Download AP Lang and Comp Summer Assignment

AP Language and Composition 2022-2023
Summer Reading Assignment
Mrs. Amber Forcey
[email protected]
The AP Language and Composition course and test covers a variety of works; the more well-read and
culturally literate you are the better your chances of doing well. To that end, I encourage you to read more
than these required books. Our course focuses on non-fiction, so read and view informative texts: articles
or essays of literary merit, editorials, books of creative non-fiction, books of non-fiction that have been
identified as having literary excellence, and watch quality informative documentaries. The more you have
in your canon of knowledge, the better prepared you are for the AP exam next May. Your ability to use
language well stems from the language you consume.
You will be reading various selections in the textbook The Language of Composition (our textbook for
class), “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau, and the non-fiction nook Canyon Dreams: A
Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation by Michael Powell. The Language of Composition can be signed
out to you from the office for the various essay readings and for “Civil Disobedience” (however, you will
want your own copy of “Civil Disobedience to annotate – you can either copy from the textbook or find a
full text version online). You will need to purchase a hard copy of the novel (not a digital copy).
Please note that each assignment asks you to write about different aspects of each work. Depth of thought,
attention to detail, analysis, and general writing skills will be the bases for the grade for this project. Use
each writing assignment to help you discover the context and ideas each author is presenting in the work.
The more intellectually involved you become with any written material, the more meaningful it will be
and the more engagement you will have when analyzing it. Read carefully, think deeply, make
connections, and allow yourself time to thoroughly read and process.
1
SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT #1
The Language of Composition essays
The AP language and composition course focuses on nonfiction essays and visual texts, on interpreting
and synthesizing a variety of texts to compose an argument. To prepare for this practice, you will read the
following selections on education and answer the discussion questions. Respond in complete sentences,
including references to the text. Use quoted examples and citations-- ex. (Prose 176). These should be
typed and formatted in MLA.
Check out this book for the summer from the school office and keep it for next year’s class. Make sure
you cover the book and treat it well as you are responsible for any damage.
*Note: Including this essay here is not an endorsement of the ideas. In fact, some of these ideas I heartily
disagree with. The purpose is to read a variety of texts from a variety of perspectives, interpret and
critique them skillfully, and compose a thoughtful argument in response.
1. Readings and Questions Responses
a. Read Francine Prose’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read,” p. 176-186, and
answer Questions for Discussion 1-5 and Questions on Rhetoric and Style 1-3.
b. Read Sherman Alexie’s “Superman and Me,” p. 215-217, and answer Exploring the Text
1-8. Pick one of the last 3 questions – 9, 10, 11 – to answer in a brief (5-8 sentence)
paragraph.
c. Read David Foster Wallace’s “This is Water,” p. 232- 238, and answer Exploring the
Text 1- 5. Pick one of the questions 9 - 11 to answer in a brief (5-8 sentence) paragraph.
d. Review the visual texts Rockwell’s “The Spirit of Education” and Chast’s “What I
Learned,” p. 242- 246 (make sure to reference the colored versions included in the middle
of your textbook). Answer the corresponding Exploring the Text questions for both.
2
SUMMER ASSIGNMENT #2
“Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau
Another element of the AP course is an analysis of the context and rhetoric of written texts. This study
will constitute the first part of our class, and we’ll be using Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” to closely
analyze the context and rhetoric of an argument.
You can find this in your textbook p. 1016-1032; print a copy from the textbook or from a full text PDF
online to annotate or buy the booklet on Amazon. You cannot write in the textbook, so you will need a
copy of your own to annotate.
1. Read and thoroughly annotate “Civil Disobedience.”
2. Using the acronym SPACE below, write a detailed analysis of the context of Thoreau’s work.
Examples, as appropriate, should be provided from the text with appropriately cited page
numbers. You may need to do a bit of general research if you are unfamiliar with this
author/essay (nothing specific that would require a citation). These notes will be used for your
first essay in the fall. Type up your analysis in MLA format.
SPEAKER: Who is the speaker/writer? What do we know about him? What can you tell or what do you
know about the speaker that helps you understand the point of view expressed?
PURPOSE: What is the speaker/writer hoping to accomplish? What is the reason behind this piece?
What do they want the audience to do after having listened?
AUDIENCE: Who is the speaker/writer trying to reach? How do we know? Does he indicate a specific
audience? What assumptions exist in the text about the intended audience?
CONTEXT: What is the time and place of this piece? What is happening in the world as it relates to the
subject of the speech or the speaker/writer?
EXIGENCE: What was the spark or catalyst that moved the speaker/writer to act/write? How did that
event impact the speaker/writer?
3
SUMMER ASSIGNMENT #3
Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation by Michael Powell
1. Read and annotate your text according to the description below. You will be evaluated on insight
of your annotations. There should be notations throughout the text with clear explanations about
the importance of underlined or highlighted passages. Write in the margins, draw lines, and
thoroughly mark up the text. Do not simply underline; indicate in the margin the importance of
the highlighted passage.
ANNOTATION INSTRUCTIONS
Inside Front Cover: Character list with small space for character summary with brief phrases (ex.,
Gatsby -- anti-hero or hero, his dream informs the novel, a key character/Nick -- narrator, frames the
novel with narration, admires Gatsby but disapproves)
Inside Back Cover: List motifs/themes and/or allusions, images, epiphanies, stylistic devices (ex.,
Motifs: dream/illusion, time, colors of wealth/ Allusion: Odysseus, Platonic/Imagery: music-jazz, garden,
valley of ashes/ Epiphanies: C. 6 Gatsby’s green light loses significance, C. 8 hotel-Daisy sees reality of
Gatsby/Stylistic: figurative language tropes-simile, metaphor, pathetic fallacy, periodic sentences, loose
sentences, short/long sentences mixed for pacing, musicality-assonance, consonance, alliteration)
Top, Bottom and Side Page Margins: Highlight or underline quotes you think are significant. Add
interpretive notes, questions, remarks and connections; identify motifs, allusions, images, epiphanies.
Every page does not need annotation; the quality of your annotations is more important than the quantity.
Submit your assignment by Friday, August 12th by 3 p.m. Turn in the typed assignments with your
annotated copies of “Civil Disobedience” and Canyon Dreams in a folder or large envelope clearly
labeled with your name. Put your name in your books also.
Plan accordingly so that you complete the reading and written assignments on time. Because you have
almost three months to complete these assignments, extensions will not be given. If you will be out of
town on the due date, please make other arrangements to have it submitted early or on time.
If you have any questions or concerns about the assignments, please don’t hesitate to email
([email protected]) and ask! Looking forward to working with you next year.
4
GRADING RUBRIC FOR SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENTS
1. Four essays read and corresponding questions answered (10 points each) _______/40
2. Annotations of “Civil Disobedience” _______/10
3. SPACE analysis of “Civil Disobedience” _______/20
4. Annotations of books _______/30
TOTAL: _____/100 (test grade)
5