Mr. Bless
AP English Language and Composition
2014-2015
Summer Reading Assignments
Rhetoric: The art of using language for the purpose of persuasion.
In Classical oratory: The art of influencing the thought and conduct of one’s
hearers.
Welcome to AP English Language and Composition! The summer reading and critical
thinking packet is designed to introduce you to rhetorical non-fiction and will serve as
integral background for the fall, when you will begin the course. The primary focus of
the class is on close analysis, study, and exploration of literary and rhetorical language
as exemplified in historical oratory, essays, prose narrative fiction, and in propaganda
and satire. Due to the rigorous nature of the class – this is designed as a first-year
college level program – the highest academic standards are expected. This is a high level
course that takes the study of literature, rhetoric, semantics seriously. With this in mind,
you will write two essays based on the summer texts upon your return. In addition,
assessments will be given at the beginning of the semester that will cover the assigned
reading texts, along with the glossary of rhetorical terminology, which is included in this
packet. If, during the summer, you find you are procrastinating on the reading, or find
you have a strong resistance to doing the work, you may need to reconsider your
placement in the course. Please note: Not doing well on the essays or receiving a C- or
lower on the first test/quiz/assessment WILL result in a phone call and possibly a
meeting with your parents/guardians. This class is suitable for those students who have
a fascination for literature and language, express themselves well through writing, and
who strive to grow as writers and critical thinkers.
You will need to purchase the two required books on your own. The good news is that
both books can be found in paperback/trade editions. Most bookstores carry them. You
may also be able to find really inexpensive editions at Amazon.com.
Required Texts:
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Assignments:
For both In Cold Blood and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass you are required
to write a 2-3 page analytical essay when you return to school, focusing on each
writers’ language, stylistic decisions, ideas, themes and meanings. Guidelines will be
provided after summer break (Please note: you do not have to write the essays at home;
an entire class block will be devoted to writing the essays when you return in
September). You will also be able to use the actual texts for quotes, important notes and
passages. CCSS.ELA.RL.11-12.4; CCSSW.11-12.2.2.
Things to bear in mind:
 The essays will constitute your first major grades for Quarter 1.
 If you pace yourself well, and depending on how fast or slow you
read, you should be able to finish both books (Narrative of the Life is
quite short) in a few weeks.
Directions for Annotation of Texts
Annotation is the act of actively and closely reading and evaluating a text, whether it
is a work of fiction, drama, poetry, or rhetorical non-fiction. In essence, when you
annotate you underline, circle, or highlight important passages, sentences, and
words as you go along. You may also ask questions of the text, scribbling your
questions, thoughts, or differing opinions in the margins of the page you are on.
Skillful and thoughtful annotation will vastly improve your understanding of a
book/text. Moreover, it will stretch and enrich your thinking abilities, suggesting
further insights and threads of meaning. The purpose of annotating is to fully and
wholly understand a writer’s major themes and ideas, but also to obtain insight into
the more subtle and nuanced planes of meaning which a text may encapsulate.
I expect you to thoughtfully and thoroughly annotate both books this summer.
Mr. Bless
English
Essay Rubric
Relevance and appropriateness
Introduction
Thesis (organizing idea of essay)
Textual support/evidence
Organization
Analysis & Idea development
Transitions
Syntax & Grammar
MLA Criteria & Formatting
Timeliness/overall presentation
Did the student follow the directions
and criteria in writing the essay?
Are the topic, length appropriate?
Does the Introduction give the reader
a preview of the subject/topic?
Does Intro include a clear, concrete,
and provable thesis?
Does essay have a clear, succinct,
provable thesis?
Does student use an adequate
number of quotes to support ideas?
Are textual examples relevant and to
the point?
Are signal phrases used to introduce
quotes, thereby eliminating the ‘I’ll
throw it in here syndrome’?”
Has student developed the essay
logically?
Are interpretations and ideas
thoroughly and insightfully developed
and expanded upon?
Are transitional words and phrases
used as connective tissue, to keep
essay flowing seamlessly.
Has essay been carefully proofread?
Has student edited and repaired
grammatical elements of essay?
Has careful attention been paid to
spelling?
Have run-on and fragmented
sentences been repaired?
Have all MLA mechanics been
correctly followed in essay?
Was the essay submitted on time?
Has student clearly taken the time to
turn in work that expresses the very
best she/he can do?
Glossary of Rhetorical Terminology
Glossary of Rhetorical Terminology: In addition to the essays, you are also required to look up
the definitions for each of the terms in the glossary and commit them to memory. Flashcards
can be of great use here. Very simply, write the word on one side of an index card and the
definition on the back. These words will become a part of our course vernacular throughout the
year and it is expected that you know their meanings. Clarification and applications of terms will
be discussed during the school year.
Ethos
Logos
Pathos
Ad hominem
Allegory
Alliteration
Allusion
Ambiguity
Analogy
Anaphora
Anecdote
Antithesis
Antonym
Aphorism
Apostrophe
Archaism
Aesthetic
Assertion
Begging the question
Connotation/connotative meaning
Denotation
Dialect
Diction
Syntax
Trope/figurative language: metaphor, extended metaphor, simile, personification,
hyperbole, synecdoche, metonymy.
Paradox/paradoxical
Linguistics
Literary motif
Parallel structure/parallelism
Polemics
Repetition
Rhetoric
Rhetorical question
Semantics
Syntactic fluency
Tautology
Tetracolon
Tone
Treatise
Tricolon
Images/imagery
Idiom
Litotes
Quid pro quo