Mrs. Sieffert’s Summer HW for AP literature and Comp.
Contact me with any questions: siefferta@bcschools.net or text me at 989-860-8317 if at any time you need clarification
on the assignments below. If you text me, be sure to include your first and last name in the text  I will also be at
Harless + Hugh coffee house on July 9th and August 11th from 1-3. Please stop by and see me if you have any questions
about the assignments or you would just like to sit and chat about the books. I look forward to working with you next
year.
AP Lit and Comp Summer Assignment Overview for 2015-16:
**Literary terms flash cards: use the provided list to make a flash card
with the term on one side and the definition/example on the other.
**The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wells
** Pick one of these plays: “The Importance of Being Ernest” by Oscar Wilde;
or “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams.
** The plays are available in full online. The Novels can be purchased used
VERY cheaply from Thiftbooks.com or from amazon.com
Online version of the Tennessee Williams play. (It has a commentary first,
then the script):
https://bragland.wikispaces.com/file/view/the+Glass+Menagerie+full+text.pdf/494810762/the%20Glass%20Menager
ie%20full%20text.pdf
Online version of the Oscar Wilde play:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/844/844-h/844-h.htm
If for any reason purchasing or copying these items would be a hardship, email me by June
21st and I will provide the copies for you
Accountability for the reading and annotations:
During the first week of class, you will complete a comprehensive in-class assessment over the two
readings from the summer. During these tests, I will wander the classroom to look at your annotations.
One of the first grades you receive for AP English Literature and Composition will be for
completing annotation of the books/plays you read over the summer.

[A grade of 100= The text is extensively explicated with many detailed and specific annotations & margin notes. The
annotations demonstrate that the student has carefully read and considered the text’s meaning. The margin notes
serve as an abbreviated outline of what the text says and what the reader thinks about it.]
What’s DUE and When? (Parts I, & II)
Part I (Due in class on the first day of school):

Completed lit term flashcards

Your fully annotated book & scene by scene annotation notes on line paper for the
play. Look at the sample attached to this packet for what “A” work looks like.

The “Major Works note sheet” for both the book and the play. Again…look at
the sample of what an “A” looks like on these note sheets.
Be sure your responses are COMPREHENSIVE and detailed! I’m not interested in a recap of
SparkNotes, Shmoop, etc., so don’t visit those sites if you don’t want your thinking tainted. DO
YOUR OWN WORK.
Part II: Analytical essay on The Glass Castle(Due by August 12th to my email):
siefferta@bcschools.net
Write an essay of approximately two pages typed, double-spaced in 12 point: times new roman font,
using one of the writing prompts below. Be sure that you use specific details and passages from The Glass
Castle to back up your position and make sure that you address all parts of the prompt. Use page numbers
when quoting direct passages from the novel. NO QUOTE CHUNKS…embed your evidence within your
analysis.
 Please put a full MLA heading at the top of the page.
 Write the essay prompt you picked above your essay.
 Use MLA format to document your supporting quotes/evidence
The Glass Castle Essay Prompts… Choose ONE:

How is the motif of fire revealed within The Glass Castle, and what does it reveal, both literally and
metaphorically, about the characters, their point of view, the plot, the theme or the setting?

Explain the symbolism within the title, The Glass Castle, and how that influences the meaning of
the work as a whole?

Discuss the role of setting in The Glass Castle? How does the theme of the work change when the
setting changes?
Essays will be graded on the AP scale. (1-9) I will be looking for an essay that fully addresses the prompt, contains an
interesting opening and a sound thesis, appropriate and accurately formatted use of supporting text with embedded
quotes, correct MLA format of parenthetical citations, and paragraph cohesiveness.
“Summer HW Kisses of Death”:
Don’t procrastinate. Get the reading & assignments done early; maybe one in
June and the other in July. You will need time in-between to muse over the
assigned work so that you can make good, deep observations.
Not actually reading your book/play and only using Cliff’s Notes, Shmoop &/or
just watching the film is technically cheating, and you will get reprimanded
under the guidelines of our AP Honor code if I suspect that you’ve done
this….and I can usually tell.
Cheating only cheats you…out of the opportunity to be in this class, out of the
getting college credit from the AP test, and out of my respect.
Hint: remember to come meet with me to discuss the works at Harless + hugh
July 9th or August 11th & have me peek at your notes, annotations or essay…I
am the one grading these after all, so my insights might be helpful  Plus…I’ll
buy you a coffee & “treaters” if you come!
Warmly,
Sieffs