AP Language and Composition-Summer 2015 Succeeding as a college writer means, at least in part, being able to enter into and contribute effectively to discussions (David A. Jolliffe DePaul University). Background: The AP Language test has three Free Response questions: 1. Synthesis 2. Analysis 3. Argument. The Synthesis question provides six sources from which to draw conclusions and form an argument. The Analysis question asks for an analysis of Rhetorical Strategies in a given text in order to demonstrate how the author constructs his argument. The Argument question demands evidence; however, only the prompt, and maybe a brief passage, is supplied. The evidence used in support of the argument must be gathered from the student s own knowledge. In addition to the Free-Response Questions, the multiple-choice section is a selection of five passages ranging in time period from the 1700 s to the present. The questions have quite a range: Factual Technical Analytical Inferential Vocabulary Point of View Figures of Speech Tone Allusions Style Literary Device Effect of Pronoun Reference Grammatical Purpose Shifts Implies/Infer Comprehension Irony Mode of Discourse Purpose Organization Style Symbol Rhetoric: Function of Cause/Effect Author is Syntax Purpose: The summer reading assignment is designed to prepare you for your upcoming AP course and to encourage reading of high quality writing. From my vantage point, students need to read and read and read. There is a demand for having a strong command of language. For many, reading is the best way to obtain a broader vocabulary. Furthermore, students need to have a ready litany of evidence to prove an argument regarding a relevant, current topic and to have a vast understanding of HOW an argument is effectively and reasonably crafted. The Assignment: Read reputable newspaper or news magazine OPINION or COMMENTARIES. Reading news articles will be helpful for you; however, the MOST helpful will be your understanding of argument. The Washington Post The New York Times Time The Atlantic Monthly London Times The New Yorker Newsweek The Economist The Wall Street Journal LA Times Star Tribune To Do: 1. Read two articles a week. Keep a list of subjects from the twenty articles you read. Sketch remarks. See Appedix A 2. Outline Ten articles using the attached outline format. See Appendix B. Choose a balance of articles from various categories: current, global, national, and local events. 3. Submissions: ELECTRONIC: Create a google drive folder, share it with myerskk@minnehahaacademy.net, and electronically submit the outline. PAPER Print outline for all ten articles. SOAPSTONE
Background to the Outline: SOAPSTone (Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, Tone) is an acronym to closely study a passage that will lead to a written or verbal critique/analysis. Subject State the subject in a few words or phrases. What is the topic of the piece? Are you reading about Drones, Putin, Racism, etc. Consider: A topic or subject can be stated in a word. A thesis will be stated as a sentence. Occasion The time and the place of the piece; the context that prompted the writing. Writing does not occur in a vacuum. All writers are influenced by the larger occasion: an environment of ideas, attitudes, and emotions that swirl around a broad issue. Then there is the immediate occasion: an event or situation that catches the writer's attention and triggers a response. Consider: What prompted the writer to write the piece. Audience The group of readers to whom this piece is directed. Determine who the audience is that is to receive the address. It may be one person or a specific group. This choice of audience should influence how to structure the particular text. Consider: Who does the author want to be affected by reading the text? Purpose The reason behind the text. Determine the purpose of the text in order to develop the thesis or the argument and its logic. Consider: What does the writer want the audience to think or do as a result of reading the text? Speaker The voice that tells the story. Decide whose voice is heard. How does the writer develop the personality/credibility/character of the speaker or narrator who will influence the overall meaning of the text. Can you ascertain the speaker s point of view? What assumption might you make about the speaker? (age, gender, background, etc.) You may research the author s background. Tone The attitude of the author toward the subject. The spoken word can convey the speaker's attitude and thus help to impart meaning through tone of voice. With the written word, it is tone that extends meaning beyond the literal. Tone is conveyed through diction (choice of words), syntax (sentence construction), and imagery (figurative language). Look for clues that identify the author s attitude to the subject. See the attached list of TONE words.
APPENDIX A: Summer Reading List: Note subjects from the articles Include any other notations you might find helpful throughout the school year. Consider pasting a link to the article. Jotting down the date and context of the article. SUBJECT 1. Notations as you desire: 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
APPENDIX B (you will need 10 of these) Outline for Article Response Circle Type of News: current, global, national, local Date Citation. Here is a basic outline for creating a citation:,... :. Author last name, first name. Title of Article. Newspaper Name. date month year page # or n.p. Print or Web. : Date accessed. SUBJECT OCCASION AUDIENCE PURPOSE SPEAKER TONE (you may reference your list of tone words-see Appendix C)-defend your answer Your response (One to Two sentences suffice)
APPENDIX C Tone Vocabulary Words 1. allusive intimate, suggest, connote 2. angry mad, furious, irate 3. bantering good-natured teasing, ridicule, joking 4. benevolent magnanimous, generous, noble 5. burlesque mockery, sham, spoof, parody 6. candid clear, frank, genuine, sincere 7. clinical - direct, detached, scientific, impersonal 8. colloquial -common ordinary, vernacular 9. compassionate kindly, sympathetic, benevolent 10. complimentary flattering, approving, laudatory 11. concerned touched, affected, influenced 12. condescending scornful, contemptuous, disdainful 13. confident positive, certain, assured 14. contemptuous pompous, arrogant, superior, haughty 15. contentious argumentative, quarrelsome, pugnacious 16. cynical adverse, suspicious, opposed, doubtful, dubious 17. detached separated, severed, apathetic 18. didactic pointed, bombastic, pompous, terse 19. diffident retiring, timid, hesitant, bashful 20. disdainful haughty, arrogant, supercilious 21. dramatic exciting, moving, sensational, emotional 22. effusive talkative, verbose, profuse 23. elegiac sad, mournful, plaintive (like an elegy) 24. factious dissident, rebellious, insubordinate 25. factual authentic, genuine, truthful 26. fanciful capricious, extravagant, whimsical 27. flippant offhand, facetious, frivolous 28. impartial equitable, unbiased, dispassionate 29. incisive cutting, biting, penetrating 30. indignant angry, irritated, resentful 31. inflammatory irritate, arouse, resentful
32. informative acquaint, communicate, disclose 33. insipid flat, bland, tedious, banal (commonplace) 34. insolent insulting, brazen, rude, contemptuous 35. ironic contradictory, implausible, incongruous 36. irreverent profane, impious, blasphemous, ungodly 37. learned skilled, experienced, professional 38. lugubrious gloomy, dismal, melancholy, somber 39. maudlin sentimental, mushy, gushing, insipid 40. mock-heroic mimicking courage (pretend) 41. mock-serious mimicking solemnity (pretend) 42. moralistic virtuous, righteous, blameless 43. objective impartial, detached, impersonal 44. patronizing condescending, scornful, disdainful 45. pedantic academic, bookish, scholastic 46. petty trivial, insignificant, narrow-minded 47. pretentious arrogant, boastful, conceited 48. restrained unwilling, hesitant, reluctant 49. sardonic cutting, biting, penetrating, satirical 50. satiric lampooning, facetious 51. scornful bitter, caustic, acrimonious, mordant 52. sentimental emotional, mushy, maudlin (tearful) 53. somber serious, gloomy, dismal, shadowy 54. sympathetic supportive, favorable, considerate 55. taunting contemptuous, insulting, derisive 56. terse concise, succinct, pithy, pointed 57. turgid pompous, bloated, swollen, distended 58. urgent compelling, demanding, imperative, pressing 59. vibrant resonant, active, resounding 60. whimsical flippant, frivolous, light-hearted, dainty
AP Language and Composition Summer Reading Rubric Name Submission Google doc or Paper 20 articles noted (20) 10 articles analyzed (50) Date, Week or Topic General Comments on Analysis and Response thorough personal reflective insightful accurate engaged makes connections Comments on Tone analysis and substantiation Provides adequate support Seems support is not adequate to support the Tone word Tone word is a careful choice Tone word seems misguided based on the explanation Variety of tone words shows engagement - - - - Date, Week or Topic General Comments on Analysis and Response thorough personal reflective insightful accurate engaged makes connections Comments on Tone analysis and substantiation Provides adequate support Seems support is not adequate to support the Tone word Tone word is a careful choice Tone word seems misguided based on the explanation Variety of tone words shows engagement Overall Score for Analysis, Response, and Tone (40)
Total Score 20 + 50 + 40 = 110 APPENDIX B (you will need 10 of these) EXAMPLE Outline for Article Response Circle Type of News: current, global, national, local Date 25 May 2015 Citation. Schiavenza, Matt. John Nash s Beautiful Life. The Atlantic. 24 May 2015 : Online. 25 May 2015. SUBJECT-The recent death of Professor of Mathematics John Nash OCCASION-Following the death of Nash and his wife, a tribute to Nash s life s work AUDIENCE-Americans and others interested in the life and death of a mathematical genius PURPOSE-To honor the life of John Nash SPEAKER-Former Global Affairs writer. Contributing writer for The Atlantic TONE (you may reference your list of tone words-see Appendix C)-defend your answer respectful, genuine, sincere Schiavenza writes about Nash with a respectful, genuine, and sincere tone. He reports honestly regarding Nash s achievements as well as his mental challenges. Schiavnza describes Nash s extraordinary life story as the Nobel Prize winner and writer of what is known as Nash Equilibrium. Alongside the honors paid to Nash is the account of his struggles with Schizophrenia. In a sincere manner, Schiavenza relays the important contributions Nash made to mathematical theory all the while fighting to overcome a debilitating and haunting illness. Your response (One to Two sentences suffice) The author provides merely a glimpse at the cause of death of Nash and his wife. His tribute is to the man, his work, and his struggle to defeat a mental illness. Nash s creative mathematical genius brought us a new theory about competition and game play; perhaps he also brought us a way to view a mental illness with more respect and understanding.