AP Lit Summer Assignment

AP English Literature 12 Summer Assignment 2010
For Class of 2011 ONLY!!

Required Texts:
How to Read Literature Like a Professor – Thomas C. Foster
Snow Falling on Cedars – David Guterson

You are required to purchase the Foster book, please. We recommend that you purchase the Guterson text as well but you may borrow it from the public library; however, you will need this novel for at least the first two weeks of school. These books are available at area bookstores and through www.amazon.com.

This summer assignment is worth at least 25% of your first quarter grade!

Assignment: Due the first day of school 2010!!!

1) Actively and aggressively read How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster. We will use the ideas in this book throughout the year as a basis for approaching texts analytically.

2) Outline each chapter from How to Read in a journal that you will use every day for English (either a spiral or a small binder). Be thorough and specific, and be sure your work is your own. The purpose of outlining this book is so that you may use it as a reference all year long. If you don’t know how to outline, please look it up on the Web.

3) Actively and aggressively read the novel Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson.

Format: You may actively read Snow Falling in any of the following ways:
a) writing directly in the book (highlighting/underlining with LEGIBLE marginal notes)
b) using Sticky Notes in your novel
c) adding your notes directly to the Foster journal in bullet or outline form

Content: During and after your reading of Snow Falling on Cedars, particularly consider the following chapters from How to Read Literature Like A Professor.
a) Chapter 10 – “It’s More than Just Rain or Snow”
b) Chapter 11 – “Violence”
c) Chapter 12 – “Is That a Symbol?”
d) Chapter 13 – “It’s All Political”
e) Chapter 16, 17 – “Sex”
f) Chapter 19, 20 – “Geography Matters” and “Season”
g) Chapter 21, 22, 24 – “Marked for Greatness,” “Disease,” “Illness,” etc.

* Also consider and note the following as and after you read:
h) Make a list of questions that arise as you read. This is a normal reading activity since you are supposed to question the text. No one knows what the text "means" before finishing the book! Suggestions for questions: Predict, infer, speculate, wonder, explore.

i) Track and study character as you read, especially the main character. Consider: What kind of person is the main character? What do other characters think or say about this character? Why do they feel this way? How does the main character relate to other characters in the book? What does your character seem to value, to believe in, to desire? How does the character change throughout the novel? What does he or she learn; how does he or she grow? Explain and give support for your answers.

j) What patterns or motifs seem to be emerging as you read? Are you noticing patterns of words, images, ideas (for example, flowers can be motifs, as can the idea of time, as can an image of a road, etc. -- anything that seems to consistently reappear in a text )? What could these patterns or motifs suggest or mean?

k) Assemble a collection of memorable quotes from the text. Explain why you chose each. What do they reveal or suggest about character or theme? What about the author’s style do you find interesting or noteworthy?

l) What do you feel is the most important word or phrase in the book? What is the most important passage? Explain why it is important.

m) What does the author seem to be saying about life and living (the human experience) through this book? What seems to be the major point the author wants you to remember?

m) Anything else you think is significant or interesting about the book…

YOU SHOULD MAKE, AT THE VERY LEAST, THREE THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS PER CHAPTER OF SNOW FALLINGON CEDARS.

**Please be prepared, on the first day of school, to:
a) Write in-class essays applying the above Foster concepts to Guterson’s novel.
b) Complete a multiple choice exam on this novel.
c) Take a multiple choice test on How to Read Literature as a Professor book
d) Submit your How to Read Literature as a Professor outline and your Snow notes

Please remember that you won’t know for certain what your schedule is until the first day of school; THERFORE, BRING ALL OF YOUR SUMMER WORK ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL to be sure you submit it on time!! If you end up not having AP Lit on the first day, then bring your work again the next day. It will be marked late if it is not submitted on the first day of class.

Note: You are entering Advanced Placement English Literature with a level of mastery of these works. Reading these works merely “to get them done,” or otherwise superficially or perfunctorily, will not do. We expect you to interact with these texts in preparation to thoughtfully, maturely, and critically converse and write about these texts.

We are very happy you are taking this course with us. We truly hope and believe you will enjoy these books. How to Read is immensely helpful and Snow Falling a joy to read. It has everything: It is a war story, a love story, a courtroom drama, and a murder mystery. Plus the prose is stunning, lush and lyrical – like poetry.

If you have questions, call or e-mail us (janell.johnson@pgcps.org or kprice@pgcps.org ). If we don’t reply to your e-mail within three days, just call Price’s cell (410.279.7164).

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER, AND HAPPY READING!!!!!!!! Keep in touch!!!