Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Summer Assignment for Future AP Langers!


AP Language & Composition
Summer Assignment

In order to prepare for AP Language and Composition, you will need to practice your critical reading and writing skills throughout the summer.  You will have two books to read and annotate, followed by an assignment for each. You are welcome to purchase your own copies of the two texts you will be reading or you can check out copies from me.  You may write in the book if you own it or, if you check out a book from me, Post-it notes or notes on paper/computer work fine.  If you borrow someone else’s book that has already been annotated, please clearly mark your own annotations in a different technique or color and label it in the front cover.

Assignment Specifics 
Bring your annotations to class on the first day of school.  The written assignments must be submitted to Turnitin.com before class on the first day.  I will email you in August with the Turnitin enrollment info. The summer assignment will be a large part of your first quarter grade—do not begin the year with zeros!
  • Come prepared to discuss and be tested over the books you’ve read.
  • Annotate both books – good notes tend to enhance comprehension and retention of ideas.  You will turn in your annotations (either in the book or on separate paper).
  • Assignments should use MLA style in both formatting (i.e. double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font) and parenthetical citations.  The Purdue OWL is an excellent resource if you don’t remember the MLA rules.
  • If you decide to buy your books, I recommend Half-Price books, former AP Lang students, or Amazon used copies.  They are not expensive books (about $10-15 a piece new) but you can get them for FAR cheaper from these other venues (sometimes as little as $1).  Otherwise, I have MANY copies of both for summer check-out.
Assignment One
Text: Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman 
Tasks: 
·  Closely read the book.  Keep in mind that Postman is creating an argument here.  Your job is not to agree or disagree with him.  As a critical reader, you should critique his argument.  Read closely to determine what his argument is, how he constructs it, and the strategies he uses in order to persuade his reader to believe it.
·  Postman structures his argument by clearly defining his thesis in the first two chapters and supporting it with the rest of the book. After reading the first two chapters, TYPE a one-page summary of his main idea—the point he will argue for the rest of the book.
·  As you read the rest of the book, choose 10 passages from a variety of chapters that strike you as important to his argument.  They can be passages that you think strengthen his argument or passages that you feel weaken it.  TYPE the quotes out with an MLA citation that shows where the quote came from.  Then write a paragraph for each quote explaining why you noticed the passage, how it connects to Postman’s argument, and what is interesting about the way he wrote it.  You will end up with a total of 10 quotes accompanied by 10 paragraphs.
 ·  If you need help getting started on your paragraphs, consider these questions:
§ Why does the passage impress, intrigue, horrify, or puzzle you?
§ Do you find the author’s use of language appealing or powerful?
§  Do you find yourself in agreement/disagreement with the ideas expressed?
§  Does the passage remind you of a situation you have lived as well?
§  Does the passage make you laugh out loud? Make you angry?
§  Does the author raise intriguing questions or issues?
§  Does the passage challenge or expand your thinking?

You are not limited to the above list, nor do I expect you to answer all of the above. But your responses to the passages should clearly explain to me WHY these passages mean something to you, WHY these passages caught your attention, and HOW these passages illustrate Postman’s ideas. 

 Assignment Two
Text:  Fast Food Nation:  The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser

Tasks: 
·  Closely read the text. Again, keep in mind that your reading isn’t about whether you agree or disagree with Schlosser, just that you notice and think about the way he constructs his argument and attempts to sway his readers’ opinions.  Determine whether his strategies are successful and come up with reasons for that success or failure.
· Familiarize yourself with the three tenets of rhetoric (ethos, pathos, and logos).
· In two pages, show how Schlosser utilizes each of the three tenets of rhetoric (ethos, pathos, and logos).  Split the pages evenly among the tenets so that you cover all three equally.  Remember, you should NOT summarize his argument—I know what his argument is.  Instead, analyze his use of ethos, pathos, and logos to advance his argument(s) in the book.  Be sure to include quotes from the text to support your argument and illustrate your ideas.  Document them using MLA style.
· Possible questions to address:  By using this tenet of rhetoric, is Schlosser’s argument made stronger/weaker?  How?  Why does he use this rhetorical tenet?  Does the argument lend itself to this particular appeal?

Other Important Information
FYI:  The textbook we’ll use is Everything’s an Argument with Readings by Andrea A. Lunsford, John J. Ruszkiewicz, and Keith Walters  ISBN: 0312407246.  This is the RED THIRD EDITION.  You are not required to purchase your own textbook but some AP students find it valuable and convenient to make notes right in their book.  The book is available from Amazon as a previously owned book or you can use an older sibling’s or other former AP Lang student.  Do not buy the new blue edition—it is NOT the same!

If you have questions over the summer about the course, your books, or the assignments, check this blog where you’ll find all kinds of resources.  Add it to your favorites now as it will be an integral part of our class next year.  Also feel free to email me at ms.kim.grissom@gmail.com.  

Enjoy your summer!  You’ve earned a nice break. =)  But don’t put your assignment off until August either—you’ll kick yourself when you’re spending the last two weeks of break reading and writing papers!

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