SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT: incoming 10th graders

Summer Reading Assignment
AP English Language and Composition
DUE: The Second Day of School
(August 11, 2009)

Incoming Sophomores:
Welcome to AP Language! We are very eager to introduce you to the world of rhetoric, and we hope that you are equally enthusiastic about your future exploration of this unique perspective on the English language. AP English Language and Composition is not your typical English class, since it focuses primarily on nonfiction (although we will read a fair share of fiction as well).
The following summer assignments have been designed both to offer you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with this type of study AND to gauge the prior knowledge and skills that you will bring to our classes.
We are looking forward to a terrific year and you are a talented group. Thus, we can’t lose! Remember, this course offers rewards far beyond the ordinary class so please don't be daunted by the work. Have fun completing the summer readings and assignments! See you in August for the beginning of our great adventure!

Purpose: The AP examination in English Language and Composition requires extensive preparation and reading. Your summer reading is an important part of that preparation to help you grow as a reader and thinker. As AP scholars, you should consider that students who read more, score significantly higher on standardized tests such as AP Exams, ACTs, and SATs. In addition, reading helps to develop your vocabulary and your ability to connect ideas. Finally, reading will help to avoid the summer “mush” that our brains tend to become when we do not exercise them.

Assignment #1: Read and annotate The Elements of Style by William J. Strunk and E.B. White
Read this important little book that will help guide your understanding of what is good writing. Mark it up: highlight, underline, circle, doodle – I want to see that you have interacted with the book and made it your own reference guide. During the first week of class, you will be asked to make a list of at least 15 important stylistic principles you found personally valuable or important, but you will not be allowed to use the book! (Pay special attention to the first two chapters: “The Elementary Rules of Usage” and “The Elementary Principles of Composition”.)
TOTAL: 20 points

Assignment #2: Read, annotate, and write a response paragraph for each of the following 5 essays:
“Of Studies,” Francis Bacon; “Living Like Weasels,” Annie Dillard; “No Man Is an Island,” John Donne; “Arriving at Perfection,” Benjamin Franklin; “The Din in the Head,” by Cynthia Ozick
The essays include some modern and some classic essays, covering the same time-period of our focus in class (namely, from the 1600s to the present). All of these essayists are well-known and well-admired for their clarity, their depth of thought, and their skillful use of the language to convey their ideas.
Each of your response paragraphs should be on a separate sheet of paper. Do not be frightened by this assignment. Demonstrate simply that you have read the essay, and that you have tried to make sense of how it is organized, and that you have made some effort to notice particular words or phrases that contribute strongly to shaping the content or tone of each.
Of course I do want you to write as clearly as you can, but you are not expected to do this assignment flawlessly. Reading what you do write will help me to understand the skills you have as we begin the year together, so that we can set specific goals for improving your writing and reading.
TOTAL: 50 points

Assignment #3: Read and keep a Reader’s Journal for the autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas by Frederick Douglas
This book is being assigned in correlation with AP US History, and deals with an important historical time-period. You will be quizzed on its content, as well as be asked to write in-class essays that demonstrate you have read the book carefully.
Your Reader’s Journal should be a record of your thoughts, opinions, and responses to what you read. Write an entry for every three chapters, plus one for the last two; this is a total of FOUR entries. Each entry should be at least 150 words long, and written on a separate sheet of paper.
TOTAL: 20 points


Do the math – and realize that this entire Summer Assignment makes up for 90 points of your first semester in AP English Language and Composition! Do not take this lightly.
Although this may seem like an overwhelming and daunting task, don’t forget you have the entire summer to spend working on this – and you’ll have plenty of time to relax as well. Just consider that you are at an important stage in your high school career, and there just may be a few more things more important than sleeping all day and playing video games all night! ☺
For extra credit, you are welcomed to join the Summer Reading Challenge, which means reading an additional 10 books (of high school level), for a total of 30 points. If you have any questions or comments, or if you need help finding the novel, or if you are stuck in writing a response, or if you just want to tell me about your summer, e-mail me at sistersalma@gmail.com.
Good Luck!
Sr. Salma

Friday May 8, 2009

Agenda
1. SPelling Test #29
2. R&J: review III.5
--> point to ponder
HW: 1- review act 3 for quiz
2- type up point to ponder

We started off the class by taking our spelling test. AFter that, sister salma reviewed with us the study guide question of that act because our test is on Monday. Then we were assigned our homework, which was to do the Timed Writing on page 813.

Thursday May 7,2009

Agenda
1. Rome &Juliet
--> Dramatic Speeches
--> III 5
Hw: 1-finish vocab packet/study for sp. test
2. III.5 study guide questions

Here are the types of dramatic speeches
aside: when a character speaks to him/herself so 'only' the audience can hear him/her
solilloquy: only one character on stage delivering a long speech, expressing their true feelings
monologue: lengthy speech by one persone, w/ other characters on stage
allusions: reference to a well known historical event: fable, myth, famous person, etc.

after taking notes on dramatic speeches we began act III scene V but had to finish the rest for homework along with doing the study guide questions. we also have vocab and to study for the spelling test tomorrow

Fridat May 8th, 2009

AGENDA
1. Spelling Test #29
2. Romeo and JulietL review Act 3 scene 5
---> point to ponder
HW: 1- review act 3 for quiz on Monday
2- Type up your P-2-P

Today in Sr. Salma's English class, there was a spelling test for lesson 29. We took the test, and corrected it in class. Then, we went over all of Act 3's comprehension questions until the end of class. Regarding the point to ponder, we were not able to complete that in class, so instead it was homework. The prompt can be found in your Prentice Hall Literature book on page 813, under the subtitle "Timed Writing: Interpretation (connection)". That is what we did in Sr. Salma's class today.

~mona

5/5/09

Agenda:
1. Vocab Test:
--Lessons 27-28
--Begin Lesson 29
2. Romeo and Juliet:
--Act 3 Scene 2

HW: 1. Vocab Ex 2 and 3
2. Study Guide Questions for Scene 3 Act 2
Summary:
Today in Sister Salma's Engligh class, we took the vocab test for lessons 27 and 28 and we began lesson 29. Then we listened to Romeo and Juleit Act 3 Scene 3.

4-20-09 AGENDA (monday)

1. Vocab Review: lessons 25-26
2. Grammar Warm Ups #2

HW: 1- review for vocab test tomorrow
2- finish final draft of character essay

Today in Sr. Salma's English class, we reviewed for the vocab test tomorrow by going over lessons 25 & 26. Then, we did Grammar Warm Ups # 2, and traded with our peers, then corrected. That is what we did in Sr. Salma's class today.

~mona s.

Monday, May 4 , 2009

Agenda
1.Romeo and Juliet: Act 2 quiz
---> Start Act III scene 1

hw:
1. Review for the vocab test tomorrow
2. Study guide questions for III. i

Today the first thing we did was, take the quiz and turned our act 2 study guide question answers. After that we listened to act 3 scene 1 on tape. For homework remember to study for vocab test and complete study guide questions.