11AP English
Summer Assignment 2014
“The most technologically efficient machine that man has ever invented is the
book.” –Northrop Frye
Assignment #1
Written with the clarity of a boy leaving childhood behind, The Catcher in the Rye
explores the world with disarming frankness and a warm, affecting charisma which has
made this novel a universally loved classic of twentieth-century literature. - From
GoogleBooks.com
Read Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger. You are expected to “READ ACTIVELY,”
annotating the text which entails underlining pertinent lines and sections and writing
notes in the margins or at the end of the chapters. Please note anything that you feel is
important to the story (important choices and conflicts that characters face, traits of the
main characters, descriptions of the setting, important events of the plot, literary devices
used by authors, etc.) You are also encouraged to make summary notes at the end of
each chapter and include your reactions and any questions that may arise as you read.
Prepare a two page position paper on the following topic:
Did you know that The Catcher in the Rye is among a list of books banned in libraries
and schools across America? Some think that the topics, language, and themes in certain
pieces of literature are not suitable for students. Not allowing someone to read or see
something that has been written is called censorship. Some people believe censorship is
good because it regulates and sets standards for students’ literature. Other people believe
censorship is bad because it does not allow students to be exposed to all types of
literature. How do you feel about it? In an essay, address how you feel about the
censorship of literature. You must focus directly on The Catcher in the Rye and why it is
banned/censored, and also discuss and elaborate about censorship in general and how you
feel it affects students. In your paper be sure to:
1) Use examples or references to the novel to support your claims. (Cite pg #s)
2) Write from the 3rd person point of view. (Do not use I, me, you, we, etc)
3) Make sure you cite any information you get from an outside source
(Otherwise it is plagiarism)
4) Use MLA format
You will also be graded on your annotations of the novel and given a multiple choice
test the first full week of school. See dates below.
Assignment #2
Text: Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
Ehrenreich turns her attention to what it is like trying to subsist while working in lowpaying jobs. Inspired to see what boom times looked like from the bottom, she hides her
real identity and attempts to make a life on a salary of just over $300 per week after
taxes. "With grace and wit, Ehrenreich discovers . . . the irony of being nickel and dimed
during unprecedented prosperity."
—Eileen Boris, The Boston Globe
Directions: The following prompts are based on Nickel and Dimed by Ehrenreich.
These questions require you to synthesize a variety of quotes from Nickel and Dimed into
a coherent, well-written essay. When you synthesize these quotes, you refer to them to
develop your position and cite them accurately. Your argument should be central; the
source quotes should be used to support this argument. Avoid merely summarizing the
sources.
Remember to attribute both direct and indirect citations (in this case, refer to the author,
Barbara Ehrenreich, and then cite the page number in parentheses from which you took
the quote.)
For example, you would use and cite the following quote as such:
Midway through the book, Ehrenreich writes that "The poor seem to have disappeared
from the culture at large, from its political rhetoric and intellectual endeavors, as well as
from its daily entertainment" (117).
Assignment: Choose one of the following prompts. Then write an essay that develops a
position on that issue. Synthesize at least six quotes from Nickel and Dimed for support.
Option 1. Midway through the book, Ehrenreich writes that "The poor seem to have
disappeared from the culture at large, from its political rhetoric and intellectual
endeavors, as well as from its daily entertainment" (117).
Some might argue that Americans in general simply aren't interested in the working poor
and their issues. Write a concise essay that either supports, denies, or qualifies this idea,
using at least three details from Nickel and Dimed to support your argument.
Option 2. The portrait of "minimum-wage workers" in today's society is painted vividly
in Nickel and Dimed, but reveals a bias that glorifies the working class to distort the
reader’s understanding of minimum-wage workers’ plight. Support, deny or qualify
using quotes from Ehrenreich's book.
Option 3. Ehrenreich does not fraternize with the people she meets outside of work
hours. To that extent, then, what we get is not so much a picture of a "working-class
culture" as a portrayal of "minimum-wage workers".
In reality, while “working class culture” can be difficult to navigate, the argument
Ehrenreich wants to make about opportunity in America is, in fact, false. Those who are
part of the working class do have ample opportunity to succeed and advance in 21st
Century America. Support, deny or qualify this claim by using examples from the text
Nickel and Dimed.
. In your paper be sure to:
1) Use at least 6 examples or quotes from the text to support your claims. (Cite!)
2) Write from the 3rd person point of view. (Do not use I, me, you, we, etc)
3) Use MLA format
Writing Rubric for AP Language Summer Assignment
Score of 6: An essay in this category is outstanding, demonstrating clear and consistent
master, although it may have a few minor errors. A typical essay
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•
•
•
•
Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and
demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples,
and other evidence to support the position.
Is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth
progression of ideas.
Exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate, and apt vocabulary.
Demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure.
Is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Score of 5: An essay in this category in effective, demonstrating reasonably consistent
mastery, although it will have occasional errors or lapses in quality. A typical essay
•
Effectively develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates strong critical
thinking, generally using appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to
support the position.
•
•
•
•
Is well organized and focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth
progression of ideas.
Exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary.
Demonstrates variety in sentence structure.
Is generally free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Score of 4: An essay in this category is competent, demonstrating adequate mastery,
although it will have lapses in quality. A typical essay
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•
•
•
•
Develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates competent critical
thinking, generally using appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to
support the position.
Is generally organized and focused, demonstrating some coherence and
progression of ideas.
Exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language, using
appropriate vocabulary.
Demonstrates some variety in sentence structure.
Has some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Score of 3: An essay in this category is inadequate but demonstrates developing mastery,
and is marked by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
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•
•
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•
Develops a point of view on the issue, demonstrating some critical thinking but
may do so inconsistently or use inadequate examples, reasons or other evidence to
support its position.
Is limited in its organization or focus, or may demonstrate some lapses in
coherence or progression of ideas.
Displays developing facility in the use of language, but sometimes uses weak
vocabulary or inappropriate word choice.
Lacks variety or demonstrates problems in sentence structure.
Contains an accumulation of errors in grammar, usage and mechanics.
Score of 2: An essay in this category is severely limited, demonstrating limited mastery,
and is marked by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
•
•
Develops a point of view on the issue that is vague or seriously limited,
demonstrating weak critical thinking, providing inappropriate or insufficient
examples, reasons or other evidence to support its position.
Is poorly organized and/or focused, or demonstrates serious problems with
coherence or progression of ideas.
•
•
•
Displays very little facility in the use of language, using very weak vocabulary or
incorrect word choice.
Demonstrates frequent problems in sentence structure.
Contains errors in grammar, usage and mechanics so serious that meaning is
obscured.
Score of 1: An essay in this category is fundamentally lacking, demonstrating very little
or no mastery, and is severely flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
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•
•
•
•
Develops no viable point of view on the issue, or provides little or no evidence to
support its position.
Is disorganized and/or unfocused, resulting in a disjointed or incoherent essay
Displays fundamental errors in vocabulary.
Lacks serious flaws in sentence structure.
Contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics that persistently
interfere with meaning.
All written work is due on Wednesday, September 10, 2014. Work must
be typed and double spaced in a 12 point Times new Roman font. A
multiple choice test on Catcher in the Rye will be on Friday, September
12, 2014. Catcher in the Rye will be collected to grade annotations on
Friday, September 12, 2014. Nickel and Dimed will not be graded for
annotations.