Richard J. Loeschner Assistant Principals

Brentwood BRENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL Brentwood, NY, 11717 Union Telephone (631) 434-2204 Free Richard J. Loeschner Assistant Principals School High School Principal Vincent Autera District Judy Crawford James Gesseck John Murphy Jeanette Suarez May, 2015

Dear Student:

Welcome to English 12 Advanced Placement Literature and Composition. You have been admitted to this course by your eleventh grade English teacher’s recommendation and your past academic performance. It is assumed that students enrolled in this program possess a love of reading and appreciable skill in expository writing. You will be expected to take the May, 2016 AP Exam in English Literature and Composition. We hope you enjoy the depth and breadth of the summer assignment:

You will be required to obtain and read the following three texts: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, and The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad. You are required to submit six journal entries (1-2 pages each, hand-written) that include your personal insights and literary analyses for the novels Frankenstein and Their Eyes Were Watching God; you will write each entry after you have begun reading, midway through, and after you have completed reading each novel in its entirety. Do not merely summarize the texts. Rather, explore each text’s structure, theme, and historical perspective; include your personal response.

For Conrad’s The Secret Sharer, you are required to annotate and “mark up” your text. (“Dover” editions are the cheapest—about $1.50 each.) Mortimer Adler’s “How to Mark a Book” (attached) should prompt and guide your annotation. We will start the year with these titles, so be prepared for the first day of class by bringing these texts and your reaction journals that will be collected by your teacher for assessment. Your teacher may also administer an exam on these works.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr. Cowan, 12 AP Literature and Composition English teacher, at . Have an enjoyable, safe, and productive summer, and we will see you in September!

Very truly yours,

Stephanie Weeks High School English Department Head (631)- 434-2501