before you choose which book to read, do a little...

English III AP Summer Reading 2018-2019 N. Huval

DUE: Within the first week of school

An AP Course prepares students for college-level coursework. The AP test strongly emphasizes writing from and about literary and

non-fiction texts. On my website, I posted an extensive list of texts that have appeared on the AP exam, along with the years in which

they have appeared. Most of them are classics, masterpieces written by the best writers of all time. Many deal with very modern,

complex themes. I encourage you to peruse the list and read anything that interests you! The more you read, the better your

standardized test scores will be!

I strongly encourage you to purchase your own copy of these books so that you may annotate in them as you go, underlining and

making notes. The books need not be new. Amazon often features used copies, as does Second and Charles.

Required reading:

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (historical fiction)

Required Choice of Reads--Choose One:

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (play) or The Awakening by Kate Chopin (novella)

Bonus Read: Optional. Choose one and complete the assignment below

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (20th

century teen fiction)

Beloved or Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison (historical fiction)

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut (science fiction)

My Antonia by Wila Cather (historical fiction)

Note: Some of the titles on the bonus list deal with mature themes and have strong language. If you have concerns, please do a little

research or email me for recommendations.

Assignments to Complete:

1. TEST: When you return to school in August, you will be tested in class on both the required read and the required

choice of reads, in other words … A Farewell to Arms and EITHER Death of a Salesman or The Awakening

2. WRITTEN WORK: In addition, you will complete the written assignment on the next page for both the required read

and the required choice of reads, in other words … A Farewell to Arms and EITHER Death of a Salesman or The

Awakening). This will be due within the first week of school.

3. BONUS: If you choose to do the bonus read, you will complete # 1 and 2 for that book as well.

Please email me with questions or concerns: [email protected]

Before you choose which book to read, do a little research on the author and the book to make sure you choose one you’ll

enjoy!

mailto:[email protected]

Written Assignment for Summer Reading (must complete for each of the two books you read):

DIRECTIONS: A dialectical note taking sheet is another name for a double-entry journal or a reader-response journal. On this sheet,

record a dialogue, or conversation, between the ideas in the text (the words that you are reading) and your own ideas.

10 passages: 2-5 sentences in length. Include page numbers. Passage number is where you number them 1-10.

While you are reading, choose at least 10 passages that stand out to you as those that represent one of the themes of the

novel you choose and record them in the left-hand column. Short passages are unacceptable because they do not give

enough context to determine if they actually support the theme you have chosen. Write the page number in the blank.

Remember, a theme is a fundamental, often universal truth or idea expressed in a novel, not a message or moral. Make sure

the passages you select come from throughout the book (not the 1st 50 pages only) AND that they come from each of the

major plot lines. Make sure the passages you select reflect several themes and roughly deal with them evenly (5 themes 2

passages each/ 3 themes 3-4 passages each). Balance is the key word in passage selection.

In the right-hand column, write your in-depth response to the text (3-5 sentences). Be sure to relate the passage to the theme

and to what is happening in the book as well. This is extremely important. Think of your response as a triangle:

passage

theme plot

Include any thoughts, insights, and ideas that you think are powerful, significant, thought provoking, or puzzling. Feel free to

continue your thoughts / questions on the back of the page if necessary. You may attach additional sheets of paper if needed,

or you can print extra copies of the charts attached.

Note the example below from The Hunger Games. The theme is fear and mistrust of one another. The explanation in the right-hand

column demonstrates why the passage chosen is a good example for this particular theme.

Quotation sample Explanation

"Most refuse dealing with the racketeers but carefully, carefully. These same people tend to be informers, and who hasn't broken the law? I could be shot on a daily basis for hunting, but the appetites of those in charge protect me. Not everyone can claim the same" (Collins 20).

Fear and mistrust of one another— Offering incentives for people to inform on others breeds mistrust among a population. It also serves to inform those in power of individuals that might be plotting to overthrow or simply disobey the rules. This happens when Gale and Katniss sell their kills from their illegal hunts at the marketplace. They even sell to the mayor, one who should be upholding every law.

PLAGIARISM NOTE:

Copying the work of others will result in a grade of zero for both/all parties. With so many quotes and themes to choose from, no two assignments should resemble one another.

Copying from a website such as Sparknotes, Shmoop, etc. will also result in a grade of zero. Copying quotes and/or analysis is plagiarism. You will not be given a second chance.

Name ______________________________Pd ______________ Book _______________________________________ Quotation Sample Explanation/Analysis

Passage # _____ Page # ________

Theme: _________________________________________

Passage # _____ Page # ________

Theme: _________________________________________

Passage # _____ Page # ________

Theme: _________________________________________

Passage # _____ Page # ________

Theme: _________________________________________

Passage # _____ Page # ________

Theme: _________________________________________

before you choose which book to read, do a little...

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