AP Language & Composition 2015
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies…The man who never reads lives only one.”
― George R.R. Martin
PURPOSE: To investigate a variety of publications. To read, analyze, and respond to cotemporary discourses
on American and international social, political, and cultural concerns, conflicts, and conversations.
Learning Targets: I can comprehend an informational or literary text for SOAPSTone.
I can respond to an informational or literary text with an original claim.
OVERVIEW: To continue with our development, we are going to engage with the literary world beyond the
perimeters of our class or even a physical book. Listed below are American publications that are diverse in
values, content, and intended audiences. Very brief descriptions of each publication are provided. For the next
few weeks, we will be reading pieces from different publications. Below is a breakdown of the assignment:
MONTH OF APRIL-MAY: THREE INDEPENDENT LOGS DUE MAY 8TH
1) Chose an interesting publication. Chose a different publication every week.
2) Chose an article, story, poem, or other published work. The text you chose must be at least 150 lines long
(one full web page). This means you cannot pick just one short poem. Complete the independent reading log
(attached in this packet).
EVERY WEEK:
1) By Tuesday night (11:59 PM), go to turnitin.com and chose a post provided by one of your peers.
2) Read the article provided in the link.
3) Read the post.
4) Respond to the post with at least 3-4 sentences.
ON YOUR ASSIGNED WEEK: __________________________
1) Go to turnitin.com and type up a reading log onto the discussion tab by Friday, 11:59 PM. Include a link to
the published text you read. Since this will count as your third log, you do not have to hand-write the entire log.
2) The following Wednesday, return to your post and respond back to the comments left by your peers. Offer
at least a few sentences of substance.
List of Recognized Publications & Literary Magazines
** I encourage you look for other publications and investigate in more detail arguments in publications (print
or online) that you may currently read that are not on this list.
Antioch Review: American literary magazine established in 1941 at Antioch College in Ohio. One of the
oldest continuously published literary magazines in the United States, it publishes fiction, essays and poetry
from both emerging and established authors
The Atlantic Monthly: American magazine founded (as The Atlantic Monthly) in 1857 in Boston,
Massachusetts, and now based in Washington, D.C. It was created as a literary and cultural commentary
magazine and quickly achieved a national reputation, which it has held for over 150 years.
The American Scholar: quarterly literary magazine of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, established in 1932. The
magazine is named for an oration by Ralph Waldo Emerson given before the society in 1837.
The Believer: American literary magazine that also covers other arts and general culture. Founded and
designed in 2003 by the writer and publisher Dave Eggers.
Chicago: monthly magazine published by the Tribune Company. It concentrates on lifestyle and human
interest stories, and on reviewing restaurants, travel, fashion, and theatre from or nearby Chicago.
TIME: American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It was founded in 1923.
AP Language & Composition 2015
The Economist: authoritative insight and opinion on international news, politics, business, finance, science,
technology and the connections between them.
Harper’s Magazine: Monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts. Launched in
June 1850, it is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S.
Narrative Magazine: founded in 2003 by former Esquire editor Tom Jenks and author, Carol Edgarian.
Narrative is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the literary arts in the digital age.
Newsweek: In-depth analysis, news and opinion about international issues, technology, business, culture and
politics.
New England Review: online project dedicated to original creative writing for the web. Founded in New
Hampshire in 1978 by poet, novelist, editor and professor Sydney Lea and poet Jay Parini.
The New Yorker: American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons,
and poetry. It is published by Condé Nast.
The New York Times: American daily newspaper, founded and continuously published in New York City
since September 18, 1851.
The New Republic: liberal American magazine of commentary on politics and the arts published
continuously since 1914.
The Paris Review: literary magazine featuring original writing, art, and in- depth interviews with famous
writers. In its first five years, The Paris Review published works by Jack Kerouac, Philip Larkin, V. S. Naipaul,
Philip Roth, Adrienne Rich, Italo Calvino, Samuel Beckett, Nadine Gordimer, Jean Genet and Robert Bly.
Ploughshares: Emerson College’ s Literary Magazine.
Salon: progressive news website created by David Talbot in 1995 and part of Salon Media Group. It focuses on
U.S. politics and current affairs, and on reviews and articles about music, books and films.
Slate: Online magazine of news, politics, and culture. Combines humor and insight in thoughtful analyses of
current events and political news.
Reason: libertarian monthly print magazine covering politics, culture, and ideas through a provocative mix
of news, analysis, commentary, and reviews.
Rolling Stone: magazine published every two weeks that focuses on politics and popular culture. In 1967,
Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco, California, by Jann Wenner – who is still the magazine's chief
editor – and music critic, Ralph J. Gleason.
Sports Illustrated: first magazine with circulation over one million to win the National Magazine Award for
General Excellence twice.
Virginia Quarterly Review: For three quarters of a century, VQR’s primary mission has been to sustain
and strengthen Jefferson’s bulwark, long describing itself as “A National Journal of Literature and Discussion.”
Wired: “WIRED is about the most powerful people on the planet today: the Digital
Generation” - very first
editor’s letter, Louis Rossetto.
AP Language & Composition 2015
Independent Reading Log #1
Date of Access: ______________________________________________________________________________
Publication: __________________________________________________________________________________
Purpose of Publication: _____________________________________________________________________
Political Position of the Publication (if applicable): ______________________________________
Intended Audience: _________________________________________________________________________
Famous Contributors to the Publication: __________________________________________________
Published Text Title: ________________________________________________________________________
Date of Published Text: _____________________________________________________________________
Author of Text: _______________________________________________________________________________
Occasion for this Text: ______________________________________________________________________
Subject of This Text: _________________________________________________________________________
Author’s Purpose (claim):
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Compelling evidence from the text that indicates the purpose:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A thought-provoking question in response to the text:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
AP Language & Composition 2015
Independent Reading Log #2
Date of Access: ______________________________________________________________________________
Publication: __________________________________________________________________________________
Purpose of Publication: _____________________________________________________________________
Political Position of the Publication (if applicable): ______________________________________
Intended Audience: _________________________________________________________________________
Famous Contributors to the Publication: __________________________________________________
Published Text Title: ________________________________________________________________________
Date of Published Text: _____________________________________________________________________
Author of Text: _______________________________________________________________________________
Occasion for this Text: ______________________________________________________________________
Subject of This Text: _________________________________________________________________________
Author’s Purpose (claim):
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Compelling evidence from the text that indicates the purpose:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A thought-provoking question in response to the text:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
AP Language & Composition 2015
Independent Reading Log #3
Date of Access: ______________________________________________________________________________
Publication: __________________________________________________________________________________
Purpose of Publication: _____________________________________________________________________
Political Position of the Publication (if applicable): ______________________________________
Intended Audience: _________________________________________________________________________
Famous Contributors to the Publication: __________________________________________________
Published Text Title: ________________________________________________________________________
Date of Published Text: _____________________________________________________________________
Author of Text: _______________________________________________________________________________
Occasion for this Text: ______________________________________________________________________
Subject of This Text: _________________________________________________________________________
Author’s Purpose (claim):
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Compelling evidence from the text that indicates the purpose:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A thought-provoking question in response to the text:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________