TO: Next year's AP English students

FROM: Mrs. Erickson

RE: 2007-2008 AP English Class

DATE: June 1, 2007

In a few short months you will be seniors, and our AP English Literature and Composition course will begin. I want to make it very clear what the expectations are for the course before you take off for the summer. I hope you have spoken to members of prior classes so you know what the course entails. 

I would like you to realize the following about this course:

• We will have a demanding reading schedule that will begin during the summer.  We will read and discuss a variety of works that demand a mature level of understanding. You must be willing to read whatever is put in front of you without grumbling and to contribute vibrantly to the class discussion. It is not my goal to get you to “like” everything but to help you explore a variety of genres and themes.
• Members must complete summer reading AND writing assignments. The assignments will be collected the first day of school. If the assignments are not completed, you will need to drop the course. There will also be in-class assessments and activities centered on these pieces.
• We will write often about the works we discuss, and you must present your ideas in an organized, cogent manner as required in a college freshman course.
• You are expected to remain in the course for the entire year and take the AP exam next May at a personal expense of approximately $85.

With all of the above ideas in mind, look below for your summer assignments. There are both reading and writing assignments. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

SEE YOU IN August!!

READING AND WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

Part A: College Essay: Look at the applications of the schools to which you may apply this fall. Choose one of the essay questions from an application and write personal essay on that topic (no more than 500 words). If you are stuck for a question, look at the Common Application and use one of the topics under the Personal Statement section. Write an engaging essay that gives the reader a window to your inner self. We will discuss college essays in class, looking at samples and reviewing this first essay. Expect to continue working on it as you get feedback from others.

Part B: Literature Assignments: The following readings reflect a conscious attempt to expose you to older and newer literature from around the world. Read the pieces thoughtfully and complete the writing assignments (please type them). There will also be an in-class assessment of the pieces.

1. Read ONE of the following books:

• The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde, 1890): An incredibly handsome young man in Victorian England keeps his youthful appearance over the years even as he pursues a life of decadence and corruption. His portrait, however, reflects both his age and evil soul. A look at the tension between the polished surface of high society and the life of secret vice.
• Tess of the d’Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy, 1891): Hardy's moving and memorable tale of love, seduction, and betrayal tells the story of Tess Durbeyfield, a beautiful young woman living with her impoverished family in Wessex County, England. A compassionate portrait of a young rural woman, a powerful criticism of social traditions, and a questioning look at the role of fate.

Writing Assignment: Pretend that you have been asked to write a letter of recommendation for one of the characters in your chosen book. He/she wishes to attend Malevolent University or Benevolent University. (Note: The names reflect each school's values.) Take on any persona you wish for yourself, but use evidence and details from the book to support why you recommend that character for that specific school.

2. Read ONE of the following books:

• The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini, 2004): A poignant, often shocking tale of two motherless boys growing up in Kabul, a city teetering on the brink of destruction at the dawn of the Soviet invasion. The story takes readers from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy to the streets of San Francisco in modern days.
• The Joy Luck Club (Amy Tan, 1989): In 1949 four Chinese women, drawn together by the shadow of their past, begin meeting in San Francisco to play mah jong, invest in stocks, eat dim sum, and "say" stories. They call their gathering the Joy Luck Club and its effects are felt into the next generation. An emotionally honest story of several generations of Chinese-American women and their families that explores the mysterious bond between mothers & daughters.

Writing assignment: Offer well-written descriptions on these topics for your chosen book (approximately one paragraph per topic).

• Central character and his/her dominant traits or features
• 3-4 other characters and their dominant traits or features
• The major setting(s) and its effect on the story
• Narrator (the point of view and its effect on the story)
• A terse summary of the main events of the story, given in chronological order
• The general tone of the story and how it can be sensed (the author's feelings toward the central character or the main events)
• The author's style and/or use of language
• Kinds of irony the story contains and what they contribute to the story.
• Leading symbols with an educated guess at what each symbol suggests
• The story's main theme (an understanding or idea about life and/or people)
• Personal response (What are your thoughts about what happens? How does the book stretch your mind and make you consider new ideas? How does the book connect to you or to something you have heard, read, or seen?)

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