AP Language and Composition (11th grade English)
Summer Assignment 2015
Contact Information:
Jennifer Humbard: humbarj@gcsnc.com
Melanie Huynh-Duc: huynhdm@gcsnc.com
Summer Reading Materials:
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Due Dates:
 Monday, August 24 (the first day of school): Double Entry Text Analysis Journal (preferably typed) for The Scarlet
Letter
 Monday, August 31: Test on both works of summer reading
Description of Assignment:
RATIONALE: An essential aspect of college-level critical reading and writing is deep analysis of the text. Reading is often too
passive of an experience for many students. One way to get students involved is through the use of a dialectical journal.
WHAT IS IT?
A double-entry, note-taking process done while reading. You transfer a reader’s interior monologue on
paper by providing two columns in dialogue with each other (see back for example). This encourages critical reading as well
as reflective questioning/thinking.
STUDENT TASK: Draw a line down a middle of a piece of paper, or make two columns in a Word document. The left column
is labeled “text” which will be where you provide direct quotations from The Scarlet Letter. Be sure these quotes properly
represent the beginning, middle, and end of the novel (at least one from each chapter).
In the right column, comment on the left-column’s quotes, and analyze the text. Record questions, comments, and
ideas next to the text that has piqued your interest. **DO NOT USE QUOTES FROM SPARK NOTES, CLIFF NOTES,
GRADESAVER, PINK MONKEY, or the like. Those quotes will not be accepted.**
FORMAT: (see back for example)
RUBRIC:
 Format and presentation: ____/ 10
o Student name, name of text and section of text at the top?
o Legible handwriting or typewritten
 Notes and Citations column (left side): ____/20
o For each chapter of text, is there at least one direct quote?
o Is each citation correctly quoted and punctuated with a page number?
 Comments/analysis column (right side): ____/70
o Is the commentary/analysis in full sentences? Does the commentary/
analysis directly comment on the left quote?
o Is each commentary/analysis a true comment/analysis, or
is it simply summarizing? Is the commentary/analysis insightful?
Does it reveal something unique and original about the text?
Total: ____/ 100 points
(5 points)
(5 points)
(15 points)
(5 points)
(20 points)
(50 points)
Student Name: _________________________________
Name of text (correctly punctuated): ________________
Class Period: ________
Chapter of text: ______
TEXT
COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS
“Citation….” (pp).
Commentary on the reference; your thoughts,
evaluations, judgments, comparisons,
contrasts, analysis of the language and ideas in
the text. Is there a connection to other
information? How would you analyze the tone?
See DIDYLS explanation below.
“…to perceive how her beauty shone out, and made a halo
of the misfortune and ignominy in which she was
enveloped” (46).
This quote stood out to me because of the
personification of “her beauty.” Hawthorne’s use
of figurative language effectively stresses that true
innocence overcomes the shame and disgrace
put upon Hester. Furthermore, the word choice
Hawthorne uses is ironic: the juxtaposition of
“halo” and “ignominy” could foreshadow events
that her ‘sin’ will not be as significant as her
genuine innocence.
How to analyze the author’s tone:
DIDLS
Diction- The connotation of the word choice. What words does the author choose? Consider his/her word choice compared
to another. Why did the author choose that particular word? What are the connotations of that word choice?
Images- Vivid appeals to understanding through the senses. What images does the author use? What does he/she focus on
in a sensory (sight, touch, taste, smell, etc.) way? The kinds of images the author puts in or leaves out reflects his/her style?
Are they vibrant? Prominent? Plain?
Details-Facts that are included or those that are omitted. What details does the author choose to include? What do they
imply? What does the author choose to exclude?
Language- The overall use of language, such as formal, clinical, jargon. What is the overall impression of the language the
author uses? Does it reflect education? A particular profession? Intelligence? Is it plain? Ornate? Simple? Clear? Figurative?
Poetic?
Syntax- How the structure affects the reader’s attitude. What are the sentences like? Are they simple with one or two
clauses? Do they have multiple phrases? Are they choppy? Flowing? Is there antithesis, chiasmus, parallel construction?
What emotional impression do they leave?