AP English Language and Composition Summer Project
Summer 2015 for the 2015-2016 School Year
Mrs. Single-Adelman
asingle@bcps.org
singleadelman.pbworks.com
Part I. Quotes project – complete for 2 books
1) Brave New World by Aldous Huxley OR 1984 by George Orwell
You may either purchase one of these books for yourself or download the electronic versions from my wikipage:
singleadelman.pbworks.com on the AP Page for 2015-2016.
2) Any of the following non-fiction texts (or another approved selection):
a. AMERICAN SNIPER, by Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice. (Morrow/HarperCollins.)
b. UNBROKEN, by Laura Hillenbrand. (Random House.)
c. WILD, by Cheryl Strayed. (Vintage.)
d. THE BOYS IN THE BOAT, by Daniel James Brown. (Penguin.)
e. GHOST BOY, by Martin Pistorius with Megan Lloyd Davies. (Nelson Books.)
f. A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME, by Stephen W. Hawking. (Bantam.)
g. THE POWER OF HABIT, by Charles Duhigg. (Random House.)
h. THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS, by Rebecca Skloot. (Broadway.)
i. LONE SURVIVOR, by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson. (Back Bay/Little, Brown.)
j. QUIET, by Susan Cain. (Broadway.)
k. 10% HAPPIER, by Dan Harris (Dey St.)
l. THINKING, FAST AND SLOW, by Daniel Kahneman (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)
m. ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, by Andrew Hodges (Princeton University)
n. THE NEW JIM CROW, by Michelle Alexander (New Press)
o. THE SIXTH EXTINCTION, by Elizabeth Kolbert (Picador)
p. OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell (Back Bay/Little, Brown)
q. IS EVERYONE HANGING OUT WITHOUT ME?, by Mindy Kaling (Three Rivers)
r. GLITTER AND GLUE, by Kelly Corrigan (Ballantine)
s. BOSSYPANTS, by Tina Fey (Back Bay/Little, Brown)
t. THE FUTURE OF THE MIND, by Michio Kaku (Anchor)
Quotes Project (Source: Anne Arvidson – presenter at NCTE Convention) – to be completed for BOTH books
1) Every time you encounter a particularly important, provocative, dramatic, surprising, even disturbing passage, mark it
with a post-it note or some other method of indicating you’ll need to revisit it. Only when you have completed the novel
will you look at all those passages (and all the sticky notes!) and decide which to analyze.
2) When you are done reading your book, you will select EIGHT passages from the novel (beginning, middle and end).
Copy the passages down (including page numbers) and then write about each passage in a well written
paragraph that explains how each passage “fits” into the novel. Discuss the importance of the passage to the
book’s message, meaning or theme. Also, react to the passage as a reader. Help me understand WHY you have
selected this passage. Incorporate text support into your analysis. To generate responses, you can consider the
following as suggested prompts or questions:
a. Why does the passage impress, intrigue, horrify, or puzzle you?
b. Do you find the author’s use of language appealing or powerful? Does the passage jump off the page as
a great descriptive passage?
c. Does it prompt a strong response from you as you read it? Does it present itself as so well-crafted that
you just love the sound of it? Is the language beautiful, descriptive, graphic?
d. Is it particularly meaningful? Is it a high point in the book?
e. Do you find yourself in agreement/disagreement with the ideas expressed?
f. Does the passage remind you of a situation you have lived as well?
g. Does the passage make you laugh out loud or make you melancholy or make you something else?
h. Does the author raise intriguing questions or issues?
i. Does the passage challenge or expand your thinking?
j. Do you recognize this quote as an AP rhetorical device? (see list of terms)
k. What is the effect of this quote in relation to the book’s overall purpose?
You are not limited to the above list, nor do I expect you to answer all of the above. However, your responses to
the passages should clearly explain to me WHY these passages mean something to you, WHY these passages
caught your attention, and HOW these passages propel the author’s overall purpose of the novel. Also, be
reasonably concise. Find a balance between quantity and quality in your writing.
3) Then, select ANOTHER passage as “The Quote of the Book.” This should be that one passage that captures the
essence – the true meaning – of the novel for you, the reader. In a well written paragraph explain exactly HOW this
passage is the one perfect quote from the book. Think of this as the one passage that you would absolutely want saved
should your book ever be lost or destroyed.
Important Details:
1) Please read the Sample Assignment wikipage: singleadelman.pbworks.com on the AP Page for 2015-2016; it is an
excellent example of the advanced sentence structure, vocabulary, analysis, text support and commentary that is
required in this course. It is also a good representation of the appropriate length for this assignment.
2) All aspects of this assignment must be typed: Times New Roman, 12 point font, MLA formatting
3) Passages/quotes must be at least two (2) sentences long. [Many of your passages should – and will be – longer than
two sentences.] When you type your quotes, put them in italics.
4) Passages/quotes must be from throughout the entire novel. Your project will be considered incomplete if you only
have quotes from the first half of the novel.
5) All passages must be in quotation marks – and be sure to copy the passage exactly as it appears in your novel. All
passages must include the page number from which they are taken. Cite page numbers as (235), or (16), or (105).
6) This assignment is due on the first day of school.
Part II. Practice exam
1) Complete the attached practice exam.
a. Try your best without using ANY outside resources.
b. Set aside 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete it.
c. Start with the MC (60 minutes), 15 minutes to read the essay materials, and 2 hours to complete the three
essays.
2) Score it with the answers for the MC, the essay rubric, and attached score sheet. Be tough on yourself with the
rubric. Note: this will be your baseline performance. We’ll work from here over the year.
3) I will want all three essays and the score sheet on day 1.
Part III. Literary Analysis Term Cards
1) Use the attached list of literary terms to make flashcards.
2) Work to understand the terms and study them.
3) Bring them to class regularly. You’ll need them to help you with your literary analysis, and I may quiz you on
them at any point in time as well.
Summary:
1) Your project has three parts: Quotes project for two books, Practice exam, Literary Terms Flash Cards.
2) You will turn in:
a. A quotes project for Brave New World OR 1984
b. A quotes project for the non-fiction book of your choice (from the list or approved by me via email:
asingle@bcps.org)
c. Three completed essays:
i. Synthesis
ii. Rhetorical analysis
iii. Argument
d. A score sheet w/ your MC & Essay scores converted to an AP cut score