AP IV Summer Assignment

AP Literature and Composition is a college-level elective focusing on critical reading, interpretation, and writing. Throughout the year, students read a variety of mature works of fiction and non-fiction in order to develop writing skills through a series of assignments in and out of class. This course aims to prepare students for life (and college) by exposing them to great writing and inspiring them to move beyond rudimentary assumptions and expression into higher-level insight and writing. Many of the works we read are challenging. The writing is frequent and requires a student to respond to readings that we worked with in class as well as works that have not been analyzed or discussed in the classroom. Research, synthesis, poetic analysis, critical thinking, critical reading, and critical writing make up the foundation of this course.

Enrollment in the 12th grade Advanced Placement English Program means that you, the student, have the training, the discipline, and the intelligence needed to succeed in an accelerated course.

Major Works:

• How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster
  
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
  

Textual Interface (Assignments)

• How to Read Literature Like a Professor
  • Actively read this book and answer the corresponding questions from the handout.
    
    
• Brave New World
  • This novel can be considered; fiction, science fiction, speculative fiction, and even prophetic. Read the novel and keep a list of details Huxley uses to illustrate his world.
  • In a brief composition, explain whether you fell Huxley correctly predicted the future. In other words, how closely does Huxley’s Brave New World society mimic out own. Remember, the novel was published in 1932.

Essay Prompts
In a typed, 500-700 word response that follows standard MLA format, choose one prompt.

1. Do you tend to believe in the idea of fate or destiny; in other words, that “there are no random acts?”, or Do you believe in free will and the power to decide your path?
2. Consider the following: “Sacrifice is a part of life…It’s not something to regret. It’s something to aspire to”. Analyze the concept of sacrifice, and then in a well written essay explain how the act of sacrifice is treated within literature.

All assignments are due on the first day of class in August. No exceptions or excuses.

Failure to complete any and all assignments will result in an F for the first six weeks, parent conference, and removal from the AP Lit course

It’s pretty simple; you have two and half months. Get it done.

AP III Summer Assignment

AP English Language and Composition – Grade 11 Summer Reading and Writing Assignments

AP English Language and Composition, a college-level elective exploring the uses and power of language, challenges students to develop habits of analytical reading, critical thinking, and persuasive writing. It is actually two courses for the price of one, in that the journey we take toward becoming “effective citizen rhetoricians,” as the College Board intends, travels along the road of literature. Everything we study in some way touches on the two essential questions: “How and why do writers do what they do to say what they say?” and “What is American?” Your summer assignments will introduce you to the fundamental reading and writing processes we will continue to develop throughout the course, as preparation for the AP English Language and Composition Exam next May, as well as for rich and rewarding lives using and enjoying the power of language.

Major Works
Animal Farm by George Orwell. You are to read and annotate this novel and use it as your basis for the essay prompt. You are expected read actively and analytically, which will be demonstrated by the notes you take in your copy of Animal Farm. Simply underlining sections of the novel is not sufficient.

Essay
As we will explore this year, much of our study of literature and rhetoric revolves around the idea that America is itself an argument, both as an idea as well as a tension arising from the conflict between competing ideas. Choose one of the following prompts and compose an essay (not to exceed two typed, double-spaced pages) in which you articulate your argument.

1. George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” In a well organized essay, defend, challenge or qualify the validity of this statement. Use examples from your own reading, observation, or experience to support your position.
   
   
2. Ralph Waldo Emerson an American rhetorician and essayist wrote, “The end of the human race will be that it will eventually die of civilization.” In a well organized essay, defend, challenge or qualify the validity of this statement. Use examples from your own reading, observation, or experience to support your position.

All assignments are due on the first day of class in August. No exception or any excuses will be accepted. Obviously, since you enrolled in this course, you already enjoy language and ideas. In addition to the above, we hope you will also read books of your own choosing for pleasure anyway this summer (which we strongly encourage you to do).

For questions about your assignment or the course, please contact:
Mrs. Sustaita (Scheffers): kscheffers@dallasisd.org
Mrs. Dorman: adorman@dallasisd.org