Pre-AP English 10 Summer Preparation
Sarah Applegate ♦ Gail Dewitt ♦ Erin Johnson
Welcome to Pre-AP English 10. We are excited about the 2016-2017 school year and look forward to meeting
you and your parents. All of the work that is to be turned in on the first day of school should be in a paper
folder (the colored kind with the brads and in the order of the assignment). The following is an overview of
work that must be completed by each student.
Summer Paperwork (Contract, General Information Form, and Photo - turn in on the first day of school.)
In this packet you will find a Commitment Contract and a General Information Form. Both of these need to be
filled out and included in the paper folder.
Summer Assignment (Everyone is required to do this and turn it in on the first day of school.)
Every student must complete Adventures of Huckleberry Finn summer assignment.
Preparation for the First Week of School:

Start eliminating your writing mistakes. Review 9th grade writing to determine areas of weakness.

All novels that we read for this class will be provided, but it may benefit you to own your own copy of
the novels so you can annotate. The novels/plays are: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Jungle, All
Quiet on the Western Front, The Great Gatsby, The Harvest Gypsies, The Crucible, and The Things
They Carried. Additional novels will be reader’s choice.

Attend AP “Boot Camp.” Optional sessions will be offered before school starts to prepare students for PreAP skills and curriculum. Your ninth grade English teacher will inform you of the dates and sign up
procedures for these sessions. Sessions will meet in the FHS lecture hall (Phase II). You can attend morning
or afternoon.
To sum up, here is a list of the things you need to do:
1. Complete all work and organize in paper folder with brads (contract, info sheet, photo, required work &
optional work); turn in on the first day of school.
2. Make sure that all work is your own. (Do not collaborate on any portion of this assignment.)
If you have questions, consult the websites of teachers (go through the FHS home page) or email at
[email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].
QR Codes (Scan with a smartphone to be taken directly to the teachers’ websites)
Ms. Applegate’s Website
Mrs. Dewitt’s Website
Mrs. Johnson’s Website
Due on the first day of school
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Pre-AP English 10 Contract
Sarah Applegate ♦ Gail Dewitt ♦ Erin Johnson
January 11, 2016
Certain skills, attitudes, and behaviors are essential to good learning. Pre-AP English 10 is an elective class,
and students are expected to exhibit a higher level of learning behaviors. The following are expected to be
practiced by all students in the class.
1. Self control and maturity: discuss relevant topics in a mature way, accept feedback, be trustworthy and
responsible, know the rules, come to class with all necessary materials.
2. Critical thinking: be accurate and seek accuracy; be clear and seek clarity; be open-minded; restrain
impulsivity; take a position when the situation warrants it; be sensitive to others’ feelings and level of
knowledge.
3. Creative thinking: engage intensely in tasks even when answers or solutions are not immediately
apparent.
4. Leadership and cooperation: establish a relationship with teachers and peers, accept team roles as
assigned, add to the order of the classroom, share responsibility for class leadership.
5. Positive attitude: try to find value and relevance when they are not immediately apparent, give top effort
in unfamiliar tasks, give others the benefit of the doubt.
6. Strong work ethic: devote extensive time and energy to the completion of homework assignments,
projects, daily work, tests, quizzes, readings, writings, occasional extra time commitments (such as
lunch-hour sessions), commit to turning work in on time, attempt near –perfect attendance to class.
7. Commitment to learning: be concerned about learning and a quest for knowledge rather than an “A”.
Students are not expected to have mastery of these at the beginning of the school term; however, they are
expected to practice them. Knowledge of these expectations should help students make the transition from
junior high to the high school AP program.
If students have problems with the above learning behaviors, a conference with parents, teachers, the student
and an administrator will be necessary to ensure a comfortable and successful sophomore year. It may be that if
a student is unable or unwilling to practice these behaviors a change of class would be appropriate.
Parents and students should sign/initial the following:
I certify that I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance on this assignment.
________/________
student
parent
I understand that enrolling in Pre-AP English 10 does require extra time commitment and a willingness to
challenge myself. I agree to work to the best of my ability and work with teachers and other students to hone or
improve my learning skills.
____________________________________/__________________________________________/__________
Parent’s Signature
Student’s Signature
Date
Due on the first day of school
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General Information Form
Pre-AP English 10
I.
Personal Information (Attach a photo of yourself to this form. Please put your name on the back.)
Your Name: _________________________________________Your email: ___________________________
Parent(s) Name(s): __________________________________________________________________________
Parent(s) Phone Numbers: Home ___________________________ Work ____________________________
Parent Address: ____________________________________________________________________________
Parent Email: ______________________________________________________________________________
School activities that you participate in: _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Outside activities that you participate in (include work): ____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
What do you do when you have free time? _______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Do you read regularly?  Yes  No If so, what do you read?
Magazines (which ones?): ______________________________________________________________
Books (favorite kinds?): ________________________________________________________________
Newspapers: _________________________________________________________________________
Other: ______________________________________________________________________________
What is the best book you have read recently? Why? ______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Additional information we should know: ________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Something that makes you unique: _____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
II.
Educational Information
Where did you attend 9th grade? _______________________________________________________________
English 9 teacher: ________________________________ Pre- AP?  Yes  No 2nd Sem. Grade: ______
III. Class Information
Why do you want to take this class? ___________________________________________________________
What grade do you hope to make in English?
What grade would you be satisfied with? ________________________________________________________
IV. Attach a list of the books that you read in 8th and 9th grade. Indicate the class that required it or if it
was read for pleasure.
Due on the first day of school
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Pre-AP English 10 –Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Summer Assignment
Applegate/Dewitt/Johnson
Welcome to your first Pre-AP English 10 reading assignment. This assignment is due on the first day of
school (August 17). NOTE: There will be an exam and a written assignment over the novel when you
return to school in the fall.
Divide your assignment into these seven sections and clearly label each section. Using complete sentences and
well-developed paragraphs, record your answers to the questions in each section. Answers should be thorough
and reflect your understanding of the novel as a whole. All work should be completed individually and
should reflect your own opinions and analysis. Do not work with another student or use online/outside
resources to complete this.
Section I – Pre-reading
1. What do you know about the time period of this novel (1840s)? Think about your impressions regarding
issues such as race, poverty, childhood, education, etc.
2. Read the notice Twain includes at the beginning of the novel. What impressions do you have after reading
this? Explain.
3. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the most frequently challenged and banned books in America.
What banned books have you read previously, if any? Is there ever a reason that books should be banned from
school libraries or school reading lists? Explain your reasoning.
Section II – Characters
4. Pick one minor character (or more) who has admirable traits and explain why. Conversely, notice a minor
character who is difficult for you to understand. Give examples (direct quotations or paraphrased examples) to
support, and explain your reasoning.
5. Examine Huck’s decisions. What factors seem to determine how he makes these decisions? What do these
decisions reveal about his maturity? Give examples (direct quotations or paraphrased examples) to support, and
explain your reasoning.
6. What are Jim’s positive and negative character traits? How do these traits impact your opinions of Jim?
Give examples (direct quotations or paraphrased examples) to support, and explain your reasoning.
7. Is Huck a role model? Use specific text details to support your answer.
Section III – Setting
8. Pick two different locations that Huck visits on his journey down the river. Compare and contrast these
locations, and explain why these locations are important to the novel as a whole.
Section IV – Conflict
9. Identify and explain the most significant external conflict in the novel. What details does Twain provide to
establish this conflict? How does it connect to a theme of the novel? Is this conflict resolved? How would the
novel differ without this conflict?
10. Identify and explain the most significant internal conflict (man vs. self) in the novel. What details does
Twain provide to establish this conflict? How does it connect to a theme of the novel? Is this conflict resolved?
How would the novel differ without this conflict?
Due on the first day of school
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Section V – Dialect
11. Pick one quotation from three different characters (three quotations total). Write down each quotation
(with page number) as well as observations that you make about characters based upon Twain’s use of dialect.
Section VI – Satire
12. Twain is known for his use of satire which is defined as “writing that ridicules or criticizes individuals,
ideas, institutions, social conventions, or other works of art or literature.” Write a direct quotation or
paraphrased example where Twain uses satire. Explain what he is satirizing, and analyze whether or not this
satire is actually effective.
Section VII – Post-reading
13. What is your reaction to the conclusion of the novel? Did it end appropriately or as expected? Explain.
14. This novel is often cited as “the great American novel.” Take a position on this statement and explain your
answer.
15. How does the book relate to modern America? Consider issues such as racism, poverty, childhood,
education, etc. Explain your reasoning.
NOTE: You should also be able to discuss significant quotations, symbols, and themes seen in the novel.
Section VIII - Literature, Poetry, and Rhetorical Terms
You are not required to include this section in your summer assignment folder. However, if you are not familiar
with any of the following 50 terms, you should write a definition in your own words and include this section in
your summer assignment folder. Recommended: use meaningful sentence format; see Ms. Applegate’s or Mrs.
Johnson’s websites.
LITERATURE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
antagonist
archetype
characterization
climax
conflict
denouement
dramatic irony
dramatic license
exposition
falling action
flashback
foreshadowing
inciting incident
mood
motif
LITERATURE
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
protagonist
resolution (plot)
rising action
setting
situational irony
static character
theme
tone
POETRY
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
alliteration
allusion
apostrophe
assonance
conceit
connotation
consonance
denotation
imagery
personification
point of view
symbolism
RHETORIC
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
aphorism
antithesis
bias
hyperbole
metaphor
paradox
parallelism
propaganda
repetition
restatement
sarcasm
simile
stereotype
understatement
verbal irony
TO SUMMARIZE:
A. Complete all required paperwork.
B. Complete Adventures of Huckleberry Finn assignment (Sections I-VII).
C. Review 9th grade skills and complete Section VIII literary terms if necessary.
All work is due on the first day of school. Do not email work to teachers.
Due on the first day of school
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