AP Language and Composition-Summer 2015 “Succeeding as a college writer means, at least in part, being able to enter into and contribute effectively to discussions” (David A. Jolliffe DePaul University). Background: The AP Language test has three Free Response questions: 1. Synthesis 2. Analysis 3. Argument. The
Synthesis question provides six sources from which to draw conclusions and form an argument. The
Analysis question asks for an analysis of Rhetorical Strategies in a given text in order to demonstrate how
the author constructs his argument. The Argument question demands evidence; however, only the
prompt, and maybe a brief passage, is supplied. The evidence used in support of the argument must be
gathered from the student’s own knowledge. In addition to the Free-Response Questions, the multiple-choice section is a selection of five passages
ranging in time period from the 1700’s to the present. The questions have quite a range: Factual
Technical
Analytical
Inferential Vocabulary
Allusions
Pronoun Reference
Comprehension
Point of View
Style
Grammatical Purpose
Irony
Organization
Rhetoric: Function of…
Syntax Figures of Speech
Literary Device
Shifts
Mode of Discourse
Style
Cause/Effect
Tone Effect of… Implies/Infer Purpose Symbol Author is… Purpose: The summer reading assignment is designed to prepare you for your upcoming AP course and to
encourage reading of high quality writing. From my vantage point, students need to read and read and
read. There is a demand for having a strong command of language. For many, reading is the best way to
obtain a broader vocabulary. Furthermore, students need to have a ready litany of evidence to prove an
argument regarding a relevant, current topic and to have a vast understanding of HOW an argument is
effectively and reasonably crafted. The Assignment: Read reputable newspaper or news magazine OPINION or COMMENTARIES. Reading news articles
will be helpful for you; however, the MOST helpful will be your understanding of argument. The Washington Post
The New York Times
Time
The Atlantic Monthly London Times
The New Yorker
Newsweek
The Economist The Wall Street Journal LA Times
Star Tribune To Do: 1. Read two articles a week. Keep a list of subjects from the twenty articles you read. Sketch
remarks. See Appedix A
2. Outline Ten articles using the attached outline format. See Appendix B. Choose a balance of
articles from various categories: current, global, national, and local events.
3. Submissions: ELECTRONIC: Create a google drive folder, share it with
[email protected], and electronically submit the outline.
PAPER Print outline for all ten articles. SOAPSTONE Background to the Outline: SOAPSTone (Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, Tone) is an acronym to closely
study a passage that will lead to a written or verbal critique/analysis. Subject State the subject in a few words or phrases. What is the topic of the piece? Are you reading about
Drones, Putin, Racism, etc. Consider: A topic or subject can be stated in a word. A thesis will be
stated as a sentence. Occasion The time and the place of the piece; the context that prompted the writing. Writing does not
occur in a vacuum. All writers are influenced by the larger occasion: an environment of ideas,
attitudes, and emotions that swirl around a broad issue. Then there is the immediate occasion: an
event or situation that catches the writer's attention and triggers a response. Consider: What
prompted the writer to write the piece.
Audience The group of readers to whom this piece is directed. Determine who the audience is that is to
receive the address. It may be one person or a specific group. This choice of audience should
influence how to structure the particular text. Consider: Who does the author want to be affected
by reading the text?
Purpose The reason behind the text. Determine the purpose of the text in order to develop the thesis or the
argument and its logic. Consider: What does the writer want the audience to think or do as a
result of reading the text? Speaker The voice that tells the story. Decide whose voice is heard. How does the writer develop the
personality/credibility/character of the speaker or narrator who will influence the overall
meaning of the text. Can you ascertain the speaker’s point of view? What assumption might you
make about the speaker? (age, gender, background, etc.) You may research the author’s
background.
Tone The attitude of the author toward the subject. The spoken word can convey the speaker's attitude
and thus help to impart meaning through tone of voice. With the written word, it is tone that
extends meaning beyond the literal. Tone is conveyed through diction (choice of words), syntax
(sentence construction), and imagery (figurative language). Look for clues that identify the
author’s attitude to the subject. See the attached list of TONE words.
APPENDIX A: Summer Reading List: Note subjects from the articles Include any other notations you might find helpful throughout the school year. Consider pasting a link to the article. Jotting down
the date and context of the article. SUBJECT
1. ______________
2. ______________
3. ______________
4. ______________
5. ______________
6. ______________
7. ______________
8. ______________
9. ______________
10. ______________
11. ______________
12. ______________
13. ______________
14. ______________
15. ______________
16. ______________
17. ______________
18. ______________
19. ______________
20. ______________
Notations as you desire: APPENDIX B (you will need 10 of these) Outline for Article Response Circle Type of News: current, global, national, local Date _________ Citation. Here is a basic outline for creating a citation: ______________, _____________. “__________________.” _____________________. _____ ________ ______: ______. Author last name,
first name.
“Title of Article.”
Newspaper Name.
date
month year page # or n.p. Print or Web. _____ ________ ______: Date accessed. SUBJECT OCCASION AUDIENCE PURPOSE SPEAKER TONE (you may reference your list of “tone” words-See Appendix C)-defend your answer Your response (One to Two sentences suffice) APPENDIX C Tone Vocabulary Words 1. allusive – intimate, suggest, connote 2. angry – mad, furious, irate 3. bantering – good-natured teasing, ridicule, joking 4. benevolent – magnanimous, generous, noble 5. burlesque – mockery, sham, spoof, parody 6. candid – clear, frank, genuine, sincere 7. clinical - direct, detached, scientific, impersonal 8. colloquial -common – ordinary, vernacular 9. compassionate – kindly, sympathetic, benevolent 10. complimentary – flattering, approving, laudatory 11. concerned – touched, affected, influenced 12. condescending – scornful, contemptuous, disdainful 13. confident – positive, certain, assured 14. contemptuous – pompous, arrogant, superior, haughty 15. contentious – argumentative, quarrelsome, pugnacious 16. cynical – adverse, suspicious, opposed, doubtful, dubious 17. detached – separated, severed, apathetic 18. didactic – pointed, bombastic, pompous, terse 19. diffident – retiring, timid, hesitant, bashful 20. disdainful – haughty, arrogant, supercilious 21. dramatic – exciting, moving, sensational, emotional 22. effusive – talkative, verbose, profuse 23. elegiac – sad, mournful, plaintive (like an elegy) 24. factious – dissident, rebellious, insubordinate 25. factual – authentic, genuine, truthful 26. fanciful – capricious, extravagant, whimsical 27. flippant – offhand, facetious, frivolous 28. impartial – equitable, unbiased, dispassionate 29. incisive – cutting, biting, penetrating 30. indignant – angry, irritated, resentful 31. inflammatory – irritate, arouse, resentful 32. informative – acquaint, communicate, disclose 33. insipid – flat, bland, tedious, banal (commonplace) 34. insolent – insulting, brazen, rude, contemptuous 35. ironic – contradictory, implausible, incongruous 36. irreverent – profane, impious, blasphemous, ungodly 37. learned – skilled, experienced, professional 38. lugubrious – gloomy, dismal, melancholy, somber 39. maudlin – sentimental, mushy, gushing, insipid 40. mock-heroic – mimicking courage (pretend) 41. mock-serious – mimicking solemnity (pretend) 42. moralistic – virtuous, righteous, blameless 43. objective – impartial, detached, impersonal 44. patronizing – condescending, scornful, disdainful 45. pedantic – academic, bookish, scholastic 46. petty – trivial, insignificant, narrow-minded 47. pretentious – arrogant, boastful, conceited 48. restrained – unwilling, hesitant, reluctant 49. sardonic – cutting, biting, penetrating, satirical 50. satiric – lampooning, facetious 51. scornful – bitter, caustic, acrimonious, mordant 52. sentimental – emotional, mushy, maudlin (tearful) 53. somber – serious, gloomy, dismal, shadowy 54. sympathetic – supportive, favorable, considerate 55. taunting – contemptuous, insulting, derisive 56. terse – concise, succinct, pithy, pointed 57. turgid – pompous, bloated, swollen, distended 58. urgent – compelling, demanding, imperative, pressing 59. vibrant – resonant, active, resounding 60. whimsical – flippant, frivolous, light-hearted, dainty AP Language and Composition Summer Reading Rubric Name _____________________________ Submission Google doc or Paper ___________ 20 articles noted (20) ___________ 10 articles analyzed (50) ____________ Date, Week or Topic General Comments on Analysis and Response thorough personal reflective insightful accurate engaged makes connections Comments on Tone analysis and substantiation Provides adequate support Seems support is not adequate to support the Tone word Tone word is a careful choice Tone word seems misguided based on the explanation Variety of tone words shows engagement -­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐ ____________ Date, Week or Topic General Comments on Analysis and Response thorough personal reflective insightful accurate engaged makes connections Comments on Tone analysis and substantiation Provides adequate support Seems support is not adequate to support the Tone word Tone word is a careful choice Tone word seems misguided based on the explanation Variety of tone words shows engagement ____________ Overall Score for Analysis, Response, and Tone (40) ____________ Total Score 20 + 50 + 40 = 110 APPENDIX B (you will need 10 of these) EXAMPLE Outline for Article Response Circle Type of News: current, global, national, local Date ____25 May 2015_____ Citation. Schiavenza, Matt. “John Nash’s Beautiful Life.” The Atlantic. 24 May 2015 : Online. 25 May 2015. SUBJECT-The recent death of Professor of Mathematics John Nash OCCASION-Following the death of Nash and his wife, a tribute to Nash’s life’s work AUDIENCE-Americans and others interested in the life and death of a mathematical genius PURPOSE-To honor the life of John Nash SPEAKER-Former Global Affairs writer. Contributing writer for The Atlantic TONE (you may reference your list of “tone” words-See Appendix C)-defend your answer respectful, genuine, sincere Schiavenza writes about Nash with a respectful, genuine, and sincere tone. He reports honestly
regarding Nash’s achievements as well as his mental challenges. Schiavnza describes Nash’s
“extraordinary life story” as the Nobel Prize winner and writer of what is known as “Nash
Equilibrium.” Alongside the honors paid to Nash is the account of his struggles with
Schizophrenia. In a sincere manner, Schiavenza relays the important contributions Nash made to
mathematical theory all the while fighting to overcome a debilitating and haunting illness. Your response (One to Two sentences suffice) The author provides merely a glimpse at the cause of death of Nash and his wife. His tribute is to
the man, his work, and his struggle to defeat a mental illness. Nash’s creative mathematical
genius brought us a new theory about competition and game play; perhaps he also brought us a
way to view a mental illness with more respect and understanding.