Please join my 2016-2017 AP Literature Google Classroom. The code to join is t3dj5hu
AP English Lit and Composition/ Mrs. Gustad
2016-2017
Dearest AP English Literature Scholars:
Welcome to AP English Lit. I look forward to challenging you and engaging your curiosity with a wide
variety of reading and writing experiences during the course of the next school year. Next fall, we will
dive into the wonderful world of literary analysis on the very first day of class! To be successful on this
venture, you will need to complete the following tasks this summer. So grab a book, a blanket, and
some shade, and enjoy a relaxing and literate summer!
Summer Homework Assignments
A. Reading:
Required Reading:

Read Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. Be prepared to write about and discuss this novel when you
return to school in August. There are a limited number of Fahrenheit 451 books in the library that
will be available after May 1, 2016.
Choice Book:


For your second book of the summer, you must read a book of your choice, provided that it is at
least 150 pages; however, you must be able to defend your choice and demonstrate that the book is
of literary merit.
YOUR CHOICE BOOK CANNOT BE A BOOK THAT YOU HAVE READ IN PREVIOUS ENGLISH CLASSES
OR BOOKS THAT WE WILL BE READING IN AP LIT THIS YEAR!
***There will be a One Book One BHS meeting at the beginning of the school year, and if you choose to
read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe as your second book AND you participate in the One Book One
BHS book discussion, you will receive extra credit for class.
Some books you may want to consider for your second novel are:
Poisonwood Bible - Kingsolver
Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
Their Eyes Were Watching God –Hurston
The Sun Also Rises – Hemingway
Bless Me Ultima—Rudolfo Anaya
Atonement-Ian McEwan
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter -Edwards
The Story of a Boy - Tobias Wolfe
Caramelo - Sandra Cisneros
The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak
The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
The Power of One - Bryce Courtenay
A Thousand Splendid Suns- Khaled Hosseini
The Tortilla Curtain-T.C. Boyle
Go Set A Watchman-Harper Lee
Books like Twilight, Harry Potter, 50 Shades of Grey, The Hunger Games, Divergent and
others similar are NOT allowed!
B. Responding:
1. Major Works Data Sheets: You will do one set for each novel.
 See attached for further details or go to my 2016-2017 AP LITERATURE Google page.
 The purpose of the Major Works Data Sheet is to help you reflect on the novels you read
and to provide efficient review tools to help you remember important aspects of the novels
before writing AP style prompts and taking the AP Exam in May.
 Of course, in order to be a valuable tool for reflection as well as review, the Major Works
Data Sheet must be your original reflections on the novel. The use of outside sources is
not permitted. You are too good for Spark Notes!
 These should be typed. The template can be found on my Google Page.
Please join my 2016-2017 AP Literature Google Classroom. The code to join is t3dj5hu
2. Choice Novel Literary Merit Essay: For your choice novel you must write a 300-word
typed essay answering the following:


In a well-developed essay define the term literary merit and explain how your choice
book demonstrates literary merit. Make sure you provide evidence from the book to
support your claim.
See rubric for more specifics.
3. Write a Reader’s Biography
 In this 300-word typed response you should reflect upon your own reading history. (If you
were in Mr. Daigle’s AP Language class, you wrote a Writer’s Biography. This is a READER’S
BIOGRAPHY.)
 Consider your earliest memories of reading, how reading has been a part of your life, why
you read, what are your reading habits, what texts you enjoy reading, and any favorite
authors or books that come to mind.
 See rubric for more specifics.
It is critical that you complete the summer reading assignment as it will be your ticket into
a small group discussion. Together with your group, you will look at past AP questions and
determine which ones fit the text you read. After discussing these possible prompts with
your group, you will complete a timed writing essay (as an individual, not as a group).
C. GRADES
In the past, there have been students who did not finish the required reading during the
summer and who were reluctant to start the class because of this. You have signed a
contract to stick with AP for the full year; therefore, I do not accept not doing your
homework as a valid reason to drop the class. You cannot drop the class regardless of
whether or not you did the work.
If you fail to finish any or all of the summer work, you will receive an F for the first two
outcome grades. It will take you a while to dig out of that hole, but it IS possible. I would
highly recommend getting an early start so you do not begin the semester with a bad grade.
D. FINAL SUMMER HOMEWORK CHECKLIST
This is a list of what you will turn in to me on the FIRST day of the semester.
1. Major work data sheets for Fahrenheit 451
2. Major work data sheets for your choice novel
3. A 300-word typed essay addressing the literary merit of your choice novel
4. Your 300-word typed Reader’s Biography
Finally, PLEASE see me before the end of the school year if you have any questions! If you have
questions or concerns over the summer, please call or email me. I cannot help you if you don’t
ask.
My email address is: [email protected].
You can also text or call me at 720-220-6200.
Thank you!
Mrs. Gustad