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (unabridged version--1000 pp.)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith |
| Summer before Sophomore Year |
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Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Stranger by Albert Camus |
| Summer before Junior Year |
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Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien |
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Summer before Senior Year |
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Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe |
ADVANCED PLACEMENT HUMANITIES SUMMER READING
AP English Literature & Composition - Aronson/Murphy
The assignment below is due the day you report to class.
A Farewell to Arms* -Ernest Hemingway
The Awakening - Kate Chopin
All the Pretty Horses - Cormac McCarthy
Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson
The Picture of Dorian Gray* - Oscar Wilde
Anna Karenina* - Leo Tolstoy
* These novels will be discussed when you return to school; therefore, they must be read in their entirety prior to the beginning of academic year. They are readily available in libraries and bookstores. The Clove Lake Book Store on Victory Boulevard and Clove Road is highly recommended for excellent service.
Reading Journal- Begin a reader-response journal for each book. Include the title, author, author’s date of birth and death, author’s place of birth and parts of his or her life, date of work, setting, theme, brief plot synopsis, characters with brief descriptions, protagonist, antagonist, major symbols or allusions, distinguishing characteristics of the work, issues that the writer raises for us to think about and discuss, and your personal response to the content and style of the work.. Highlight your observations, comments and questions throughout this reader-response journal which you will use for review for the AP exam. Your summer journal will be submitted as part of your first marking period grade. In addition, your notes should provide a basis for class discussions and writings. You should be noting your reactions, ideas, and any information that we can analyze.
Essay: Read the following passage from the Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell. Then, in a well-organized essay, discuss the ways Boswell differentiates between the writing of Joseph Addison and that of Samuel Johnson. In your essay, analyze Boswell’s views of both writers and the devices he uses to convey those views.
Passage - It has of late been the fashion to compare the style of Addison and Johnson, and to depreciate, I think very unjustly, the style of Addison as nerveless and feeble, because it has not the strength and energy of that of Johnson…Addison writes with the ease of a gentleman. His readers fancy that a wise and accomplished companion is talking to them; so that he insinuates his sentiments and taste into their minds by an imperceptible influence. Johnson writes like a teacher. He dictates to his readers as if from an academical chair. They attend with awe and admiration; and his precepts are impressed upon them by his commanding eloquence. Addison’s style, like a light wine, pleases everybody from the first. Johnson’s, like a liquor of more body, seems too strong at first, but, by degrees, is highly relished; and such is the melody of his periods(1), so much do they captivate the ear, and seize upon the attention, that there is scarcely any writer, however inconsiderable, who does not aim, in some degree, at the same species of excellence.
(1) sentences
COLLEGE CREATIVE WRITING ONLY
Summer Reading Research Project - Ms. Murphy
1. Write a Reader Response Journal to Like Water for Chocolate (12 entries)
2. Using one of the senior assigned summer reading books, read and compare the book to one of the following:
Film Version of the Novel, Author's life to his/her book, or another similar piece of literature. Research the comparative analysis using a minimum of two sources; one hard copy source, and one internet source. Include the primary sources, the books themselves.
Presentations may use any media available: Powerpoint, film, audio, live discussion, etc. Your presentation should be about seven (7) minutes long. Practice for an audience. Your paper should be 3-4 pages, including a works cited page. Two outside sources must be included as well as the primary sources of both books, for a total of four (4) sources. Use proper MLA documentation. See me if you need any assistance.
HELPFUL HINTS:
- If using a film, take specific excerpts of the film and compare it to the book in your presentation.
-If using an author and his/her life in comparison to the book, research the biography of the author, and write a synopsis of the author’s life that relates to the book.
-If using another piece of literature, use an excerpt of the other book also.
ALL THREE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE COLLECTED ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF CLASS IN SEPTEMBER. THIS ASSIGNMENT WILL ALSO APPLY TO THOSE WHO TAKE THE CLASS IN THE SPRING. YOU MAY WANT TO GET A HEAD START!
ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION (Junior Year Course)
Ms. Johnson and Ms. Cibelli
Summer Assignment
AP English Language and Composition is a writing class. Since engaging writers are
generally insightful readers, we will start our coursework by reading. There are six parts to
this assignment. We will collect the written responses on the second day of school. Summer is seductive, but it is really in your best interest to do this a little at a time. It is going to be hard if you let it go until 30th of August. Purchase a notebook that you can use for all of your assignments. You will use this journal throughout the year. PLEASE TYPE YOUR SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS.
The books are available in local book stores, on-line, or in public libraries.
1. As you read, keep a list of words that are new to you. Define them and give their parts
of speech. Accumulate 100 new words – that is only 10 words a week.
2. Read The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. Read it, but especially think about
Part II and Part V. Since this is a book about grammar, give yourself plenty of time to
read so that the ideas can marinate. Along with this book, read Eats, Shoots, and Leaves:
The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss. Write an essay of 2 PAGES
words comparing and contrasting these two books and their approaches to writing and
language.
3. Read The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Keep a dialectal journal as you read. For Part One,
select 5 quotes that are provocative, compelling, or beautiful. Copy the quotes on the left
hand side of the page – comment on the language, meaning, and writing on the right side of
the page. Collect five quotes for Part I; Collect 7 quotes from Part II, and 5 quotes from
Part III. See if you can figure out how he makes this writing so interesting.
4. Read Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont. Read the whole book including the introduction.
There will be a test on this book. Here are the test questions:
Why is Bird by Bird the title?
Why does Lamont keep a 1” picture frame on her desk?
How does Lamont characterize first drafts?
How important is it for the first draft to be perfect?
Why is Lamont talking about polaroids?
Bonus Question: After Lamont has written words, sentences, paragraphs, sometimes
pages, what activity does she like to engage in?
5. Read Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. Write a two page review of this book. How does
the author surprise or inform your view of fast food? How has the fast food industry
and other franchise industries changed American culture?
6. Choose an issue from one of the following magazine publications: The New Yorker,
Harper’s, Atlantic Monthly, Smithsonian, Natural History. Read the entire magazine
but write about one article. Write a letter telling me about the magazine in general and
the article or story responding to what you have read.
Even though it may not seem like it, we wish you a lazy, memorable, and safe summer.
Ms. Cibelli
Mrs. Johnson
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