AP English Literature Summer Reading Assignments

Introduction

One of the goals in AP Literature is to deepen your analysis of many genres of literary work. We will start this with our summer reading of two fiction novels: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. You will be analyzing these two novels through the use of a literary journal, which will show that you have grappled with the content. ***These literary journals will be collected the first day of class. If you have not completed the summer reading assignments, you should plan to change your schedule to a regular English 12 class.

For The Kite Runner, you will make six journal entries:

Journal Entry #1—Chapters 1-5

Journal Entry #2—Chapters 6-9

Journal Entry #3—Chapters 10-15

Journal Entry #4—Chapters 16-20

Journal Entry #5—Chapters 21-25

Journal Entry #6—Final Entry for the Completed Book

For The Kite Runner, each of the journal entries you make while you are reading the chapters will have three parts:

  1. Questions
  2. Character Analysis
  3. Quotations and Reflections

Your final entry for The Kite Runner, based on the book as a whole, will address the following four things:

  1. Setting
  2. Questions
  3. Themes
  4. Novel Card

What should each journal entry include for The Kite Runner?

Chapter Entries

1. Questions

  • Write at least three questions you had while reading these chapters.
  • Only one question, at the most, can be a clarifying question—something you had trouble understanding.
  • Your questions should represent your deep consideration of the issues in the text. Try to compose provocative, open-ended questions that you could use to kick off a discussion.

2.Character Analysis

  • REMEMBER, you are analyzing character and NOT summarizing plot!
  • For each section, clearly list the characters that appear in the section and note character traits that emerge. Include specific adjectives and the evidence that reveals that the character possesses these traits.
  • Describe in three-five sentences the development of an important character relationship you see developing in the section.

3.Quotations and Reflections

  • Select two quotes from the segment that you read that strike you as intriguing, powerful, or central to the plot.
  • Carefully re-copy the quotes, exactly as they appear in the book and be sure to cite page numbers.
  • For each quote, write three-five sentences about why you chose it—describe how and why it resonates with you and/or how it deepens your understanding of the novel.

Final Entry

  1. Setting
  2. In at least five sentences, describe the setting of the novel—this includes geographical location, historical time period, social climate. Consider in your description how the setting is significant to the themes or plot.
  3. Questions
  4. Write at least two questions that grapple with the essential issues in the novel. Strive to write questions that would require a whole essay in response and would draw on many aspects of the novel.
  5. Themes
  6. Identify at least two major themes of the novel. Explain each theme in five-eight sentences using plot details, character development, symbols, etc. as examples.
  7. Novel Card
  • Using an 5x8 index card, complete a novel card according to the attached instructions.

For Of Mice and Men, you will make seven journal entries: One for each of the six chapters of the book and one final entry for the completed book.

For Of Mice and Men, each of the journal entries you make while you are reading the chapters will have three parts:

  1. Chapter Names
  2. Questions
  3. List of Characters

Your final entry forOf Mice and Men, based on the book as a whole, will address the following four things:

  1. Setting
  2. Questions
  3. Themes
  4. Novel Card

What should each journal entry include for Of Mice and Men?

Chapter Entries

  1. Chapter Names
  • You have noticed that John Steinbeck does not name the chapters in Of Mice and Men. Give each of the six chapters a name!
  1. Questions
  2. Write at least three questions you had while reading each chapter.
  3. Only one question, at the most, can be a clarifying question—something you had trouble understanding. (In other words, someone else may know the answer.)
  4. Your questions should represent your deep consideration of the issues in the text. Try to compose provocative, open-ended questions that you could use to kick off a discussion.
  5. Characters
  • For each of the six chapters, simply LIST the characters that appear in each chapter.

Final Entry

  1. Setting
  2. In at least five sentences, describe the setting of the novel—this includes geographical location, historical time period, social climate. Consider in your description how the setting is significant to the themes or plot.
  3. Questions
  4. Write at least two questions that grapple with the essential issues in the novel. Strive to write questions that would require a whole essay in response and would draw on many aspects of the novel.
  5. Themes
  6. Identify at least two major themes of the novel. Explain each theme in five-eight sentences using plot details, character development, symbols, etc. as examples.
  7. Novel Card
  • Using a 5x8 index card, complete a novel card according to the attached instructions.

Future Reading

If you want to get an early start on class reading and preparing for the AP English Literature and Composition National Exam, go to my website, go to the page called “Handouts and Worksheets,” and click on the link, “AP Titles from Open Response Questions 1971 Through 2015.” This is the approved reading list for AP English Literature class! You will choose book project books from this list. The more books from this list you read, the better prepared you will be for the AP Literature and Composition National Exam in May!