W. Cary Dicks, Principal Matthew L. Lewis, Vice Principal

CLAY HIGH SCHOOL 2025 HIGHWAY 16 WEST GREEN COVE SPRINGS, FLORIDA 32043 PHONE: (904) 529-3000 FAX (904) 529-3214

W. CARY DICKS, PRINCIPAL MATTHEW L. LEWIS, VICE PRINCIPAL LINDA GARCIA, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL JOSH FREEMAN, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ______

May 31, 2016

Dear AP Language Student,

Welcome to AP Language! I trust you will have an enjoyable year in this course. The primary goal of Advanced Placement Language at Clay High is to develop your abilities as a reader and a writer (especially as a critic of language) by giving you a college- level course during your junior year. If you successfully complete the college examination in May, you can qualify for up to a year’s credit in English at the college you select next year. Your grade in the class is not contingent upon receiving a passing score of 3 on the College Board Exam.

So that you will have the necessary background information needed to begin the analysis of language, I am asking that you read In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. During the month of June or July, you need to email me a reading response that you have kept while reading.. This response should include your impressions of the book thus far. You will be graded on this response; however, if you have not included sufficient information, I will let you know so that you can add to your response. THE DEADLINE FOR THIS EMAIL IS JULY 30th. Expect an exam on this book within the first few days of school and be prepared to participate in classroom discussions about the book. Failure to participate will indicate that you are not ready for an Advanced Placement Language class.

If you have any problem obtaining the above materials, please feel free to contact me. The books on the book list can be obtained at Chamblin’s Book Mine or Books-a-Million in the Orange Park Mall. Chamblin’s is near the Roosevelt Shopping Center.

As your teacher, I hope that each of you will accept the challenge of AP Language and give it your best effort. If you or your parents have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will gladly give you any assistance or clarify any questions that you or your parents may have regarding AP Language. You will be so glad you signed up for this course. My school number is 529- 3068 and my cell is 904 705-7270. If you use my cell number, please text and include your full name in the text. If you would rather email me with any questions, my email address is: [email protected]

Sincerely,

Mrs Sweat

Assignment : Reading Response Log, Due July 30th

Your response log will be used to determine your comprehension of the text. Be sure that you are thorough and that you complete the journal for all chapters of the book. Please remember that these logs are not meant to be personal diaries. Your answers should contain textual support in MLA parenthetical citation. For example: The only reason for disquiet in Mr. Clutter’s life is “……” (85). If the answer does not require a direct quotation from the text, be sure to include the textual support that leads to your inference. The Last to See Them Alive 1. According to the text, what is Mr. Clutter’s only reason for “disquiet” in his life?

2. How do the narrative voice and the sentence structure of the text change when the story shifts from descriptions of the Clutter family to descriptions of Hickock and Perry Smith?

3. How does Perry’s obsession with foreign countries and sunken treasures symbolize his social status as an outcast?

4. What is the biggest challenge to the friendship between Perry Smith and Willie Jay?

5. How does initial speculation about the murders change the atmosphere within the Holcomb community?

Persons Unknown 1. What aspects of the crime scene as observed by Al Dewey examining photographs foreshadow the eventual capture of the suspects?

2. What does Susan Kidwell find most disturbing about her visit to the funeral parlor? Why?

3. What does Perry’s behavior at the beach and swimming pool reveal about his character?

4. How are the police able to determine the order in which the Clutter family members were murdered?

5. How are Dick and Perry planning to return to the United States? What does their plan reveal about their state of mind following the Clutter murders?

Answer 1. What event in the opening pages of this section turns the investigation around?

2. What does the nickname Perry has given himself reveal about his character and his self image?

3. Why is Perry disturbed by a newspaper account he reads when he and Dick arrive in Miami, Florida?

4. To what extent does Dick’s sexuality contribute to his status as a societal outsider? What is Perry’s reaction to Dick’s sexuality?

5. According to Perry, what is his only regret about the night of the murders? The Corner

1. What is Mrs. Meier’s first impression of Perry Smith?

2. What changes doe Perry want to make to his initial statement to police? What is his motivation for making the changes? What does this suggest about his character?

3. What is the symbolic significance of the big yellow bird?

4. Why does Perry go on a hunger strike? Why does he eventually change his mind and end his hunger strike?

5. What does Dick pursue in order to appeal his conviction?