Advanced Placement Literature and Composition, Grade 11/12
Summer 2015 Reading Assignments
Mrs. Davis 770-786-1334 or 770-519-5392 (text)
amanda.davis@socialcircleschools.org
“Reading in an AP course is both wide and deep… In the course, they [students] read deliberately
and thoroughly, taking time to understand a work’s complexity, to absorb its richness of meaning,
and to analyze how that meaning is embodied in literary form. In addition to considering a work’s
literary artistry, students reflect on the social and historical values it reflects and embodies.
Careful attention to both textual detail and historical context provides a foundation for
interpretation, whatever critical perspectives are brought to bear on the literary works studied.”
(The College Board)
Reading in AP involves what is known as a “close read” that is, the student “experiences literature,
interprets literature and evaluates literature.” Writing is a major component to any AP course, but
it is imperative to AP Literature and Composition. Students write to in order to understand a
literary work. This writing “may involve writing response and reaction papers, along with annotation,
free-writing and keeping some form of a reading journal. Writing to explain a literary work involves
analysis and interpretation and may include writing brief focused analyses on aspects of language
and structure. Writing to evaluate a literary work involves making and explaining judgments about
its artistry and exploring its underlying social and cultural values through analysis, interpretation
and argument.” (The College Board)
As you are making the decision as to whether to sign up for AP Literature and Composition, ask
yourself the following questions. Do I truly enjoy reading, writing, and analyzing literature? How is
my work ethic? Am I willing to do college work? If you have not taken an AP course in the past or
gone to Perimeter, or Athens Tech, be prepared to work harder to build your skills. Expect at least
an hour to two hours of homework nightly if you want to do well in the course and do well on the AP
exam at the end of the year. I am excited to go on this journey with you and believe that you will
walk away from this experience with a wealth of knowledge and the ability to do well in college when
you get there!
Suggestions:
 Read with your pen. I recommend that you annotate a personal copy of the book, or use
sticky notes to make annotations on a library copy. (You all know I believe you should mark a
book up with under-linings, thoughts, comments, ideas etc...)
 Rely on your own reading and understanding. While outside sources are good for some
things, they are not good to help you with your own interpretation of a work.
 DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! If you read something early in the summer, refresh yourself
before school begins. We will spend a lot of time on the texts in the first several weeks of
school, and will refer to them throughout the year. YOU MUST BE FAMILIAR with these
works.
Reading Requirements:
1. For the month of June, read “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “The Glass Menagerie” by
Tennessee Williams. Both of these are short plays about the struggles of everyday people
to deal with realities of everyday life).
2. For the month of July, read Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. The story of a man who
creates a monster…inside and out. Also, read The Alchemist by Paul Coelho. This book is
a modern-day parable and one I feel you will really enjoy!
3. Also read any other selection of your choice. There is a fantastic new web-site called Find
A Book Georgia where there are reading selections for all reading types. They are based on
interest, Lexile level, etc. You can also go to the College Board web-site to find a
recommended reading list. www.collegeboard.org DO NOT READ A BOOK YOU HAVE
ALREADY READ! I will be happy to make suggestions if you would like…
The web-site is www.lexile.com/fab/GA
Assignments:
1. For “The Glass Menagerie” and “A Streetcar Named Desire”, please do a data
sheet for each (I have attached one with this). I would prefer they are handwritten, but if you want to type them you can. They do not have to be on these
forms (you can create your own), but all the information must be present. (You can
do the author information one time).
2. For The Alchemist, please create a time-line. This will help you when you are
reading so that you can be reminded of where he is, and when. You can do this
time-line any way you choose, but please be creative!
3. For Frankenstein keep a running log of actions that take place. Remember, this is a
play, so a detailed description of the plot-chart would be most appropriate. This
should be hand-written. A chapter-by-chapter summary would be appropriate.
4. For your book choice, create a summer reading poster. This can be anything you
choose to create. It should be imaginative, and cause the audience to want to read
the selection based on the poster. Keep in mind the Data Sheets and be sure to
include some of that information on the poster.
Additional Information:
Please remember that all of these assignments are due the first day of class. If not, you
will receive a schedule change. Be prepared for an objective quiz, as well as timed essays
over the works.
Please feel free to call or e-mail over the summer if you have questions. I am usually
available, and I promise to call you back. I always enjoy talking to students, especially
about my passion . I am very excited you have decided to take this challenge, and I am
looking forward to going on this journey with you!