AP Language and Composition Summer Reading Assignment
Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood
Welcome to AP Language and Composition - a writing-intensive course that focuses primarily on nonfiction reading
that discusses politics, history, social sciences, and current events (personal essays, biographies, speeches, newspaper
articles, etc.). The purpose of the summer reading assignments is to expand your experience with non-‐fiction texts.
These assignments offer you an opportunity to establish a foundation that you will use throughout the course.
*This means not as much work with novels and short stories. If studying fiction was your expectation, Standard/Honors
English III might be a better fit for you.
Failure to complete the summer reading assignment will result in a zero. You do not want to start the first quarter of a
brand new school year with a failing grade, for it will be hard to recover. AP Language is a self-elected course; by
committing to being in a college level course, you must be willing to put in the time and effort.
Assignment is due the first day of school, August 17th.
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If you have any questions over the summer you can contact me via email: kmbuonopane@oneclay.net
Entering Required Skills and Attitudes Leading to Success
Students should
• have mastered a variety of methods for developing major claims and sub-claims in a well-organized essay.
• enjoy reading and writing.
• actively participate in discussions about literature and writing.
• be willing to re-read difficult material in order to understand it at a literal level, at least.
• seek and accept constructive criticism about their writing.
Major Activities
Students will
• read a survey of nonfiction and some fictional work
• write frequent timed essays on a variety of topics.
 Complete practice multiple choice exams that mirror the AP exam.
In order to help prepare you for this year, you are expected to complete THREE summer assignments to submit on the
first day of school.
Assignment #1: Read In Cold Blood and complete five journal entries; read the directions and model below.
Assignment #2: Write three responses to the novel: two from the “analytical” section and one from the
“argumentative” section. Each should be thoughtful, stylistically pleasing, meticulously edited, formatted using MLA
style, and 250-500 words. Label each response appropriately (i.e. “Allusions,” “Plot / Structure,” “Nature vs. Nurture,”
etc.).
Assignment #3: Respond to the free response question. Response should be thoughtful, stylistically pleasing,
meticulously edited, formatted using MLA style, and 250-500 words.
Part 1:
For this assignment you will focus on a critical analysis of a self-selected passage. You will examine how the author
makes language choices to express his tone toward a specific subject.
TONE is the author's attitude toward the subject or theme and is revealed through specific stylistic choices.
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The journal entries will be graded for completion as well as for thorough and thoughtful analysis/grammar.
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Please TYPE the responses and follow the template (create a table on Word). They will be used as we discuss
Capote’s use of language to convey a specific purpose and effect.

Use the 5 prompts below and the chart to complete the journal. EXAMPLE IS ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.
Journal Entry Prompts
1. Find at least one passage that
describes Capote's attitude toward
the town of Holcomb.
2. Find at least one passage that
describes Capote's attitude toward
the Clutter Family (collectively or
individually).
3. Find at least one passage that
describes Capote's attitude toward
Perry Smith.
4. Find at least one passage that
describes Capote's attitude toward
Dick Hickock.
5. Find at least one passage that
describes Capote's attitude toward
Dick and Perry's relationship.
Specific Textual Evidence
Journal Response
Record the passage and page number
Provide at least one specific adjective
to describe Capote's attitude toward
the given subject; then, explain how
the selected passage supports that
interpretation. Type responses. Must
be at least 4-5 sentences.
EXAMPLE:
Prompt:
Passage:
Analysis:
Find at least one passage that
describes Capote's attitude toward
Dick and Perry's relationship.
“But Dick became convinced that
Perry was that rarity, a ‘natural
killer’—absolutely sane, but
conscienceless, and capable of
dealing, with or without motive, the
coldest-blooded deathblows. It was
Dick’s theory that such a gift could,
under his supervision, be profitably
exploited. Having reached this
conclusion, he had proceeded to woo
Perry, flatter him—pretend, for
example, that he believed all the
buried treasure stuff and share his
beachcomber yearnings and seaport
longings, none of which appealed to
Dick, who wanted ‘a regular life,’ with
a business of his own, a house, a
horse to ride, a new car, and ‘plenty of
blond chicken.’ It was important that
Perry not suspect this—not until
Perry, with his gift, had helped further
Dick’s ambitions.” (55)
It is during this passage that Capote
reveals Dick’s true feelings for Perry.
The reader discovers that Dick is
simply using Perry for his “gift” of
being “conscienceless” and being a
“’natural killer’” that Dick believes will
help “further” his “ambitions.” Capote
creates a sympathetic feeling towards
Perry as he shows that he is being
“profitably exploited,” by Dick
trying—and succeeding—to “woo
Perry, flatter him,” instead of actually
wanting to be his friend. Capote
shows that Dick is willing to do
whatever he can to get Perry to
perform “the coldest-blooded
deathblows,” by pretending to “share
his beachcomber yearning and
seaport longings,” that Perry has had
for most of his life. Dick, though is
already shown to be a cruel, almost
heartless, person, is thoroughly
established in this passage; the one
person he truly looks after is himself,
and his relationship with Perry isn’t
much of a relationship or friendship at
all.
Part 2:
Write two responses to the novel: two from the “analytical” section and one from the “argumentative” section.
Each should be thoughtful, stylistically pleasing, meticulously edited, formatted using MLA style, and 250-500 words.
Label each response appropriately (i.e.“Plot / Structure,” “Syntax,” “Nature vs. Nurture” etc.).
Please note: I want to see YOUR IDEAS ONLY on the analytical response questions. Do NOT reference ANY outside
sources for answering these questions. You must use direct quotes and cite them properly.
Analytical Response Topics
1. Syntax: Capote is known for his elaborate sentence structure and use of parallelism. Pick a paragraph in which
Capote’s syntax is especially impressive and write an analysis explaining why his sentence structure is effective.
2. Character Development: Capote carefully depicts the personalities of secondary characters, such as Al Dewey.
Why do you think he does this and what do these detailed portraits add to the book? Which of the secondary
characters do you find most memorable and why?
3. Character Development: What techniques does Capote use to characterize the killers? Does he make you feel
sympathetic toward Dick or Perry?
4. Tone: Is Capote an objective or subjective narrator? As you explain your answer, be sure to include your
definitions of “objective” and “subjective,” as well as ample evidence from the book for support.
5. Setting: Describe Holcomb. In what ways is it an ordinary town? In what ways is it different? How does it
compare to familiar towns in Carteret County? Why does the author spend so much time describing the town?
6. Setting: How does the description of the jail at the beginning of Part IV contribute to the development of the
novel?
7. Plot / Structure: How does Capote build suspense despite the fact that readers know the ultimate outcome
from the beginning of In Cold Blood?
8. Plot / Structure: What is the effect of the author’s use of montage (repeatedly switching back-and forth
between Holcomb and the approaching killers)?
9. Theme: What is the theme of this novel?
Argumentative Response Topics
1. Does Dick deserve the death penalty? Does Perry? Does anyone? You must use evidence from the book to
support your answer.
2. Truman Capote said “timeliness” was important to writing great journalism. He said, “[Y]ou want to be
reasonably certain that the material not soon date.” Forty years after In Cold Blood’s first publication, does the
book still possess an element of “timeliness”?
3. Which is more important: nature or nurture? You must use evidence from the book to support your answer.
Part 3:
Respond to the free response question. Response should be thoughtful, stylistically pleasing, meticulously edited,
formatted using MLA style, and 250-500 words.
Free Response
1. With this book, Truman has been credited with developing a new genre of writing: “literary non-fiction.” What
might that term mean, and how does In Cold Blood differ from straight crime reporting? Why do you think
Capote created the kind of story he did, and what do you feel is the impact it has on the reader with this new
approach?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
To summarize, you need to do the following this summer (everything due August 17th):
-Read In Cold Blood
-Complete 5 journal entries-typed
-Write three responses: two analysis prompts and one argumentative prompt-typed
-Answer free response -typed