AP English
Summer Assignment
Welcome to Advanced Placement English Literature!
It’s going to be a great year, and we’re going to get started early. All assignments below must be
complete and turned in at the beginning of the first day of class.
I.
Digital Introduction. Send an email from your most often checked email address (this is
the email I will use for you for the year):
Due: Before midnight on Friday, May 31st
To: ldamato@gatewayhigh.org
Subject: Please put in the subject line: AP Class of 2013
Body of the Email: Please answer the following questions in a personal and complete manner.
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II.
What plans do you have for the summer? Why? What do you hope to get out of it?
Which honors or AP courses will you take next year?
Do you have any concerns about the AP English course for next year? What are they?
What else should I know about you? Please include some personal as well as some academic
things that make you who you are today.
Which choice book are you planning on reading? (Scarlet Letter, Frankenstein, Invisible Man).
Read Fahrenheit 451: obtain and read a copy of Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury. Interact
with the text by taking notes in any format you choose. Your notes will be collected for a
process grade. Do annotation that helps you identify the under-the-surface meaning of the
text. Analyze character, conflicts, patterns, figurative language, symbols, settings, etc and
most of all, any of these elements that are repeated (such as the repeated symbol of
fire). Work carefully to push yourself to not just notice the
characterization/conflict/symbol, but figure out what it means. Then as you read farther,
figure out how that meaning is developing over the course of the novel. For example, fire in
the first chapter has two meanings pretty quickly -- one is the bright singe of the fireman,
which you could take to mean that fire is dangerous, addictive, and deeply affects those who
it touches; a second appearance of fire is the candle, which in context could be taken to
mean a quiet light, something gentle, showing warmth or connection to his mother and thus
connection overall. These two meanings are pretty different, which could be something to
keep an eye on - perhaps the author is drawing our attention to how humans are drawn both
to things which are dangerous and wild, and things which are close and comforting. Do this
kind of pattern analysis of symbols throughout the novel.
Logistically, you could do this meaning-making with in-text writing, with postits, with seethink charts, with double entry journals, webs, with a series of informal close-reads before
your two carefully written close reads... whatever is a good way for you to process and
analyze. Personally, I do in-text annotations as I read, and then make a chart/web of all the
elements (characters, settings, symbols, etc) that I'm trying to make sense of to see how they
relate to make meaning of them together. One of the goals of AP English is that you really
hone what method works best for you to make meaning as you read, so really be thoughtful
about HOW you best support your own as-you-read analysis.
AP English
Summer Assignment
III.
Write 2 Close Reads on Fahrenheit 451: Using your notes and the novel itself, write two
close reads, at least one of which is on the meaning of a symbol or repeated figurative
language. A close read, as defined for AP English, is an extended piece of analysis on a
quote, symbol, motif, or other element of your choice. A close read is all analysis, no
summary: it must include a series of claims that explore the meaning of the
quote/symbol/motif/element at hand. Your ideas need to be original and grounded in
textual evidence. Each close read must be two full typed pages of writing (MLA heading
and any blocked quotes do not count towards the 2 pages). A rubric and model close read
on Fahrenheit 451 is on the class website; the model is 3 pages long, but you are only
expected to write two. You can start with a quote and then dig into it, or begin with an idea
and integrate quotes as you write. If you start with a quote, you may find it helpful to
annotate it; it is not required. The goal of these writings is for me to see your ability to
create a coherent and well-supported argument about a text you have read on your own; the
other goal is to keep your mind in the practice of writing during the summer, so your mind
does not get rusty.
About two weeks into the school year, you will write an essay on Fahrenheit 451. In that
essay, you will identify a particular message that the author is conveying, and defend how
you found that message in the text. For example, you might create and argue a complex
thesis such as this: "Bradbury's novel argues that it is human nature to want ease and
entertainment, but it is also human to need connection and meaning; society is moving in a
direction where we fulfill our desire for ease at the expensive of our need for meaning." So,
in your annotation and close reads, identify the parts of the novel you are most interested in
writing an essay about, and identify what kind of message you see in those elements. If this
feels scary and overwhelming, I promise you will be OK. Come in with a lot of thoughts
about the book, even if you haven't figured out what it all "means", and in class discussion
and Socratics you'll have a chance to grow and deepen your ideas.
IV.
Read Selections from How to Read Literature Like a Professor. Read the below four
chapters from How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C Foster. You may
download the chapters from the website, or buy a copy of the book.
After you read, write a 1-page analysis. Describe the argument in one of Foster’s chapters
(about half a page), and then explain how it applies to a specific scene from a piece of
literature you have read at some point in high school (about another half a page).
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V.
Introduction: How’d he do that?
Ch. 6: When in Doubt, It’s from Shakespeare
Ch. 8: Hanseldee and Greteldum
Ch. 14: Yes, She’s a Christ Figure, Too
Ch. 26: Is He Serious? And Other Ironies
Choice Book. Choose one of the three following novels to read: The Scarlet Letter by
Nathaniel Hawthorne, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, or Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison.
A bit about each novel: Invisible Man is among the most widely read and discussed works in
the English language, and is the #1 most referenced piece of literature on the actual AP
AP English
Summer Assignment
English Literature exam. It is also 650+ pages long, and at a university level of complexity,
especially in terms of narrative style, symbolism, and historical context. It is the hardest of
the three novels – don’t let the seeming simplicity of the prose fool you. If you want to read
this novel, start early. I am offering extra credit for reading Invisible Man. The
assignments remain the same, but students who complete it and get at least 80% on the
reading quiz will get 15/0 extra POL points for completion, and up to 5/0 extra content
points for quality work. Frankenstein is a seminal work of the Romantics period. The
Romantic literary movement was a response to Europe’s increase (and perhaps overvaluation) of reason and science. To be “romantic” means to marked by the imaginative or
emotional appeal of what is heroic, adventurous, remote, mysterious, or idealized. As you
read the novel, notice this element. The Scarlet Letter is one of the seminal novels of early
American literature. Both The Scarlet Letter and Frankenstein offer challenging syntax,
especially because of elongated sentences, so reading these works can help you push your
reading comprehension. Gateway doesn’t require nearly as many pre-1900s novels as are
likely on the AP exam, so reading at least a few this year, to gain skills for interpreting this
kind of text, is of great value to you.
Tasks for Choice Novel:
1) Read the novel. Annotate or take notes in the manner that best helps you understand and
interpret the text. For Invisible Man, use the guiding questions (on the class website) to check
your understanding, and deepen your thinking about the novel. I will collect notes for a
process grade (so have annotations or 2-3 pages of notes) but what’s most important is that
it actually helps you think about your reading. I will send group emails to let you know who
else is reading the novel you’re reading. If you’re stuck or confused, I encourage you to
email that group. I will offer up to 5 POL extra credit points for supporting your classmates
(based on classmate recommendation in August, of who was substantially helpful).
1) Be ready for a reading quiz in the first week of school. I expect you to demonstrate that you
did, in fact, carefully read and think about the entire novel.
2) Invent a title for each chapter of the novel. (For Scarlet Letter, invent an alternative title).
3) Pick one of the below themes. Write a close read that addresses the theme.
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Scarlet Letter
Is Scarlet Letter feminist novel? Analyze a scene that has an implicit acceptance or
rejection of female stereotypes or oppression.
What is the meaning of Pryne’s alienation? What is the meaning of her reaction to
that alienation?
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Frankenstein
What does the novel argue about the character flaw of selfishness?
What does the novel argue about the human need for companionship?
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Invisible Man
Argue how the novel is a hero story, or an anti-hero story.
AP English
Summer Assignment
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How does the physical setting of a scene reflect the emotional state of the narrator?
What message does this convey about the power of the mind?
4) Prepare notes and questions for a Socratic Seminar. Your notes can be any format that
helps you in a Socratic discussion – there’s no required number of quotes or discussion
questions. I expect you to demonstrate a thoughtful reading of the book, and inquisitive
questions about the meaning of the novel. Don’t feel like you have to understand everything
in the novel to participate - just that you’ve done a thoughtful and thorough first reading.
5) Extra Credit (up to 5 POL points) Using your creativity, create a timeline that details the
action of the plot. Colorful and artistic interpretation encouraged (but not required). This is
the only section of the assignment that does not need to be typed.
VI.
Personal Statement: please draft and significantly revise your personal statement according
to the guidelines for the colleges to which you are applying. Attach those guidelines to your
draft. If you are undecided regarding school, applying to a school that requires no
statement, or otherwise searching for direction, please see the back of this sheet for general
guidelines to writing a personal statement. Note: your college counselor has assigned and
collected a draft of your personal statement. What you turn in to me will be a significant
revision of that draft, and should be more focused, coherent and excellent. We will be
working in class to develop your writing using this sample among other things. Under no
circumstances are you excused from this assignment or allowed to turn in the draft you have
already written.
All year, all assignments are typed and in MLA format unless I say otherwise – they will not
be accepted any other way.
AP English
Summer Assignment
Class Supply List
o 1 large three ring binder devoted to the class. Your class binder must have sections that
make sense to you. I suggest sections for class notes, returned work, reference, and readings.
If you have a system that works better for you than a binder, use it, as long as you don’t have
trouble finding things when I ask for them.
o Binder Paper: Lots of it.
o Pens: Only black and blue will be accepted.
o Highlighter(s): For close reading and notes, preferably at least two different colors
o Post-Its: For annotations of texts that are not your own.
Other Course Notes:
Technology:
1) Our class website can be found by going to Gateway High’s webpage, and then “Teacher
Webpages”. Go to Quarter 1 for a copy of the summer assignment and all related
documents.
2) You will need to be on email on a regular basis. I will expect you to check your email and
communicate with me through it.
3) This summer and at all times, refrain from turning off your brain and turning on the
internet. It is embarrassingly obvious and really doesn’t help you in the long run.
4) I am happy to answer questions while you work on your summer assignment. If you have
question that can’t be answered by a careful re-reading of this assignment sheet and
website documents, send me an email, and I will get back to you within about a
week.
Late Work: Because of amount of writing in this class and the importance of feedback to improve
that writing, no late work is accepted. If its not typed and on time, it is a zero. If this is potentially
an issue for you, you may want to rethink taking this class.
Collaboration: You are encouraged to work together on your summer assignments at times when
you encounter difficulties or times when you would like to bounce ideas off of someone. Working
together is one of the best ways to succeed in AP English and in college. That said, you are held to
the code of honor and academic integrity. Discuss your ideas with a friend, but write the final
analysis yourself.
Probation Period: All seats in AP English are conditional. You must prove, through your summer
work and your work in the first weeks of school, that you are up to the task of this course. Students
who are not exhibiting thoughtful work and 100% assignment completion, especially in the first 4
weeks of the course, may be dropped to English 12.
AP English
Summer Assignment
Go to class website for the remaining documents:
 Close Read Rubric
 Close Read Example
 Personal Statement Guidelines
 Invisible Man Chapter Questions
 Foster Chapters