North Hollywood High School AP English Language and Composition (SAS) 2016 Summer Reading Assignments AP English Language and Composition is a challenging, academically rigorous college-level course that can be beneficial to you not only in terms of college credit or placement but also in terms of your intellectual growth. As a candidate for AP English Language and Composition, you must show a commitment to the course beginning in the summer by completing the reading and the accompanying assignments. All assignments are due Tuesday, August 16, 2016. This book may be checked out from the textbook room before leaving school for summer break or you may purchase it. For any questions, contact Mrs. Halajian at
[email protected]. Summer Reading Assignment Directions: 1. Read The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien and complete eight dialectical journals. This is a historical “fiction” about the Vietnam War. 2. As you read the chapters, annotate (if it’s your copy of the book) OR use a post-it to mark and annotate a few passages that appeal to you, that confuse you, that disturb you, that amaze you, that excite you, that bother you, etc.; basically, annotate passages that make you THINK more deeply. You will choose some of these passages for your Dialectical Journals. 3. Complete a Dialectical Journal after each of the following chapters as indicated below. Make a T-chart. Title the left column of the T-chart “Evidence” and the right column “Analysis.” On the left column, write a passage you wish to analyze. The passage should be at least 4 sentences long; include chapter title and page number; then, on the right column, write your analysis. In your analysis, focus on diction, connotations, imagery, figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification, etc.), musical devices (rhythm, parallelism, alliteration, etc.), compare/contrast, patterns, unusual sentence structures, repetition, etc. Your analysis should reveal the overall PURPOSE and TONE of the passage. Your analysis should be at least 5 sentences long (a detailed paragraph). You should have a total of EIGHT Dialectical Journals: JOURNAL #1: “The Things They Carried” JOURNAL #2: “Love,” “Spin” and “On the Rainy River” JOURNAL #3: “Enemies,” “Friends,” and “How to Tell a True War Story” JOURNAL #4: “The Dentist,” “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” and “Stockings” JOURNAL #5:, “Church,” “The Man I Killed,” and “Ambush” JOURNAL #6: “Style,” “Speaking of Courage,” and “Notes” JOURNAL #7: “In the Field” , “Good Form” and “Field Trip” JOURNAL #8: “The Ghost Soldiers,” “Night Life,” and “The Lives of the Dead” 4. Complete the VOCABULARY STUDY described on the back of this handout.
The Things They Carried VOCABULARY STUDY Directions: These 20 words are listed in order of appearance by selected chapter. As you read the book, try to locate as many of these words, circle them in your own book or use a post it to mark them.
The Things They Carried: taut, topography, volition, tangible
Spin: exuberance
On The Rainy River: jingo, to eviscerate, censure, acquiescence, platitude, reticence
How To Tell A True War Story: rectitude, drudgery
Sweetheart Of The Song Tra Bong: bedlam, mundane
Notes: catharsis, valor
The Ghost Stories: rapport
The Lives Of The Dead: to taper, blatant
After locating all the words, type or write the following for each word using this format only (include the subheadings): 1) WORD: a. Context Sentence: The sentence where the word is located in The Things They Carried. Underline the word. b. Definitions: 1) Locate the definition that best fits the word; 2) If there are more definitions, write the second definition (or a different definition). c. Word Derivatives: Other words formed from the word. Write the part of speech for each. d. Synonyms: Locate at least three synonyms. e. Internet Sentence: Find an internet sentence that is clear and connects directly to the definition of the word. If the sentence you locate is a fragment (not a complete sentence), write it in a complete sentence.
Important Note: You are encouraged to read at least TWO additional collegebound books this summer; these may include fiction and nonfiction. Choose books that both interest and challenge you.
