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
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, 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
understanding/perception of the American Dream.
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 below. :
 Inability to achieve the American Dream
 Need to escape
 A force (self, society, another person) that places obstacles in the character’s path
 Resistance to conformity
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
(Underline or 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.
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