Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
AP Language & Composition
JACK BRITT HIGH SCHOOL
7403 Rockfish Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28306-7270 Phone: (910) 429-2800 Fax: (910) 429-2810
ATTENTION: This AP assignment is due Monday, August 27, 2012 to your AP teacher REGARDLESS of which semester you are assigned this class. If you do not submit this assignment, your schedule will be changed to remove you from this AP class.
Summer Reading Requirements for AP Language and Composition 2011-12
Dear AP Language and Composition Student: Thank you for making the decision to challenge yourself by registering for AP Language and Composition—a college-level English 101 course. To help you with time management, we have designed a required summer-reading program which includes three components: novel readings, analysis of 10 newspaper columns, and a research chart.
Component 1: The Novel Reader-Response For the first component, please read the following novel and complete at least four pages of reader-response sheets: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Your reading-response sheets will be due to your assigned AP Language teacher by the first day of school upon return from the summer—regardless of which semester you will take the course. This assignment will count as a double test grade in the Second Quarter due to the time required to grade. We are delighted that many students may form reading groups this summer to discuss these works; however, please be certain that the reading logs are your own individual creative work. We strongly recommend that you purchase a copy of each book as we expect you to mark, highlight, and question each text. Yes, mark in your book when you purchase it; you will be expected to bring your individual copy of each one to class when it is taught. SEE ATTACHED LOG EXAMPLE.
Additionally, we have created an online discussion site for you at https://sites.google.com/site/jbhsaplangsummer/. To sign into the blog, you will first email Ms. Warren at [email protected]. Send the email you plan to use to this email address and put your name and AP Summer 2012 as the subject of your email. Once added into the blog, you will receive an email inviting you to the Google site. You will select yes. Then you will create your own username and password to log into the blog site (you do not need gmail to do this). SEE ATTACHED SCREEN SHOTS FOR MORE INFORMATION. You may post questions for the instructors, as well as discuss the works with other students. Please remember that this is an instructor-monitored site, so all posts need to be school-appropriate. As this is a password-protected site, unauthorized users will not have access to your postings or any other information. If you have any technical questions, please email Ms. Warren at [email protected].
Component 2: 10 News Columns Assignment AP Language and Composition is a college-level course focusing on close and critical reading, mainly of non-fiction texts. Students will also write extensively, mastering three basic types of writing: analysis, argument, and synthesis. In order to prepare for our readings and writings, you should first become aware of the pressing issues in your larger world. These issues may be political, environmental, cultural, military, social, global, economic, educational, scientific, etc. Some of the best writers in America today are columnists and journalists whose writings about our world are syndicated by major American newspapers. What you will notice about these men and women is that they have “voice,” a unique and personal style that reveals their control of language. What they have to say is important as is how they say it.
The Assignment Read and analyze 10 columns from reputable journalists/columnists published in a reputable newspaper, magazine, or blog. The lists below will help you choose credible sites and writers. If you would like to read a columnist not on this list, choose one from a major newspaper, magazine, or blog. If you have questions, email us at [email protected] (Ms. Warren) or
[email protected] , and we will answer you within 48 hours. You may certainly read more than 10 (and are encouraged to do so), but you will be accountable for turning in 10 columns. For each column, do the following (That means you will do these for each article you submit): 1. Print the article (a hard copy), making sure the date, title, author, and source are present. 2. Summarize concisely the main points of the article. (1st paragraph) 3. Agree with, disagree with, or qualify the main points (2nd paragraph) 4. This packet is due the day you return for the first day of school when you return from the summer no matter which semester you will take the course. 5. Choose one of the columns to read to the class. These “share moments” are called “moment of voice,” so choose the column wisely. Be prepared to answer questions or share insights with the class. 6. Each column will be worth 10 points. Each column will be assessed using the following scale: effective analysis (10 points); adequate plus analysis (9 pts); adequate analysis (8 pts); adequate minus analysis (7 pts); needs improvement analysis (6 pts); incomplete analysis (3-5 points); no analysis (0 pts). 7. Project will count as a test grade in addition to the summer assignment grade. Explanation: As you become more aware of current problems, you will also learn more about these columnists. For example, you may discern that Kathleen Parker, a columnist for the Washington Post, writes mostly about current political topics. Her leanings are basically conservative, though some have tagged her a more moderate columnist, especially after the Republican base attacked her for her criticism of Sarah Palin. If you would like to read a columnist that matches your political persuasion, find one below. I would urge you to check out the viewpoints of journalists who also express opinions opposite from yours. Below is a list of respected columnists and where/when you can find their columns.
Component 3: The Research Chart
In this assignment, you will research various literary movements significant in American literature. You will find credible sources online, then paste or write your findings into the attached chart. This will count as two test grades in the First Quarter. SEE ATTACHED CHART
7 The first thing you do is go online to www.google.com. Then, select “Sign in” in the upper right-hand corner as shown below.
When you select “Sign in,” you’ll see a screen like the one below. If you do not have a gmail account, then you can create an account for free which uses your own email address (even if a yahoo) or create yourself a gmail account. They both will work.
Then follow the on-screen commands. You do not have to include a mobile number (unless Google changes something).
You DO NOT have to add a profile picture. Click “Next step.”
Then you’ll see a welcome message.
Click on “Get Started.” At the top you’ll see mail, so email [email protected]. Tell me your name and course, and I’ll add you to the blog. While in your Google account, click on “More” in center of page at top under the tab itself.
Then scroll down to “Even More” and scroll down until you see sites.
When you click on “Sites,” you’ll see the site link for AP Language Summer Reading 2012. This is what you will see when you click the site open. On the left are the navigation tabs to join the discussion.
The Great Gatsby Reader‐Response Answer the questions for each chapter in the comments column of the following reader‐response journal. Letters C and D are left blank so that you can add quotes of your own for reflection and response. Write the quotation and then in the comments section explain the significance of the quote you selected.
Quote/Question: Comments:
Chapter 1: A. Are Daisy’s voice and manner natural to her, or is she acting? Why are so many men attracted to her? B. Why is Nick “confused and a little disgusted” as he drives away from Tom and Daisy’s house? C. D.
Chapter 2: A. Why does Fitzgerald have Myrtle live above a garage on “the edge of the wasteland”? B. How do the rumors about Gatsby contribute to his image and reputation? C. D.
Chapter 3 A. Why does Gatsby spend most of his party alone, instead of mingling with the guests? Why doesn’t he seem to mind that so many of the people there were not invited?
B. Is Nick as honest as he says he is? C. D.
Chapter 4 A. How Is “knowing nothing whatever about him” a “subtle tribute” paid to Gatsby by his guests? B. Does Jordan believe that Daisy was in love with Gatsby when she married Tom? What is Jordan’s attitude toward Daisy’s past? C. D.
Chapter 5 A. What is Daisy feeling during the meeting with Gatsby at Nick’s house? B. Why does Daisy bury her face in Gatsby’s beautiful shirts and cry? C. D.
Chapter 6 A. What does Gatsby mean when he says, “I feel far away from her. It’s hard to make her understand”?
B. Why is Gatsby so sure it is impossible to repeat the past? What is Nick reminded of as Gatsby talks about the past? What does he want to say to Gatsby, and why can’t he manage to say it? C. D.
Chapter 7 A. Why does Gatsby say that Daisy’s voice is “full of money”? Why Nick think “that was it”? B. Why does Daisy draw “further and further into herself” as Gatsby tries to defend himself against Tom’s accusations? Why are Daisy’s “intentions” and “courage” now “definitely gone”? C. D.
Chapter 8 A. Why doesn’t Gatsby feel guilty for wooing Daisy under false pretenses? Why does he finally find that he has “committed himself to the following of a grail”? B. How are the circumstances and setting of Gatsby’s death consistent with his life and personality?
C. D.
Chapter 9 A. Why is it so important to Nick that he “get somebody” for Gatsby? B. At the end of the novel, why does Nick return to Gatsby’s abandoned house and rub out the obscene word on the steps? C. D.
