English III AP: Summer Reading Assignment Contact Information:
Teacher:
Ms. Jessica Nazer
Email:
[email protected]
Required Texts:
Read In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. Review information on the Rhetorical Triangle (speaker/writer, audience, subject/text) and Rhetorical Appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/RhetoricalTriangle.htm http://www.fords.org/sites/default/files/rhetorical-triangle.pdf Amazon:
Barnes and Noble:
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote: In Cold Blood tells the true account of the savage and senseless murder of a family. On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were savagely murdered by blasts from a shotgun held a few inches from their faces. There was no apparent motive for the crime, and there were almost no clues. As Truman Capote reconstructs the murder and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers, he generates both mesmerizing suspense and astonishing empathy. In Cold Blood is a work that transcends its moment, yielding poignant insights into the nature of American violence. Capote read about this crime in The New York Times soon after it happened, and before the killers were caught, he began his work in Kansas, interviewing the people of Holcomb and doing extensive research with the help of his friend Harper Lee, who would go on to write the classic To Kill a Mockingbird. The killers were arrested six weeks after the murders, and Capote ultimately spent six years working on the book. The book examines the complex psychological relationship between two killers who together commit a mass murder. Capote's book also explores the lives of the victims and the effect of the crime on the community in which they lived. In Cold Blood is regarded by critics as a pioneering work of the true crime genre. The book is written as if it were a novel, complete with dialog, and is what Truman Capote referred to as "New Journalism" — the nonfiction novel. Although this writing style had been used before, the craft and success of In Cold Blood led to its being deemed the true masterwork of the genre. For Truman Capote, it was the last in a series of great works, which included Breakfast at Tiffany's, Other Voices, Other Rooms, and The Grass Harp. In Cold Blood was originally published in four parts in The New Yorker and then released as a novel in 1965.
Assignment: Actively read the novel. This means to highlight (if you own the book) or use small post-it notes to note examples of appeals to the audience. The focus for reading In Cold Blood is an examination of how the author attempts to influence his audience through ethos, pathos, and logos. Create an “Appeals to the Audience” Chart (see format below) which will be an aide to use for your evaluation when you return. You will be able to use this chart on activities/assignments during the first few weeks of school.
Format: Arrive on the first day with a two-column, typed chart of appeals to the audience in In Cold Blood on behalf of the lives of Smith and Hickock. Column One—Direct quote (evidence) from the novel (include page number) Column Two— Note the type of appeal: ethos, pathos, or logos and, in sentence form, how that quote is an example of that type of appeal by noting the effect on the audience (in complete sentences) You must have a total of nine (9) appeals for In Cold Blood. The nine (9) examples must include three (3) examples of each of the appeals. (3 ethos + 3 pathos + 3 logos = 9 total)
Sample chart format: Name: _________________________ In Cold Blood Appeals to Audience Chart Evidence (direct quote) “Perry’s lawyer wrote me [Cullivan] asking if I’d be a character witness; the moment I read the letter I knew I had to do it. Because I’d offered this man my friendship“ (Capote 288).
Type of Appeal and Explanation Capote offers this statement from Cullivan, evoking pathos because a man who hadn’t seen him in nine years was not only willing to stand up for Perry in a court of law, but sacrifice vacation time and his own money to pay his travel expenses.
INDIVIDUAL, ORIGINAL WORK IS EXPECTED OF ALL STUDENTS. Plagiarized information or work not completed individually will be awarded a zero. Tomball ISD endorses a summer reading program for all students enrolled in advanced English courses grades 7-12. The selections on the summer reading list have been chosen to encourage the enjoyment of reading and to prepare students for the study of literature. All students registered for Pre-AP, AP, or Dual Credit courses are required to read specific books and complete all aspects of the reading and writing assignment. The completed assignment must be submitted to the teacher on the first day of school for the 20152016 school year. Late points will be assessed according to Tomball ISD policy if necessary. This assignment along with a test and additional essay or project comprises the final major summer reading grade. Individual, original work is expected of all students. Plagiarized information or work not completed individually will be awarded a zero.
