SUMMER 2012 - 2012-2013 School Year English Literature and Analysis AP Summer Reading Assignment
Crime and Punishment
OBJECTIVE: To analyze significant passages from Crime and Punishment.
Much of our work next year will be focusing on the author’s use of language in significant passages, noting literary
techniques and then analyzing them. A major objective with this assignment is to evaluate your ability to do this at the
onset, to get a benchmark so to speak.
What is significant?
Significant means that the passage can stand as an excellent example or microcosm of the work, considering its use of
language and how it develops a larger meaning, an overall theme of the entire work. You need to be focusing on the
language, for example: figurative language (simile, metaphor, symbolism, etc.), diction, syntax, and any other
language/rhetorical techniques you notice. It makes the most sense to read the entire book before selecting the
passages. You might not recognize overall themes, and therefore the significance, at the beginning of the book.
TASKS:
1. READ Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment.
2. WRITE a Harvard Outline and then a paper that analyzes seven (7) significant passages from the novel – 1 from
each part + epilogue. The quote discussions are connected by theme, therefore a thematic organization of the
paper is most appropriate.
Considerations:










Passages should be approximately 6 to 12 lines.
NONE OF THE QUOTES MAY BE FROM SPARKNOTES “IMPORTANT QUOTES EXPLAINED” OR OTHER SIMILAR
SOURCES
You discussion should be formal and objective in tone.
You should discuss the specifics of the language of the quote and how that passage reflects an overall theme
of the book.
This is a reaction paper, NOT RESEARCH. You are NOT to use outside sources—only the text and the article.
Failure to adhere to this constitutes plagiarism.
The tone of the paper should be scholarly and objective (no 1st/2nd person references, etc.)
The paper should be a unified and coherent essay, in which a clear, concise introduction, body paragraphs
unified by theme with proper transitions, and a conclusion are clearly evident.
Follow MLA format. (see OWL.english.purdue)
5-7 pages, double-spaced, 12 point font, 1 inch margins
A sample Harvard Outline are available on the English Department Website
o Roslyn Schools WebsiteHigh School PageEnglish Department (left side)
http://dpt.roslynschools.org/hs/ela/index.htm
DUE DATES: FULL HARVARD OUTLINE - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2012 (50% grade)
FINAL COPY: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 (50%)
In addition, all students are reading Outliers. There will be a separate assignment involving Crime and
Punishment and Outliers. The format and date for this will be determined when we return in September.