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Ms. Kook
AP English Language and Composition
kookk@newlondon.org
Summer 2015
Summer Reading and Writing (A Summer Learning-Experience)
Welcome to AP English Language and Composition! Are you ready? 
This course is designed for students who have completed their junior year advanced placement (AP) class as
well as students entering AP for the first time. It is important that you understand that this is a course that
demands a serious attitude and commitment to academic work. Students are expected to work in and out of the
classroom and to be responsible for their learning—often working independently and interdependently (sharing
and working with others) as well.
There are two projects that students are expected to complete over the summer in preparation for fall semester.
One project is to read closely and write on a novel by Zora Neale Hurston entitled Their Eyes Were Watching
God. The second project involves contemporary issues. Please see details below:
Project I: Gulliver’s Travels. Jonathan Swift (1667-1745).
Closely read and annotate Swift’s satire. It is your responsibility to purchase the book or to borrow the book
from the public library. If the library doesn’t have the book or the book is out, they can get one for you through
inter-library loan. Make the library your friend. It is an awesome place to visit and they have a world of
material available for free! In addition, oftentimes texts can be found online; feel free to use the online text
reading option if that is your preference.
Reader Response: Three-Part Journal (Three-ring binder required!)
Using your binder, create a three-part journal, each analyzing an aspect of the text:
1. Dialectical Journal: Closely read and annotate the text in the following manner. For EACH chapter,
write TWO dialectical journal entries as follows:
 Select what you consider a meaningful word, phrase, sentence, or passage. Copy what you
select. Include quotation marks around quoted selection and provide parenthetical
documentation. Here in bold is an example from another text: “Age was respected among his
people, but achievement was revered” (Things Fall Apart 8). You need only include the full
title for the first couple of quotes. After that, you may include the page number only. Now, in
your own words, explain what the quote means and why it is significant to the text, to you, and to
life itself.
2. The Literary Examination: Discuss exposition (the background information that you need to know in
order to understand the story), setting, mood, foreshadowing, character, conflict (internal/external),
motif, symbol, tone (how the author feels about the subject), theme (i.e. universal message or meaning
of the work as a whole). Theme may be stated in an A/B/C pattern (three sentences). To discover theme
ask: What does all this mean? What is the message or theme that the author wants to convey? What is
an example of the textual evidence that supports the theme? (Specific quote.) What is the universal
message for humanity or what does it say about all or most people? Also explore archetypal patterns to
further investigate universal themes, symbols, motifs, and other expressions with regard to humanity.
The Literary Examination explores meaning.
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3. Rhetorical Examination: Interpret and analyze rhetorical methods: author’s exigence (what causes the
writer to think or speak; what is the motivating factor or motivator?); author’s purpose (what author
wants reader to say and do after reading text); primary and secondary audience; logos (central idea, data,
claim, because), ethos (establishment of good sense, good character, good will), and pathos (the appeal
to emotions and states of life); diction, syntax, tone, imagery + allusion, figurative language.
Each journal entry in your three-part journal should elevate the novel beyond simple comprehension to discover
meaning. Each section should reflect insight and rigorous thought, not great length. Students will be assessed
for completeness, depth of thought, and quality of writing.
Project II. Society Today
You will need to collect, read, summarize and respond to four articles from magazines and newspapers, print or
online, throughout the summer. Choose topics and issues of local, national, or global importance. Investigate
politics, science, nature, the economy, culture, major events, and social issues.
All articles must have accompanying bibliographic information (author, title, source, date of publication, and so
on). Take summary and reaction notes on the articles themselves (annotate the articles) as you read. Then
answer who, what, where, when, why and how questions).
Organize your writing as follows:
1. The bibliographic information.
2. A one-paragraph summary for each article.
3. Your reaction, including questions, thoughts, feelings, which show what you have learned.
4. The original article, taped to the back of your response.
Both Parts I and II will be assessed for completeness, depth of thought, and quality of writing.
Please feel free to email me any questions, comments, or concerns you may have.
And always—enjoy your summer and have fun learning!