Pre-AP English (Turnitin-15400533/Legacy17-18)

Summer Reading 2017-2018

Kean-Walsh

Welcome …….

General Instructions:

Pre-AP and AP English classestraditionally have summer reading assignments associated with them. Each assignment has a due date. Some are due when you first return to school and some are due within the first few weeks of school. You will be provided with the novel, unless you join Pre-AP during the summer or beginning of the school year, then you will need to purchase it on your own.Pay ATTENTION to your due dates, because I DO NOT accept late assignments. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me via email at or . Be sure to follow each set of directions carefully. All assignments will be submitted to turnitin.com. Please see the attached handout on how to create an account, if needed, and the class id and password. All written work must be typed in 12-point Times Roman and follow MLA format. The following website is an excellent source if you are not familiar with this format:

A Note on Academic Dishonesty:

Academic Dishonesty is using another’s work without giving that person (or group of people) proper credit. Therefore, if you simply copy and paste information off the internet and put it into your dictionary, you are committing academic dishonesty. You must complete the following two steps to avoid this: 1) Paraphrase, or reword, the information you think is most important on your topics and 2) Provide a list of resources used in completing the assignment. You may use the following reference to help you with this process:

Assignment 1: Personal Letter- (due the first day of school-August 14, 2017)-(50 pts.)

Purpose: To introduce yourself to Mrs. Kean-Walsh; Be Creative ! (50 pts.)

Compose a letter in which you describe yourself as a person and as a student. Tell me about yourself and interests. What is your personality like? What kind of family do you come from? How do you spend your free time? What do you and your friends do for fun? What goals do you have for this summer?Tell me what kind of learner you are. What are your strength and weaknesses as an English student? Describe your ideal English class. What do you hope to get out of Pre-AP? What is the absolute best book you have ever read for fun? For school?

Please use paragraphs when composing your letters. You will submit this assignment to turnitin.com. Make sure it is in MLA format.

Assignment 2: Novel/ Annotations- 100pts. (due by August 15(7th) and August 16 (2nd))

Your summer required novel will be The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

Why Annotate? (College Board): Annotate any text that you must know well, in detail, and from which you might need to produce evidence that supports your knowledge or reading, such as a book on which you will be tested.Don't assume that you must annotate when you read for pleasure; if you're relaxing with a book, well, relax. Still, some people—let's call them "not-abnormal"—actually annotate for pleasure. While you read, make sure to have marginal notes next to each highlighted area. It is not a coloring exercise. If you highlight something, you are saying it is a highly important piece of evidence. Annotations should not be labeling devices and one word statements. You should be writing analytical notes.

1. Read and annotate the Namesake. You will annotate the following items:

A. Symbols and how they function as to revealing something about character or themes.

B. Consider the relationship between the characters and the setting for your novel. Think about the way that the characters are described, their characteristics, the conflicts that they face, the actions they take, and their emotional reactions.

C. Again, take a look at the characters in the novel that that you’ve read. Each of the main characters in the novel are introduced to you with certain dreams, plans, and expectations. In the course of the novel, these main characters must come to terms with the difference between their dreams and the reality of the world around them. Look at how their journey plays a role n the novel as a whole.This novel is 9.96 at Barnes & Noble, if needed.

Assignment 3: Due August 25, 2017(7th) and August 24, 2017 (2nd) (100 pts.)

Literature Cards: What’s That Called?-(Hint-Do a few sheets each month.)

Complete the definitions for the AP Lit Term Notecards. Remember when you are looking for definitions that you want the definition which conveys how the word applies to literature, not just any standard definition. Examples don’t have to be complete, but it’s not a bad thing to fill them in as you find them. This assignment is to be handwritten.

For help with literary devices and terms you can try the following resources:

Assignment #4 – Biblical and Mythological Allusion Dictionary-Due September 5, 2017 (7th) and September 6, 2017 (2nd) (100 pts.)

1. You are to create a typed glossary/dictionary of sorts with a summary of each of the biblical andmythological allusions (word length on these will depend on the length of thepassages/chapters). You are responsible for listing the MLA citation for each allusion. This will be an ongoing assignment throughout the year. Below you will find lists for selected Biblical and Mythological allusions.

A. Biblical Passages (refer to a Bible if available or other reputable online sources):

1. Genesis Chapters 1-4 (Creation, Adam & Eve, The Fall, Cain & Abel)

2. Genesis 6-9 (Noah, The Flood)

3. Genesis 11:1-9 (The Tower of Babel)

4. Genesis Chapter 19 (Sodom & Gomorrah, Lot’s Wife)

5. Exodus 3:1-10 (The Burning Bush)

6. Exodus 14:5-31 (The Parting of the Sea)

7. Exodus Chapter 32 (The Golden Calf)

8. I Samuel Chapters 17 & 18 (David & Goliath/Saul)

9. Matthew 14:1-21 (John the Baptist/5 Loaves of Bread and 2 Fish)

10. Matthew 26:14-56 (Thirty Silver Coins/Gethsemane/Betrayed With a Kiss)

B. Mythology Chapters: Mythological reference:

1. Achilles Heel

2. Argus-Eyed

3. Gordian Knot

4. Herculean

5. Nemesis

6. The Muses

7. Prometheus

8. Atlantis

9. Draconian

10. Midas

Pre-AP-2017-2018 Reading List:

An essential part of being an analytical reader is interacting with the text. A key element to your success in Pre-AP will be your interaction and annotation of the texts we read. Below is a list of books we are looking at reading throughout the year. This list has not been finalized but will be at the start of the school year. Most novels will be provided by the school.

1. Scarlet Letter-Nathaniel Hawthorne

2. Huck Finn-Mark Twain

3. Great Gatsby-F. Scott Fitzgerald

4. Stoner-John Williams

5. How to Read Literature like a Professor (excerpts)

6. Death of a Salesman