Spring 2015
Dear Advanced Placement Student,
Welcome to West Campus and AP English Language and Composition. You finally did it! You are about to
enter the final half of your high school career as a junior. We are sure you’ve heard junior year is the most
important year of high school because you will be making important decisions about your future that will open
the doors to colleges and universities. Think about it: what you have been working toward will finally begin to
materialize into actual mature choices that will affect what type of adult life you will create for yourself.
With this transition, AP Language and Composition challenges students to become critical readers, thoughtful
writers, and powerful thinkers. We will study rhetorical theories and applications as they apply mainly to nonfiction texts and examine the crucial topics that define the world today.
Various characteristics define the AP student, but the typical distinction of this student includes the following:
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Self-motivated
Strong work ethic
Positive attitude and a willingness to go “above and beyond”
Responsible
Good organizational and time management skills
Beyond proficient in reading and writing (includes being able to analyze an author’s work by examining
literary and rhetorical devices he or she uses to convey an holistic message)
Likewise, as an AP student you are expected to participate in a summer reading assignment that must be
completed prior to the first day of the fall semester. Your official task is to complete a close, thorough reading
of George Orwell’s 1984, locate 4 current newspaper/magazine articles that speak to the themes of Orwell’s
text, and complete the attached document connecting the articles to the text. We will explore the work
throughout the year, in relation to other texts and social movements, and with a formal assessment. Therefore,
you should interact actively with the text (annotate) and write down any questions or comments you may have
to share with the class upon your return. Read to both retain information and demonstrate the ability to move
through the text with ease.
Have a wonderful summer. We look forward to seeing you in August!
Sincerely,
Mr. Gregg Long, Ms. Youla Simos, and Mr. Joel Tellinghuisen
AP English Language and Composition: 1984
While reading, pay attention to themes and recurring ideas in the text (ex: power of technology, impact of control on
humans). Then, find current and relevant articles that connect those themes with what is happening in our world today.
Pay attention to similarities and connections between the various texts, and make textual notations whenever possible.
Although not the only option, a valuable source offered to you is the database EBSCO Newspaper Source
(http://search.ebscohost.com). This database allows you to search by editorial and access over 300 newspapers back
several years. You can utilize it in school or away, but if you are not at school, you will need to type the User ID
(lakepark) and password (lancers). You also will find a list of newspaper websites if you need some direction. You may
not use material that a newspaper or magazine has not formally published; Blogs are off limits.
Article Title and Author:
Theme:
Article Summary
Explanation:
So What? Why is this important?
Article Title and Author:
Theme:
Article Summary
Explanation:
So What? Why is this important?
Article Title and Author:
Theme:
Article Summary
Explanation:
So What? Why is this important?
Article Title and Author:
Theme:
Article Summary
Explanation:
So What? Why is this important?
You may use Illinois writers, but we are hoping you will branch out a bit. Of course you can use your own preferred
sources, but here are some other publications to consider:
The Boston Globe
New York Times
The Washington Times
Chicago Tribune
The Washington Post
The San Francisco Chronicle
Huffington Post
Miami Herald
Reason Magazine
The Atlantic
The L.A. Times
The Daily Beast
The Nation
Rolling Stones
The New Yorker
Time
Newsweek
US News and World Report
The Believer
Sports Illustrated
The Guardian
The Sun
Wall Street Journal
London Times