Homestead. Incoming Advanced Placement English Language and Composition Students. Summer Reading Assignment

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1 Homestead Incoming Advanced Placement English Language and Composition Students Summer Reading Assignment Welcome to AP Language and Composition! In order to prepare for AP Language and Composition, you will need to continue practicing your critical reading and writing skills throughout the summer. These assignments are not designed to torture you, but to help keep working out your brains. Hopefully you will do some personal reading of your own as well. This summer s reading assignment has been created to give you an introduction to rhetoric and the type of analysis that will be required of you during the course of the year.. Part I: Documentary as Argument Directions: You will watch and rhetorically analyze 2 documentary films whose arguments appeal to you and identify stylistic choices made by the documentarian of the film using the organizer attached (typed answers in essay format). Some suggestions for critically-acclaimed documentaries you can choose from: Blackfish Grizzly Man Page One Restrepo King Corn No End in Sight Bansky s Exit Hot Coffee Food, Inc. Through the Gift Shop Hoop Dreams Supersize Me Inside Job Stupid in America The Unforeseen Gasland If a Tree Falls The Greatest Movie Ever Sold The Fog of War The Cove The King of Kong 13th Trapped The Student Body Streetwise Bowling for Columbine Newton

2 Waiting for Superman Waste Land Roger & Me Part II: Op-ed Reading/Writing Assignment Since its origin in the early 1920 s, the op-ed page (short for opposite the editorial page) has been an important staple in American culture, providing writers an opportunity to share their personal views on current events. For readers, it has been a source of information, entertainment, and conversation. For you, it will provide an understanding of argumentation and inspiration for your own writing. Directions: 1. You will choose TWO DIFFERENT op-ed columnists from the list provided and select 2 stories from each author (for a total of 4 articles). The op-ed pieces must NOT have been written prior to January 1, The goal is for them to be current articles and issues that can help you become a more informed student. 2. Annotate the articles as follows: a. In the left margin, paraphrase each paragraph or section to demonstrate you can put in your words what the author is saying b. Circle key words, repeated words, and any words that indicate tone c. Underline any claims d. Highlight in PINK any appeals to PATHOS e. Highlight in BLUE any appeals to LOGOS f. Highlight in GREEN any analogies, allusions and/or compare & contrast 3. WRITE: (typed, Times New Roman, 12 pt, with each article cited as a heading: TITLE, AUTHOR, DATE) a. For each article write a 4-5 sentence statement explaining in your own words what the author s purpose was and the main strategies used to accomplish that purpose.. b. From the Writing Style sheet identify 4 different words that describe the author s writing style in each article and give examples with direct quotes or detailed explanations.

3 Authors to choose from: 1. Leonard Pitts, Jr The Miami Herald 8. Gail Collins The New York Times 2. Peggy Noonan The Wall Street Journal 9. Kathleen parker The Washington Post 3. Thomas Friedman The New York Times 10. Charles Krauthammer The Washington Post 4. Maureen Dowd The new York Times 11. Charles M. blow The New York Times 5. Frank Bruni The New York Times 12. George Will The Washington Post 6. Esther J. Cepeda 600words.com 7. Nicholas Kristof The New York Times Documentary as Argument Rhetorical Analysis Organizer Selected Title: Documentarian/Auteur: Year the Film Premiered: What is the context surrounding the documentary: what is the issue, problem, motivation that compels the documentarian to communicate their message in the film? What is important historically/culturally for the audience to understand? What is the main claim made in the documentary? What does the auteur want the audience to think/feel/do? Record any direct quotes from the auteur and/or interview subjects that you may want to refer back to in an analysis. (at least 3) Who is the primary audience for this film? (do not say everyone; be very specific: age range, gender, socioeconomic class, race, etc) Any specific choices with music, interviews & lighting? What effect do each have? What choices in the film establish a sense of credibility? What choices in the film have a strong appeal to emotion? How does the film appeal to the audience s sense of logic?

4 WORDS TO DESCRIBE WRITING STYLE Choose 4 words to describe the author s style. Give examples (either direct quotes or detailed explanations). Look up definitions for words you are not familiar with. Abrupt Detailed Lyrical Abstract Diffuse Nonlinear Absurdist Discursive Painterly Allusive Dry Perfunctory Businesslike Economical Personal Chatty Elaborate Poetic Choppy Emotionless Realist(literary) Circuitous Figurative Romantic (literary) Clunky Flowery Rhythmic Complex Fluid Satirical Concise Folksy Sensual Concrete Formal Simplistic Confessional Gothic Staccato Conversational Gruff Succinct Crisp Humorous Surrealistic Cursory Impressionistic Technical Declamatory Informal Verbose Deliberate Dense Descriptive Journalistic Literal Lofty

5 AP Language & Composition Summer Assignments Grading Documentary as Argument: 2 Rhetorical Analysis Organizers completed thoughtfully and engaging: A Anything less: F Op-Ed Reading/Writing Assignment: 4 Total All 4 articles with thoughtful and engaging annotations for every element (a-e) of assignment: A 4 articles with mediocre annotations for every element (a-e) of the assignment: B 2 articles with thoughtful and engaging annotations for every element of the assignment: C 2 articles with mediocre annotations for every element of the assignment: D No articles annotated: F 4 complete written assignments on articles in essay format & proofread: A Anything Less: F