Part II - Syndicated Columnist Summer Reading Assignment Abstract Note Cards AP Language is a college-level course focusing on close and critical reading, mainly of non-fiction texts. Students l also write extensively, mastering three basic types of writing: analysis, argument and synthesis. In order to prepare for our readings and writings, you should first become aware of the pressing issues in your larger world. These issues may be political, environmental, cultural, military, social, global, economic, educational, scientific, etc. 1. From the list of syndicated columnists below, select 10 different articles representing each of these categories: Education Science/ Nature/Environment History /Politics Work and Class Identity Gender Equity Media Language Race/Culture Ethics NOTE: You will READ 10 different articles, at least one from each category AND SUBMIT an abstract for each that you read. 2. Print the articles, making sure the date, title, author and source are obvious and readable. 3. Complete a close read of each article to determine the topic, problem or issue, author’s claims, and conclusions. Make notes in the margin. 4. For each article, you will then write an abstract (a 150 word summary) on a 4x6 index card. You must include a bibliographical entry at the top of the card to indicate the source. Write the citation in MLA format. Consult the OWL website for how-to information: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/656/1/ Don’t forget that bibliographical entries are reverse-indented. The author’s name is at the margin and every line after that is indented. SEE EXAMPLE BELOW 5. You will turn in the 10 cards with well-written summaries, and keep the articles for sharing later in the semester. EXAMPLE OF ABSTRACT SUMMARY: Pitts, Leonard, Jr. "Warning: Beware of Idiot Warning Labels" Miami Herald 30 May 2000: 25-26. Print. In his article “Idiot Warning Labels,” Leonard Pitts Jr. asserts that warning labels spread stupidity among the public. Pitts refers to advertisements that include fine print or verbal warnings. He provides an example of a computer-enhanced automobile ad showing the car performing impossible actions, such as driving up a wall. The accompanying warning caption reads: "Professional driver on closed course. Please do not attempt." Pitts vents his frustration to expose corporations’ patronizing and insulting assault on customers’ intelligence. His audience consists of typical American readers and consumers—people who may agree with the absurdity of such labels. He ends his column with two proposals--eliminate “idiot” warnings and issue Superman suits to every citizen. Syndicated Columnists Jonah Goldberg John Pilger Ghaith Abdul-Ahad Stuart Goldman Daniel Pipes Yasmin Alibhai-Brown Froma Harrop Leonard Pitts Timothy Garton Ash Amira Hass Katha Pollitt Dave Barry Nat Hentoff Anna Quindlen Leonard Pitts Seymour Hersh Ted Rall Max Boot Dilip Hiro Dan Savage David Brooks Peter Hitchens Jeffrey L. Seglin Rosa Brooks Kitty Kelley Mildred Seydell Herman Cain Naomi Klein Ben Shapiro Wilson Casey Charles Krauthammer Mark Shields Jonathan Chait Paul Krugman Thomas Sowell Noam Chomsky Christina Lamb Mark Steyn Ann Coulter Rich Lowry John Stossel Maureen Dowd Michelle Malkin Andrew Sullivan Susan Estrich Rachel Marsden Jennifer Vanasco Niall Ferguson George Monbiot George Will Robert Fisk Oliver North Bob Woodward Thomas Friedman Greg Palast Andy Xie David Frum William Pfaff Fareed Zakaria Francis Fukuyama Melanie Phillips Issamar Ginzberg .