English 5-6AP 2021-2022 Summer Reading Assignments Purpose/Justification: 1. Summer reading provides continuity between May and August, helping students continue to grow in analytical thinking. The annotation/note taking process, in particular, is a structured means to guide students in this thinking. 2. Summer reading provides an immediate springboard for discussion in August. AP English classes, in particular, can begin with the introduction and discussion of argument on Day 1. 3. Students in Pre-AP/AP should be avid, active readers. Summer reading supports this expectation while directing the activity towards pieces specifically chosen in relation to the student’s English course. Overall Tasks: 1. You will read one non-fiction selection, Jon Ronson’s So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed. In August on the first week of sc you will be assigned a timed writing prompt which explains how the author incorporates humor along with the informatio achieve his purpose. You will be expected to quote directly from the book; therefore, it is essential that you devise some way of taking notes. Y annotate directly in the text itself, or you may choose to keep hand written (blue or black ink pen) notes on paper for the w Notes taken on paper should be neatly stapled (no frilly edges) with a full heading in the upper-left-hand corner. The boo notes are due on the first day of school. (If you check out a copy from the library, be sure to renew it right before s because you will need it for the timed write.) 2. For the second assignment you will be choosing and following a prominent newspaper or magazine columnist. You must read the columns of this writer over the summer and keep a log of responses to his/her topics and writing style. The specifics of this assignment are explained after the information on the non-fiction selection. This assignment should be typed. You will bring in a hard copy, yet you should also keep a digital copy in your pvlearners account. This assignment is due the first day of school. Note: Choose your reading carefully – do some research on a title of the non-fiction work as well as the columnist b choosing him or her. I strongly suggest a parent also have input to your choice. This is a college prep class, and the college level choices. The list has a variety of topics for a variety of interests, suitable for a variety of sensibilities. Annotation: What’s important? Here are some specific things you’ll want to consider in your reading, concepts on which you’ll want to make/take notes and ideas you’ll want to be able to identify/discuss about your non-fiction work. In addition to your annotation, consider your thoughts and responses to what the author is saying and how he is saying it. Inclu personal comments on these thoughts. Carefully consider why you have these ideas? Some may be ideas you had prior to read book. How has the author confirmed, changed, or challenged your thinking? Project Evaluation and Due Dates You will be assigned an in-class timed writing for the work you read. The essay will be worth 50 points. You will be expected to provide specific examples from the reading (with proper MLA parenthetical documentation); therefore you will be allowed to use your book/notes. Bring your book and your notes to class on the first day of school in August. Caution: Whatever you bring and turn in the first day of school is what you will be able to use on the in-class timed writing. You cannot come with additional not or the book later. The columnist assignment is also due the first day of school in August. Bring a hard copy to class, and you will be uploading a copy to Turnitin.com. Your teacher will give you instructions on how to submit your columnist assignment. Assignment: The Columnist Project This coming year in AP English, you will become students of rhetoric and language, learning to think critically about the world in which we live. A major objective of this course is to develop ideas about informed citizenship. This summer project is designed to help you better understand how arguments work. You will you hone your skills in reading critically and analyzing non-fiction works. You will focus on one columnist—a writer who regularly (often on the same days each week) publishes an opinion column in a newspaper or magazine, either in print, online, or both. You will choose a columnist who discusses national concerns, including but not limited to finance, politics, or social issues; columnists who write about sports, fashion, music, movies, etc. are not appropriate. You must collect FOUR current columns and provide a link to her/his work. You can access most of these resources online. Select a variety of topics, do not concentrate just on pandemic or related issues. YOU WILL WANT TO READ SOME OF THE COLUMNISTS’ WORK BEFORE COMMITTING. In other words, don’t just choose a writer randomly – read some of his/her work so you know if you like the person, his/her opinions, writing style, etc. Directions: ● Choose a columnist to “adopt” for the summer. ● Read and think about four articles from this columnist. These should be current (follow throughout the summer if possible), but check your columnist’s printed material or website weekly because some columnists take frequent breaks during the summer; get to know their schedules so that yo can fit in the number of columns you need. You may access archives for many of these columnists; if you should choos go to the archives, you may only go back as late as January 2021 in order to keep the information current. ● Create a five-page document for this part of the assignment. Important: Organize your work in the following manner, or you will not receive credit. Use the example below as a model and label each part accordingly. This project will be collected on the first day of school in August. NOTE: All work must be typed, and you must retain a digital copy in your pvlearners account. Parts of the five-page document First, the Cover Page. On the first sheet of the five-page document in a single paragraph summary, describe your column You will need to do a little research. However, you may find that the columnist may even describe his or her own column, be views, biases, etc. The publication in which they are published may also describe the columnists a bit. Describe the writer' subject matter (political, tech, business, cultural, social, etc.), his or her angle/bias/slant, anything notable about his or her sty (use of humor, sarcasm, expert opinions, research, interviews, etc.), his or her authority or credibility (any other positions he/ or works he/she has published), and other information you find about the columnist. (Double space this paragraph.) Still on the first page, but in a short paragraph below the above information, describe why you chose to adopt and follow columnist. Ideas you might consider are describing a bit of information about you (your beliefs, your hobbies, your interests that might be relevant to the reason you chose this columnist. You can also explain what you liked about this person's writin style or beliefs. Many students select a columnist who reflects their own beliefs, but you may have chosen one who challenges your beliefs and/or brings up points you haven't considered. (Double space this paragraph as well.) Second, the Column Analyses. Each article analysis should have its own page. Adjust the margins and font if you have to, and DO NOT double space this section. Remember to use the exact format as example below. For each column, you should complete the following: Part 1: Article Analysis ● Citation: Cite the source of the article. Use MLA 8 format. Purdue's OWL (Online Writing Lab) has an easy to use, correct citation "machine." ● Content: One paragraph (approximately 100 words) overview of the content and scope of the article. ● Tone: In a sentence or two describe the author's tone and any shifts that may occur in the tone throughout the article. Tell where those shifts occur, too. (i.e. In the beginning of the article, the author is humorous to draw in the reader, but the tone shifts to cautious about midway.) ● Organization: Is the article written in chronological order; does it compare and then contrast; does it list a step-by-step process; is it an extended definition with examples; does it explain cause and effect; does it describe more minor ideas and build to an important idea, etc.…. Identify the kind of organization and explain a bit. Again, this is just a sentence ● Diction/word choice: Choose three specific word choices that the author uses, and discuss in a sentence or two (total) h the author’s specific word choice helps create your understanding of the text and the author’s point of view. ● Appeals, Devices, and Strategies: How does the columnist support his point? Does he or she try to create specific emotions in the audience? Which one the author establish his credibility in the article or need to (remember that they are a syndicated columnist)? Does the w present figures and statistics? What exact emotions is he or she trying to incite in the reader?) Describe any effective strategies or literary devices you can identify in the article. Discuss the effect these supports create. Part 2: Article Personal Response Write a response to this particular column of approximately 150 words, considering the following: ● How does s/he hook the reader in the opening of the column? How does he or she inspire the reader in the close the c o ● What is the author’s main claim (central idea, thesis)? ● How soon does s/he announce the thesis? ● Who is the intended audience for this article? How do you know? ● How much is based on observation? Personal experience? Interviews? Fact? ● What questions do you still have? What information do you still need to know? ● Do you agree with his/her claim(s)? Explain why or why not? ● How has the article changed/reinforced your own opinion on the issue? Remember, each response is one page, and you should begin a new page and repeat the sequence for parts one and two for each of the four articles.