AP Eng Lang and Comp: Summer reading assignments
Summer Reading Assignments:
Must be read for the objective test administered the first week of
school.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger
Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
Writer’s Resource Essays: “Argument and Persuasion” p390; “Active Reading” p. 3
Prompt one
One of the major themes that will be dealt with in this course is the American Dream. Research the term;
interview parents, grandparents, and older neighbors to find how the dream may have changed throughout the
recent history of the United States.
Then write an essay that explains your position on the following: Is the American Dream still alive in
today’s society? You must take a position that agrees or disagrees with the feasibility of the American Dream.
Then construct paragraphs that explain, support, and develop your position.
Prompt two
After reading the novels assigned respond to the following prompt.
Each of the works include a character (For example, Montag of Fahrenheit 451, Holden of Catcher in the Rye,
Tom Joad of Grapes of Wrath, Laura of Glass Menagerie) who share one of the following themes:
 Inability to achieve the American Dream
 Need to escape the pressures of society
 A force (self, society, another person) that places obstacles in the character’s path
Choose a theme and discuss how it holds true for three characters from three different works. Your concluding
paragraph should include an analysis about what this could possibly indicate about the authors’ theme.
Essays will be due the first week of school; no exceptions will be made.
ESSAYS
Must be organized
 Five paragraphs with clear introduction, conclusion
 Thesis statement must be clearly stated and located at the end of the introduction ( highlight)
 Paragraphs should include transition (consequently, as a result, finally etc)
Must include specific content
 Should include three concrete, specific examples or details to support, develop each point/subtopic
 In “Protagonist” essay should use parenthetical citation to indicate the novel the example or detail
originated
Must demonstrate sophisticated style
 Diction (word choice) should be precise and appropriate
 Syntax (sentence structure) should be varied; sentence beginnings should be varied.
 First person should be used to make a point (“I believe” “ In my opinion” not necessary)
Must follow rules of convention
 Free of spelling, grammar, punctuation errors
Must maintain purpose
 Essays informative; not persuasive or narrative
 Essays develop the thesis that you have created
Must cite work
 Essays must contain proper parenthetical citation to indicate source of information