May 2016
Dear Pre-AP/AP Parents,
innovate, educate, graduate
2602 S. Belt Line Rd.
Grand Prairie, Texas 75052
972.264.6141
www.gpisd.org
Grand Prairie ISD is pleased that your child has selected a Pre-AP/AP English Language Arts course for the 20162017 academic year. As you know, these classes are quite rigorous. Students are more likely to experience
success on the AP exam if they have deeply studied a wide variety of texts. For this reason, GPISD has elected
to require summer reading in grades 6-12. We encourage you to read and discuss the selections along with
your child.
We recommend students purchase the text(s), so they can take notes in the book, which will be beneficial upon
returning to class. In addition to traditional bookstores, inexpensive copies can be found at sites such as
half.com, alibris.com, barnesandnoble.com, and amazon.com.
2016 Summer Reading List and assignments for students in Pre-AP and AP English Language Arts:
Pre-AP 6th –
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick (complete One-Pager, due Sept. 6th)
One Student Choice book from GPISD Approved List (In-class activity, week 1)
Pre-AP 7th –
The Giver by Lois Lowry (Annotations due August 22nd)
One Student Choice book from GPISD Approved List (In-class activity, week 1)
Pre-AP 8th –
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (Annotations due August 22nd)
One Student Choice book from GPISD Approved List (In-class activity, week 1)
Pre-AP English I –
Animal Farm by George Orwell (Annotations due August 22nd)
One Student Choice book from GPISD Approved List (In-class activity, week 1)
Pre-AP English II –
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Annotations due August 22nd)
One Student Choice book from GPISD Approved List (In-class activity, week 1)
AP English Language and Composition –
The Crucible by Arthur Miller (Annotations due August 22nd)
One Student Choice book from GPISD Approved List (In-class activity, week 1)
AP English Literature and Composition –
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Annotations due August 22nd)
One Student Choice book from GPISD Approved List (In-class activity, week 1)
Instructions, video tutorials, and examples of assignments are on the GPISD website:
http://www.gpisd.org/apsummerreading. Expectations in these classes are high and students will be held
accountable. Students will be required to turn in assignments and participate in class activities based on
summer reading immediately upon return in August. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate
to contact your campus Dean of Instruction, Advanced Academics Specialist, or ELA Department Chairperson.
Kind regards,
Grand Prairie ISD AP Vertical Alignment Team & Kasie Roden, Secondary ELA Facilitator