AP LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION
SUMMER ASSIGNMENT
2016
Why see the movie if you have read the book? Why read the book if you have already seen the movie?
We know that a movie can reach a greater audience in a few weeks than a book can reach since it was
initially published. We also know that a successful movie adaptation can catapult a book to the top of
the bestseller list. This leads us to ask several questions: 1) What do we look for in a story? 2) What do
literary texts and films deliver? 3) What are the common elements and differences in their delivery? 4)
What does it mean to be “faithful to the book”? (Reading the Movies, William V. Costanzo)
These are just some of the questions we would like you to explore as you embark on this summer
assignment. Your job is to read one narrative nonfiction book and watch the film based on the book.
The titles from which you will choose are:
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser (film Food
Inc. directed by Robert Kenner)
Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand (film directed by Angelina Jolie)
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (film Into Thin Air: Death on Everest directed by Robert
Markowitz)
Flags of our Fathers by James Bradley (film directed by Clint Eastwood)
The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X, Ossie Davis (Afterword), Alex Haley (As
Told to) (film directed by Spike Lee)
As you read and view, you will need to pay attention to several things:
• The most important and compelling scenes in the book and in the movie
• The way the characters are portrayed in both versions
• The way the story is told in both versions (including the order of events, visual elements, and
their connection to the book)
• The differences between the book and the film
• The most prominent theme(s) addressed in the book vs. the film
YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
Part I: Record your thinking in the form of three formal journal entries. (See EXAMPLE.)
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Journal Requirements:
o For entries 1 and 2, you will select two different elements from various parts of the text
that you read. These should reveal the author’s argument, or reflect an idea, theme, or
motif in the book. Be sure to select at least 3 quotations in each entry that show a range
of the action in the book—all passages should not come from the beginning of the book.
o You will then include an analysis of the selected passages. This analysis should discuss
the idea that you have selected for the journal entry, examine how the passages
advance the author’s argument, and show connections among the three passages.
o You must also include a comment as to the how the film portrays the particular theme,
idea or motif that you have indicated in the book. Are there striking similarities or
differences? Why do you think that is the case?
o For entry #3, you are to select a magazine or newspaper article or a political cartoon
(comic) to connect to an important aspect of the book and the film. Write an analysis of
the article or cartoon you have found and its connection to your book and film.
1. Be sure to quote or describe the ideas from the article or cartoon.
2. Use at least 2 quotations from the book (with the author’s last name
and the appropriate page numbers in parentheses) to explain the
connections you have made.
3. Include a copy of the article or cartoon with your journal.
o Use MLA formatting, including: correct heading, 1” margins, last name and page
number in the upper right corner, double spacing, Times New Roman, and 12 point font.
Be sure to include an MLA formatted Works Cited page. For more information regarding
MLA formatting and examples, please consult the Purdue Online Writing Laboratory
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05/).
Be prepared to turn this in on the first day of school. It should be printed (no excuses) and saved
to your flash drive, Google drive, and/or dropbox.com account. This will be submitted to
turnitin.com.
Part II: We will further expound upon this assignment during the first month of school.
*** If you have further questions about this assignment over the summer, please feel free to contact
Mrs. Nunnally at [email protected].
Happy reading, viewing, and writing! ☺
2016 AP Language Summer Assignment
Nonfiction Book and Film Journal
Grading
Grading Rubric
MLA Format
__________ / 10
correct heading
1” margins
last name and page number in the upper right corner
double spacing
12 point Times New Roman font
0 point spacing after paragraphs (Page Layout tab)
all quotations or paraphrases include a parenthetical citation with the author’s last name and
page number(s)
Journal Entry #1
__________ / 25
focuses on a theme, idea, or motif
includes 3 quotations from the book
includes a thorough analysis of text
one page in length minimum
includes a comment as to how the film portrays a theme, idea, or motif indicated from the book
Journal Entry #2
__________ / 25
focuses on a different theme, idea, or motif
includes 3 quotations from the book
includes a thorough analysis of text
one page in length minimum
includes a comment as to how the film portrays a theme, idea, or motif indicated from the book
Journal Entry #3
__________ / 25
write a thorough analysis of a magazine or newspaper article or comic that connects to an
important theme, idea, or motif from the book
quote or describe the article or comic
include at least 2 quotes from the book that explain the connection(s) you made
include a copy of the article or comic
Works Cited Page
__________ / 15
MLA formatted
Include your book, the film, the comic or article, and any other sources you used
TOTAL: __________ / 100 points
Name
Nunnally
AP English Language and Composition
8 August 2016
Book and Film Journal EXAMPLE
Journal #1 – Theme, Idea, or Motif Analysis
Make a claim about an important theme, idea, or motif found in the book and film.
Include three properly cited quotations from the book. Write your commentary about the
quotation and theme, idea, or motif. Also include reference(s) to the film and how it portrays the
particular theme, idea, or motif. Each journal entry will focus on a different element, and your
quotations should cover a range of action in the novel. Each entry should be at least one full page
in length. (Notice that you are using the CCC format for the first two journal entries.)
Journal #2 – Theme, Idea, or Motif Analysis
See instructions for Journal #1.
Journal #3 – Article or Cartoon Analysis
Write an analysis of the newspaper/magazine article or the political cartoon (comic) you
have found and its connection to an important aspect of the book you read. This should not be a
summary! Include a copy with your journal.
*** Be sure to see the rubric and to include an MLA formatted Works Cited page!