ACP English: W131: Summer Reading 2013
Book: The Paradise of Bombs by Scott Russell Sanders
ACP W131 is a writing course designed through Indiana University that, among other things, looks at a
writer’s rhetoric, that is the devices that an author uses in order to convey a certain message to his or
her audience. This class will help you dig deeper into looking at specific evidence from each work that
we read. We will spend some time learning and applying different heuristics to the material we read in
class, with the goal of being about to interpret evidence in order to come up with new and interesting
ideas.
The Paradise of Bombs is a collection of essays from writer Scott Russell Sanders that covers a wide
range of topics, from the beauty of nature to relationships with loved ones, and everything in between.
Over the summer, read the book, looking at how Sanders writes, the words he chooses, the organization
of his essays, and the use of figurative language. Of course, you don’t have to limit yourself to just these
items. Think about what makes his writing so distinctive. Don’t just look at one or two essays since
Sanders uses a variety of different devices.
Once you are finished with reading the book, write a well-developed essay where you discuss how
Sanders uses different rhetorical devices in order to convey a message about his topic. You don’t have to
discuss every essay in his book, but you do need to show your understanding of the entire text.
Points to remember:
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Gradually introduce your ideas instead of jumping into the text right away.
You need a central claim (thesis) that states your key ideas about the book.
Your topics sentences and body paragraphs need to tie in with the thesis.
Use evidence from the text in order to prove your key ideas.
Include a conclusion that goes beyond just repeating your main ideas.
Make sure you proofread what you have written.
Write your paper using proper MLA format.
The paper will be due the first day of school and will be worth 50 points. Be prepared to also have a quiz
on the book within the first week of class.
I hope that everyone has a nice and relaxing summer, filled with reading good books. If you have any
questions about the assignment, feel free to email me ([email protected]).
-Mr. Fanara
SUMMER READING FOR AP LITERATURE: Mr. Armbruster and Mr. Wagner
Students who will be in AP Literature next year are expected to read the following texts during the
summer months: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by
Robert Louis Stevenson. Students should be prepared for an assessment that will include an objective
and an essay component to be administered during the first week of classes. Both works are widely
available and should be easy to obtain through Amazon and other outlets.
Sophomore Summer Reading 2013
This summer you will be expected
to read the American classic novel
Of Mice and Men by John
Steinbeck. All sophomores will take
a comprehensive test the first week
of school. Of Mice and Men will
also be used for the first writing
unit. As you read be sure to annotate
your text.
*If you have any questions please contact one of the
following English 10 teachers:
Jana Haffley [email protected]
Gretchen Huntington [email protected]
LeAnn Parson [email protected]
*Have a wonderful summer and happy reading!
English 11 Summer Reading
Every Brebeuf English course will now consist of pre-reading during
the summer. The philosophy behind this is to keep students active
and engaged in reading strategies that so often are put on the backburner during an extended vacation. Don’t fear; we won’t let apathy
and complacency happen for yet another summer!!!
Text: Grendel by John Gardner (an edition of your choice)
*Currently selling for ONE CENT used on Amazon*
By the first day of school, you need to do the following:
1) Read the text in their entirety.
2) Complete the following paper paper:
“The Other” is a common character in literature, film, television, etc. “The Other” is someone who doesn’t belong,
someone who is different, someone who is an outcast. What does the monster in this text reflect? What does Grendel
reveal about human nature, and how do the characters in the novel personify these moral lessons? Why is the Grendel
the “other”?
Finally, explore the role of “The Other” in modern society. It can be a small society, like Brebeuf. It can be the community
in which you live. It could be the state of Indiana, or the United States as a whole. Reflect on who the “Others” are, how
they are treated, and whether they perpetuate or even encourage their own outcast reputation and why. Explore larger
questions: why do “Others” exist? And why SHOULD they? Why do we need that kind of diversity in society?
This paper needs to be three typed, double-spaced pages that adhere to the requirements of MLA format. In lieu of a
works cited page, please cite your edition of Grendel at the end of your paper. For an excellent MLA formatting guide,
utilize the Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab): http://owl.english.purdue.edu. When you cite quotations in your paper,
those citations need to be in MLA format as well. (You ALL had MLA formatting instruction in 9th and 10th grade). The
paper needs to adhere to third-person point of view throughout; there should be no personal pronouns like me, my, I,
you, your etc.
During the first week(s) of school, you will do the following:
1) Discuss the text in its entirety.
2) Begin Beowulf, the original text and story of the “hero” as opposed to the other
Questions or concerns? Please contact:
1) Mr. Fanara, English 11 instructor - [email protected]
2) Ms. Moore, English 11 instructor- [email protected]
English 12: Summer 2013 Reading
The English 12 summer reading assignment for 2013 is Ian McEwan’s Atonement.
Please have the novel read by the beginning of school: Tuesday, August 13, 2013.
You will be assigned a literary analysis essay over the novel regardless of whether
you are in Mr. Brown’s English 12: Citizens of the World class or Ms. Haffley’s
English 12: Hero Journey class. If you have any questions, you can contact us at:
[email protected] or [email protected].
Freshmen Summer Reading Assignment:
All incoming freshmen will be reading The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls. Students need to have the
book read by the beginning of school and be ready to take a reading comprehension test during the first
week of the school year. Students who read the book at the beginning of summer may need to reread it
in order to be ready to discuss the book when school starts. Happy reading!
Honors American Literature (English 10H) Summer Reading Assignment
Congratulations to committing to one year of honors scholarship in the field of American literature. In order to be
adequately prepared for this year’s coursework (and to receive a grade for your FIRST assignment of the year), the
following assignment needs to be completed over your summer vacation.
Step One: Choose a text from the following list of classic American dramatic productions:
1) Arthur Miller—Death of a Salesman OR All My Sons
2) Thornton Wilder—Our Town
3) Tennessee Williams—The Glass Menagerie OR Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
4) August Wilson—Fences
*The text can be the edition of your choice, new or used; you need to cite, in MLA format, which edition of the book you
used to write your paper at the END of the paper. (A separate MLA Works Cited page is not required—just a single
citation).
Step Two:
Read the text at your leisure. As you’re reading, annotate to ensure you can refer back to meaningful passages as you’re
writing the paper.
Step Three:
Write a 2-3 page paper (minimum of two FULL pages of writing, maximum of three FULL pages of writing) that answers
the following question:
Based on the drama of your choice, how does this text exemplify the American ideal? How does this particular
work embody the values of American society? And finally, what, in addition to an American author, makes this
text deserving of the label “American literature”?
Requirements for full credit/high score:
1) Meets the 2-3 page length requirement
2) Significant textual support (MULTIPLE quotes and specific details from the text; use MLA format for the
quotes!!!)
3) Appropriate tone and diction
4) Organization and transitions that demonstrate the writing abilities of an honors student
5) Strong intro, conclusion, and clearly identifiable thesis statement
6) Includes an MLA citation of your edition of your text at the end of the paper
7) THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT—You must submit your paper to http://www.turnitin.com. First, you must create an
account with your current email and a password you will remember. Next, you need to enroll in this class. The
class ID is 6451402 and the password is summer. THE PAPER IS DUE MONDAY, AUGUST 5—that is the week
BEFORE classes start. Ms. Moore and Mrs. Neukam want to assess your paper before classes begin in order to
use those assessments as a springboard for writing in the first days of class.
Questions or concerns?
Ms. Moore—[email protected]
Mrs. Neukam—[email protected]
http://owl.english.purdue.edu--Purdue OWL can answer any questions about MLA format you might have!
We look forward to working with you in the 2013-2014 school year!
April 2013
RE: Summer Reading Assignment
Dear 2013-14 AP Language and Composition Student:
Welcome to AP English Language and Composition! Your teachers are looking forward to an exciting year.
Even though we will not officially meet until the fall, we will begin our journey of learning this summer. As
part of this class, you have some required reading to do over your summer break.
The first book, the one on grammar, is required reading for all AP Language students:
• Constance Hall, Sin and Syntax: How to Craft Wickedly Effective Prose. New York: Broadway
Books, 2001.
You are also to read one piece of nonfiction of your choosing from the following list. Please review the list,
perhaps going to Amazon.com to look at short descriptions of these books.
•
•
•
•
•
Frank McCourt, Angela’s Ashes. New York: Scribner, 1999.
Erik Larson, A Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed
America. New York: Vintage, 2004.
Geoffrey Canada, Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence. New York: Beacon Press,
2010. (not the graphic novel)
Truman Capote, In Cold Blood. Several different re-printings are available. The first printing was
New York: Random House, 1965.
Beyond the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity. New York: Random
House, 20012.
You need to email to your AP Language teacher the title you will read: Mrs. Neukam
([email protected]); Dr. Sperry ([email protected]) or Mr. Armbruster ([email protected]).
If you do not know which of us is your teacher, email your name and title to all three of us.
We will see you in August, ready to hear your thoughts about your chosen book and ready to start working
with you on your prose style.
Have a great summer!
Mrs. Neukam Dr. Sperry Mr. Armbruster