The Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition course and examination require extensive preparation and reading. The skills required by this course are those that you have developed as a lifelong reader and writer. Before school starts in August, you will read and respond to some works of significant literary merit. Follow all directions on this sheet carefully to complete your assignments. You are required to read a total of four works, so I advise you to start your reading early in the summer. Reading and written work are due on the first day of school, Tuesday, August 11. Late work will not be accepted on these assignments. You have four reading assignments. Please purchase the editions suggested below. Read The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. Complete the assigned responses described on this handout. (Longman 4 th Edition -- ISBN-13:9780205309023). Read the play The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. By following the directions attached to this assignment sheet, create a Book Card on the play. (New Directions Books ISBN-13: 978-0811214049). Read The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. By following the directions attached to this assignment sheet, create a Book Card on the play. (Barnes & Noble Classics ISBN-13: 978-0062301673 ). Read one novel of your choice from the list provided. Complete the writing assignment as described on this handout for each work. Bring hard copies of these works (with annotations as applicable to your assignment) to class for discussion; electronic copies will not be allowed in class. After school begins in August, you will be completing additional assignments on each of these works. During the first full week of school, you will take objective tests on The Elements of Style and The Glass Menagerie. This assignment and the Book Card directions will be posted on the school website. Feel free to contact me at c.maddox@providencechristianacademy.org should you have any questions. I will check my mailbox frequently, but not necessarily daily, throughout the summer and respond to you. Do not use any outside sources to complete any part of your assignments. If you are not sure of any of the analysis on the Book Card, tell me what you can without using any reference materials. Sign the following statement and return this sheet to me on the due date, stapled to the back of your completed work. The work I am turning in is mine alone. I have used no outside sources for help in completing this work. Name Date Have a safe and relaxing summer, and I hope you enjoy your reading!
Written Responses for The Elements of Style NOTE: All written responses to your reading will be graded on how well you follow directions and on the quality of your work, including grammar, usage, and mechanics. (You should organize your responses according to the headings below.) Introduction (one paragraph) After reading the Introduction by E.B. White, write a one-paragraph response succinctly describing the philosophy and personality of William Strunk as revealed by E. B. White. Section I: Elementary Rules of Usage (one paragraph) After reading Section I, identify three rules of usage which have plagued your own writing or speaking. Quote the rule from Elements in your discussion. If you have overcome the tendency to make the mistakes you re discussing, explain how you mastered those rules. Section II: Elementary Principles of Composition (three paragraphs) After reading Section II, identify three points E. B. White makes about writing that you find intriguing and explain your thoughts in three separate paragraphs. Quote White directly and explain fully. Sections III and IV: A Few Matters of Form Words and Expressions Commonly Misused (ten paragraphs) After reading Sections III and IV on forms and misuses, identify ten elements of the language which you have not mastered or were not aware of. Explain, in your own words, the correct use of each element in a separate paragraph. The length of these paragraphs will vary, of course, depending on the element and your individual explanation. Section V: An Approach to Style (three paragraphs) After reading Section V in which White makes 21 points about style, choose three of these points and apply each to your own writing. In three separate, brief paragraphs, explain how each point has been a weakness or strength in your writing abilities.
Grading Rubric: Responses to The Elements of Style AP Literature Pre-requisite Assignment, 2015 Introductory --Paragraph fully describes philosophy and personality of Strunk as revealed by White Section I: Elementary Rules of Usage --Paragraph identifies 3 rules of usage that you have (or will) overcome Section II: Elementary Principles of Composition --Each of the 3 paragraphs identifies and discusses an interesting point about writing Section III and IV: A Few Matters of Form Words and Expressions Commonly Misused --Each paragraph identifies and discusses 1 of 10 misuses of form or expression. Section V: An Approach to Style --Each of the 3 paragraphs identifies a style point and explains how it has been a strength or weakness in your writing.
Format/Grammar/Mechanics 16 Book Card Assignment for The Glass Menagerie and The Scarlet Letter Do not use extra sources for this information. Complete all work on each Book Card on your own. See directions for this assignment on the next page. Book Card Format (one card per work): Write in blue or black ink on a 5x8 notecard. Highlight category titles. Use sentence fragments and abbreviations where possible. Be thorough but succinct. 13 Categories: Please number these headings on your card. Title and original copyright date. Use proper spelling and punctuation. Author. (include any pen names/pseudonyms) Plot. If you find the space constraint to be a problem, try reducing the plot to a numbered series of events. Setting. Consider both time and place. Characters. - list and describe major and "major minor" characters Point of view. Conflict. (For example: internal = man vs. self, or external= man vs. others, nature, society, etc.) Theme. Remember that a theme must be stated as a complete sentence. Distinguishing traits of work. (symbols, images, parallel scenes, etc.) Description of opening scene. Significance of opening scene. Description of closing scene.
Significance of closing scene. ***Remember to use present tense for all discussions of the events of a literary work. GRADING RUBRIC: BOOK CARD AP Literature Pre-requisite Assignment, 2015 Each book card will count as a separate quiz grade. 1. Thirteen elements of analysis (eleven with two requiring additional information): Title and Copyright Date Author Plot Setting Characters Point of View Conflict Theme Distinguishing Traits Opening Scene Significance of Opening Scene Closing Scene Significance of Closing Scene 7 points each = 91 points 2. 5 x 8 Index Card 2 points 3. Categories are numbered and highlighted. 2 points 4. Information is recorded neatly and legibly in blue or black ink. 5 points GRADE:
Choice Book Reading Response Assignment The purpose of this assignment is to broaden your reading background and to sharpen your analytical skills. Do not choose novels that you have previously read. If you don t like the subject matter or style of a work, you should choose another. All of these titles are considered to have literary merit and have appeared on past AP English Literature exams. Another work by any of these authors should be acceptable. During the course, however, we will be reading and studying other works by some of these authors; if you consider another title by an author on the list, send me an e-mail for approval to select that work. Although I am not grading annotation of your novels, I strongly suggest you annotate every book you read for this class. Annotations are valuable when you need to ask questions, clarify your thoughts, or share ideas in class discussions. As AP students, though, you should be developing your own annotation style to show that you are interacting with the text. NOVELS: Choose ONE. Austen. Pride and Prejudice Bronte. Jane Eyre Dostoevsky. Crime and Punishment Gaines. A Gathering of Old Men The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman Faulkner. As I Lay Dying Absalom, Absalom Hardy. Tess of the D Urbervilles Hemingway. The Sun Also Rises A Farewell to Arms Hosseini. The Kite Runner Hurston. Their Eyes Were Watching God Huxley. Brave New World Kingsolver. The Poisonwood Bible Irving. A Prayer for Owen Meany Morrison. Song of Solomon Beloved Patchett. Bel Canto Paton. Cry, the Beloved Country Salinger. The Catcher in the Rye Steinbeck. East of Eden The Grapes of Wrath Stoker. Dracula Tan. The Joy Luck Club Vonnegut. Slaughterhouse Five Walker. The Color Purple Wharton. The Age of Innocence Wilde. The Picture of Dorian Gray
Written Response Assignment for the Choice Novel In order to identify significant issues of your choice novel, select a brief passage (less than 50 words or so make sure you have included the full context of the passage) to quote. Write out the passage accurately from the text and identify it by section/chapter and page number. Respond to the selection in three paragraphs. In the first paragraph, briefly explain the passage. In the second paragraph, explain the significance of the quote to the work as a whole. Make sure this paragraph does not repeat the first one by focusing on summary. Instead, discuss what the paragraph shows or develops about a character, a theme, or some other literary element. You may use quoted words and phrases, but don t re-quote large portions of the passage. Your third paragraph should explain why the passage appeals to you - why you chose that particular quote or section of the work as important. Discuss all the reasons you chose it; don t just stop at one reason. This paragraph should also contain how the novel relates to you or your life in general. This written response on your choice novel will be graded on the quality of the work you submit, including following directions, providing depth of analysis, and presenting valid/thoughtful personal responses. I am attaching the grading rubric for scoring. Your choice novel response should be typed using Times New Roman 12-point font and the correct MLA heading and pagination. Double space this assignment from the first line of the heading. Bring your annotated choice novel to class as well as this assignment.
Grading Rubric for Choice Novel Reading Response AP Literature Pre-requisite Assignment, 2015 Name: Title of Novel: This assignment counts as a major grade. Key phrase/passage identified by section/chapter/page number with correct punctuation 0 10 points Three-paragraph response: Passage is explained fully Significance to work as a whole is fully explained (depth of analysis) Justifiable/Valid personal response why passage appealed to you Grammar/Punctuation/Mechanics/Spelling/General Appearance (blue or black ink, standard paper, or typed) 0-20 points 0-30 points 0-15 points 0-25 points Grade Teacher Comments: