AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION, English 111, and
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AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION, English 111, and W131 The primary focus of senior composition is nonfiction, a significant shift from the reading and writing assigned in prior English courses. We will begin fall semester by examining personal voice via memoir, autobiography, biography, and personal essay. Second quarter will serve as a bridge from personal voice to a more public forum as we examine topics that range from politics, education, and social issues to pop culture and sports. Second semester will focus on persuasion, argumentation, and visual rhetoric. Throughout the year, writing will incorporate various types of nonfiction: narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive, argumentative, and analytical. Summer Reading Objectives: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Students will be exposed to the wide range of nonfiction they will experience during the course. Students will read critically and question “truth” of nonfiction. Students will consider bias of writers. Students will consider how writer’s choices shape arguments. Students will experience the beauty and power of language. Students will recognize the commonality of rhetorical elements inherent in fiction and nonfiction. Students will be encouraged to make awareness of current events a routine part of their lives. Assignment: Read one of the works from each of the following lists. As you read, use your favorite method—sticky notes, a note pad, the margins of the book, etc., to track key passages you find particularly powerful. (I expect you would have about 25 or so for each work.) These passages might elicit a question from you, be particularly beautiful writing, or provide pivotal information. During the first week of class, you will be asked to share notations and explain why you chose a particular passage. You will also have a written assignment that will ascertain the books were read in their entirety. Two works are required—one from each list. NOTE: Many of these titles include mature themes and points of view that might be controversial. For example, The Warmth of Other Suns , winner of 2010’s National Book Critics Circle Award, focuses on the migration of African Americans from the South to northern and western cities from 1915 to 1970. This examination includes violent episodes; especially disturbing were lynchings of innocent victims. Five Days at Memorial, winner of 2013’s National Book Critics Circle and the Ridenhour Book Prize, tells the true story of events at New Orleans’ Memorial Hospital in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In extreme circumstances that disallowed timely evacuation of patients, doctors were faced with untenable choices—how should they decide the order in which people would be transported from the hospital? Ultimately, charges of mercy killing were brought against medical personnel due to decisions made during those five days. DISCLAIMER: This list was created to allow significant choice for students with varied interests. Many works were written by Pulitzer Prize winners and appeared on notable awards lists including National Book Award and National Book Critics awards. Some have been included on recommended college reading lists for years; others, which address more current topics, may be recent additions to academic college conversations. As seniors, students will experience their final high school courses as they transition to post­secondary opportunities. Many will take college classes next year as a part of their schedules. These titles were also selected to serve the needs of that group. Ultimately, the choice of titles is up to students and parents. List 1: Biography, Autobiography, Memoir Greenblatt, Stephen: Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare Haley, Alex and Malcom X: The Autobiography of Malcom X: As Told to Alex Haley Hillenbrand, Laura: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption Isaacson, Walter: Einstein Isaacson, Walter: Steve Jobs Krakauer, Jon: Into the Wild Krakauer, Jon: Where Men Win Glory Massie, Robert K.: Catherine the Great McBride, James: The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother McCourt, Frank: Angela’s Ashes McCourt, Frank: Teacher Man Reiss, Tom : The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, and Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo Skloot, Rebecca: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Smiley, Jane: The Man Who Invented the Computer Tammet, Daniel: Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant List 2: Current Events, Psychology, History, etc. Boo, Katherine: Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity Bronowski, Jacob: The Ascent of Man Brown, Daniel: The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics Bruni, Frank : Where You Go is not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania Bryson, Bill : A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trial Capote, Truman: In Cold Blood Cullen, Dave: Columbine Cain, Susan: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking Dugard, Martin: Into Africa: The Epic Adventure of Stanley and Livingstone Duhigg,Charles: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business Dwyer, Jim and Kevin Flynn: 102 Minutes Fagin, Dan: Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation Fishman, Charles: The Wal­Mart Effect Fink, Sheri: Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm­Ravaged Hospital Foer, Joshua: Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything Friedman, Thomas L.: That Used To Be Us Friedman, Thomas L.: The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty­First Century Gladwell, Malcolm: The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference Gladwell, Malcolm: David and Goliath Hillenbrand, Laura: Seabiscuit: An American Legend Krakauer, Jon: Into Thin Air Larson, Erik: In the Garden of Beasts Larson, Erik: Thunderstruck Larson, Erik: The Devil in the White City Leibovich, Mark: This Town Lewis, Michael: Flash Boys Machiavelli, Niccolo: The Prince Mukhejee, Siddhartha: The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer O’Reilly, Bill and Martin Dugard: Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever Philbrick, Nathaniel: In the Heart of the Sea Philbrick, Nathaniel: The Last Stand Plato: The Republic Ripley, Amanda: The Smartest Kids in the World Sandberg, Sheryl: Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead Sides, Hampton: Hellhound on His Trail: The Stalking of Martin Luther King Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin Swanson, James L.: Manhunt: The 12­Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer Tammet, Daniel: Thinking in Numbers: On Life, Love, Meaning and Math Theroux, Paul: Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Capetown Tough, Paul: How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character Wilkerson, Isabel: The Warmth of Other Suns Woodward, Bob and Carl Bernstein : All the President’s Men Periodical/newspaper challenge: We encourage you to read a weekly news magazine such as Newsweek, Time, US News and World Report, etc., and/or a reputable newspaper, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, etc. If you prefer, you might also stay current by visiting credible online news sources. Apps are also available for major news outlets such as The New York Times , ABC News, Fox News, CNN, etc. In senior composition courses, we routinely discuss timely topics and consider bias of sources. To participate fully, it’s essential you make keeping up with the news a part of your routine. Final Comments: Above all, we hope you enjoy the transition from fiction to nonfiction. The above list includes titles we hope will appeal to those with varied interests. A major goal of summer reading is that you enjoy the experience and learn something new. We tried to make the notation expectation one that would allow for little interference in your involvement with the flow of what you read. Do not feel you are restricted to two titles. Enjoy as many as you like! Please contact Mrs. Imbody at simbody@sacs.k12.in.us if you have any questions.
