AP US History Summer Assignment – 2015-2016
Instructor: Mr. O’Grady
Due: Wednesday, August 12th
In order to prepare you for the AP US History course and exam a summer assignment is useful and
necessary. This course requires a great deal of reading, writing and analysis of subject matter.
Considering the amount of material that must be covered we will begin our study basically at the
American Revolution, assuming the student’s knowledge of the Exploratory and early Colonial periods.
With that being said, PART I of your summer assignment is to read the first three chapters in your
course textbook: THE UNFINISHED NATION: A Concise History of the American People (7th edition), by
Alan Brinkley. McGraw Hill is the Publisher. ISBN: 978-0-07-340698-5. I want you to outline the first
three chapters. You may use your “WRITTEN” outline on Chapters 1-3 for your first test the first week
we return back to school.
This will be a very challenging course that will give you a deeper insight into the background history,
both past and present, of our nation. The requirement of a strong background knowledge of our
nation’s foundations will be established by PART II of your summer assignment.
You will read the book, Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation, by Joseph J. Ellis. You can
find this book at a local book store (new or used), library or online. This book centers on the
contributions of early American Leaders – Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and
Madison – to name a few. It explores the incredible challenges they faced in the early days of our
republic and the roles they played in the establishment of our nation and its government.
Six different “episodes” are analyzed – the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr;
Washington’s famous Farewell Address; the presidential administration of John Adams and the unusual
political partnership shared with his wife, Abigail; the debate over the placement of the nation’s capital;
Benjamin Franklin’s battle with Congress over the slavery issue and how James Madison tried to block
him; and the famous correspondence between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams in the last years of
their lives. It is these vignettes of history that make these “founding brothers” real to us today and bring
vital issues of their day to life for us.
After you have read the book, you will write a book review using the format attached. This review
should be typed in the 12 font, double spaced, 2-3 pages. Please read the directions on the Book Review
Format carefully.
The summer assignment is due the first day of class in August. The summer assignment is on the
BMCHS website.
Any questions, I will be checking my e-mail throughout the summer – ogradyp@bishopmoore.org.
AP US History Summer Assignment Book Review Format
At the beginning of the Review, cite the author, full book title, and publisher.
Reading:
Taking notes as you read is advisable, noting how you were impressed – favorably or
unfavorably – with what you are reading. Always be able to explain why you felt the way you did
concerning the reading.
Before you write:
Research the background of the author – include pertinent information that explains why, how,
etc., the author came to write the book.
Preparing the Review:
a. Describe briefly the content of the book
b. Criticize/evaluate the accounts
c. Offer subjective (your opinion) on the work reviewed – should be informative, analytical and
critical. Consider the following questions:
1. What was the writer’s purpose
2. Is the narrative convincing? Is it comprehensive? Does it neglect important topic areas?
3. To what extent does the author appear biased in his point of view? Or does he?
4. Are some parts of the account better than others? How and why?
5. What are some unique aspects of the account?
6. What intellectual questions has the author raised in your mind?
DO NOT simply answer these questions in your essay, rather use them for your evaluation/analysis.
Criticisms should not be vague and general; they should be grounded in specific evidence from the
context of the work.
Points from the reading that you should raise would include:
a. Significance of the Hamilton-Burr duel
b. Purpose of the dinner between Jefferson, Madison and Hamilton
c. Reaction of Congress on slavery question posed by Quaker Abolitionists in 1790 – what was
the portent?
d. Importance to future generations of Washington’s advice in his Farewell Address
e. Collaboration between opposing parties
f. Friendship between Jefferson and Adams in last years of their lives
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL IN AUGUST.