Summer Reading Assignment 2008

AP English 11/Mrs. Hall & Mrs. Antoine

One of the objectives of AP English 11 is to read nonfiction texts such as speeches, letters, memoirs, and essays, closely examining the writing style of various authors and analyzing how that style conveys a particular purpose.  It is an extremely challenging endeavor, but it is also a very exciting and rewarding one. To allow you to begin thinking about a writer’s style in a nonfiction text, we have created a list of memoirs for your summer reading assignment. You will choose one, read it, and complete a written response. The books on this list were chosen for numerous reasons, but, most obviously, we have chosen them because the author’s writing style is noteworthy. We will also be examining selections from some of the works and authors on this list during the year.

 

The Assignment:

  1. Select one memoir from the list provided. No substitutions. If you would like to know more about the books, you can find a synopsis of each one on the AHS website on the Summer Work link. You can also search websites such as Amazon, Books-a-Million, and Barnes and Noble. Choose wisely. Pick something you have not already read. You can purchase a copy of the book, borrow it from a friend or family member, or check it out of the local library.
  2. Specifications for your written assignment (VERY IMPORTANT):
    1. Due Date: This assignment is due on the FIRST DAY of class. NO EXCEPTIONS!! Late assignments will be penalized 10 points PER DAY for each day it is late.
    2. Point Value: This assignment is worth 100 points.
    3. NO half-efforts or excuses: Don’t throw this together at the last minute. Don’t copy from others (That’s plagiarism, and it will get you a zero on the assignment.).
    4. Remember: This is our first impression of you. Make it a good one!!
  3. Written Responses while you read: [The written responses explained below MUST follow this format -- typed, Times New Roman, 11-point font, single spaced, ½ page in length. Give each response a heading that clearly identifies the response that will follow.]
    1. Reader Response Part I: Begin by dividing your book in half (either by chapters or by page numbers). After you finish reading the first half of the book, write a reader response to that section. DO NOT write a plot summary; instead, write about your reactions to elements such as the plot, characters, and/or the writer’s style.
    2. Reader Response Part II: After you finish reading the second half of the book, write a second reader response using the same instructions you used for the first response.
    3. Passage Analysis: After you finish reading the book, chose one passage based on the instructions that follow. The passage should be long enough to convey a sense of the author’s style [approximately 1-2 pages of the text]. You are looking for a passage that affected you the most emotionally, that seems beautifully written, and/or that seems to convey something significant about the work as a whole. MAKE A COPY OF THIS PASSAGE, and staple it to the back of your assignment. In your written response to this passage, comment on why you chose it. Discuss what makes this passage memorable for you and what makes it representative of the author’s style and the work as a whole. DO NOT write a summary of the passage.
    4. Overall Evaluation: Complete this response last. This is your opportunity to express your honest opinion of the book. Consider what is done well & poorly. Consider its relevance and contribution to the genre of literary nonfiction.
  4. A word of caution: The books on this list are adult texts written about the real world from a mature perspective. You need to carefully investigate the books you are interested in prior to choosing one to read. Get your parents approval for whatever book you choose. Also, please be aware that AP English 11 is a class for mature students who can read with critical minds. Some of the texts we read in class (and on this list) examine adult themes and issues. Reading works that investigate difficult ethical choices and actions does not ever condone or celebrate the choices that characters make. Instead, AP classes are designed to allow students to see how the English language is used to convey the human experience in a vivid, dramatic, and unforgettable manner. We expect our students to be mature readers (or at least, on their way to being so). Choose your book for the summer carefully.