AP LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
SUGGESTED SUMMER ASSIGNMENT
2014-15
Course Description: The AP English Literature and Composition course engages students in the
careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature (fiction and poetry). Through close
reading students deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both
meaning and pleasure readers. Students consider a work’s structure, style, tone, and themes, as
well as more discrete literary elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, and
symbolism.
Rationale: Summer reading is not required, though you are strongly urged to use some of your
summer to get ahead since once we return to school in the fall, we will immediately begin work
on our first text. We do not read in class; it is expected that all of the reading will be done
outside of class. The texts for AP Literature have been selected because of the rich depth of
experience they provide us. Just as you notice additional elements in movies when viewing them
a second (or third) time, you will need to read beyond a first draft reading. In this class, it is
expected that on the start date, you have completed the text. If you come to class having
already read the book, you will be able to focus on rereading sections deeply, understanding the
themes and appreciating the literary nuances included.
Revisit your childhood—You should watch The Wizard of Oz sometime this summer. We
will use it to learn/review many literary terms.
We strongly urge you to buy the books so you can annotate them. Our experience shows
that electronic texts, although they have some advantages, cause us to waste time locating
text in class and don’t allow note taking with the same rigor as paper.
The dates for the following texts are approximate. The texts that we would like for you to
read this summer are: (ISBNs indicate recommended editions)
Supplemental Text—(recommended): How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Revised or
Original Edition fine) by Thomas C. Foster
1. The Things They Carried – Tim O’Brien (only one paperback edition available) – due
September 15/16
2. The Life of Pi – Yann Martel – due October 9/10 (ISBN-10: 0156027321; ISBN-13: 9780156027328)
3. Slaughterhouse-Five – due Nov 5/6 Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (ISBN-10: 0440180295)
4. She Stoops to Conquer (Oliver Goldsmith) – due Nov 19/20 (Many inexpensive editions
available as well as free text available online—if you want to print your own.)
5. The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver – due January 5/6 This text is about 500
pages—start early if you can. (Only one paperback edition available.)
6. Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad – get a version with endnotes –recommend Croce
edition with study guide) - due Feb 2/3
7. King Lear – or Othello (teacher dependent) William Shakespeare– due February 17/18
Recommend Folger edition or No Fear Shakespeare edition or Pestwick Edition (dual
sided text)
8. Home Toni Morrison – due April 6/7 (Only one paperback edition available.)
The texts are numbered in the order that they will be studied. Don’t forget the public library –
they should have copies of all the texts. If you cannot annotate in the book itself, you may
annotate on post-it notes or take notes on paper. Be sure to include page numbers on any notes so
that you can easily reference the sections of the book. An annotation rubric is on the English
department website.
If you have questions, please see or email Mr. Bills or Mrs. Thompson; we will periodically
check our email this summer.
*****Novel due dates WILL NOT change in the event of school cancelations.*****
For each of the following sets of questions, students should answer in complete sentences
unless otherwise indicated. Please place all answers on a separate sheet of paper.
The Things They Carried
Due Date: September 15/16
1. Which “chapter” was your favorite episode? Why did this particular section resonate with
you? Explain your selection and reasoning in at least one full paragraph.
2. What themes and messages do you think O’Brien is attempting to communicate through
the text as a whole? Provide at least three possibilities with textual support. This should
be three full paragraphs in length.
3. Chose a short passage that you consider important and/or moving. Mark it (annotate) in
your text and make notes about 3-5 particular elements in the passage that are worthy of
deeper analysis. What elements of this section are particularly interesting/pertinent to
close reading? Remember your DIDLS strategies for annotating. Please photocopy your
annotated selection.
4. What is important about the structure of the work? How is the text organized and why is
it structured in this way? What is the effect of using vignettes to tell the story? What is
the overall purpose?
Rubric: To earn full credit, responses must be:
 complete – they answer all parts of the questions
 thorough – they use specific examples from the text for support
 thoughtful – show evidence of mature reading, thinking and reflecting
 well-presented – complete sentences, neat, typed or handwritten in blue or black
ink
 “Notes”-free – completed without evidence of Sparknotes or Clif Notes or other such
resources
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