To: Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Students
From: Allison Hale (hale@bascs.org)
Re: Summer Reading
Dear Potential Advanced Placement Student and Parent,
Welcome to the Advanced Placement program. Your summer reading is an essential
component to start the year right. The books listed below were selected as those which
will best prepare you for success in your AP class.
Please read the following books over the summer:
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
1) For EACH book, complete the “Major Works Data Sheet”
1. Historical information: When does the novel take place and what socially
or culturally significant events are occurring?
2. Biographical information: What are some important facts about the
author?
3. Characteristics of the genre: What is the genre of the book and what are
the characteristics of that genre?
4. Plot Summary: What are the main or most important events that occur in
the novel?
5. Author’s Style: Describe the author’s syntax and diction. If you don’t
know what these mean or how to apply them, just describe how the author
describes events and/or characters.
6. An example: Give a quote from the text that you feel exemplifies their style.
7. Memorable Quotes: You may need to complete this on a separate sheet of
paper. Write down 15 quotes from the beginning, middle and end of the
novel and explain why they are important to one of the following:
Character, Setting, Conflict, Theme or a Literary Device such as
Simile, Metaphor, Personification, Imagery, Symbolism, or
Allusion (Try to apply each term at least once)
8. Characters: Write down the name, role and significance of the main
characters and 2-3 adjectives that describe each character.
9. Setting: The specific time, place and era the novel takes place.
10. Symbols: Any objects, people, or places that you feel are representative of
something else. Make sure you tell me the symbol as well as what it
symbolizes or represents.
11. Possible Themes: What are three possible themes? Remember a theme is
what the author is trying to show us about human nature or life. What can
we all relate to?
12. Significance of the opening scene: Why is the opening scene important?
What does it set up or how does it add to the rest of the novel?
13. Significance of the closing scene? Why is the closing scene important?
How does it conclude the novel or what message does it leave us with?
14. Old AP Question: You can leave this box blank.
2) Create a Literary Terms Dictionary. This must be placed in a 3 Ring Binder that
you will bring to class the first day of school. We will be using this binder to
organize all your materials for class in order to prepare you to study for the AP test.
See the hand-out for directions. Possible websites:
a. http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/
b. http://www.academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/lit_term.html
Please don’t just cut and paste the definitions. Put them in your own words so
you will understand their meaning. **Make sure to leave space between each
term for notes you’ll take in class.
Summer Reading Grades:
When you return in the fall I will check your Literary Terms Dictionary and the Major
Works Data Sheets to be completed on the first or second day of class. You will also
receive points for having your 3 Ring Binder.
You will be tested on the two novels within the second week of school. I realize that
both of the summer reading texts can be easily obtained online and that you could
complete the “Major Works Data Sheet” without reading the book. But you will be given
a past AP essay prompt that will be impossible to complete unless you have actually read
the texts. Please do not attempt to write an AP Essay on a book you haven’t read-it will
not go well.
Good Luck, and remember it’s never too early to start your summer reading!
Literary Terms
Directions: Create a Literary Terms Dictionary by defining the following terms. Take
extra care to create a dictionary that you may reference throughout the school year. It is
highly suggested that you type the definitions. You will be asked to reference these
terms throughout the school year. Leave a couple lines below each term in case you want
to add future notes or examples.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
abstract
allegory
allusion
ambiguity
analogy
anecdote
antagonist
archetype
atmosphere
characterization
11.
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13.
14.
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27.
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34.
35.
36.
climax
concrete
conflict
connotation
denotation
denouement
dialect
diction
dramatic irony
epic
euphemisms
exposition
extended metaphor
falling action
farce
figurative language
flashback
foil
foreshadow
genres
hyperbole
imagery
irony
juxtaposition
metaphor
mood
37.
38.
39.
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61.
motif
narrator
onomatopoeia
oxymoron
paradox
personification
persuasion
plot
point of view
protagonist
realism
repetition
resolution
satire
setting
simile
situational irony
speaker
style
symbol
syntax
theme
tone
understatement
verbal irony
AP English: Literature & Composition
Name ______________________________
Major Works Data Sheet
Biographical information about the author:
Title:_________________________________
Author:_______________________________
Date of Publication:____________________
Genre: _______________________________
Historical information about the period of publication:
Plot summary:
Characteristics of the genre:
Major Works Data Sheet
Describe the author's style:
Page 2
An example that demonstrates the style:
Memorable Quotes
Quote
Significance
Major Works Data Sheet
Page 3
Characters
Name
Role in the story
Significance
Adjectives
Major Works Data Sheet
Page 4
Setting
Significance of opening scene
Symbols
Significance of the ending/closing scene
Possible Themes