AP Literature and Composition,
North Mesquite High School
Letter to Students – Poolside Summer Reading
I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for scheduling AP Literature and Composition during your 12th-grade
year. Welcome to the wonderful world of literature! In order to prepare for AP Literature class, the AP exam, and for
your future college classes, AP Literature students will be required to read two books independently this summer. You
may see me in D-4 to check out books before school dismisses for the year; however, owning your own copies so you
can make notes and mark will be helpful to you. The school has copies of some of the self-select novels, but these are
limited, so your first choice may not be available for long. Used copies of these books are widely available; Half Price
Books, Paperbacks Plus, Roma’s Books (Rockwall), and amazon.com are all options to locate used copies.
Works planned for whole class study this year include the following:
• Hamlet (Shakespeare)
• Wuthering Heights (Bronte)
• A Doll’s House (Ibsen)
• Heart of Darkness (Conrad)
• The Importance of Being Earnest (Wilde)
• Inferno (Dante)
Early in the year we will be working on your college application essays. Think about where you want to apply and
check the colleges’ websites for the topics of any required admission essays to save yourself some time when school
begins.
If you want to take advantage of sales this summer before school begins, here are the supplies you will need this year:
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blue or black ink pens
sticky notes
notebook filler paper
3-ring binder (may be a large binder for multiple classes; separate English binder not required)
notebook dividers
pocket folder with brads
With the right attitude and enthusiasm for learning, success will be yours. See you in August. Be ready to
work! Contact me with any questions through the email listed below. I will check it several times a week throughout
the summer. Have a great summer and have fun! (No, really!)
Cheers,
Mrs. Gaskin
[email protected]
AP Literature & Composition
Summer Reading 2016-2017
Part 1: Self-Select Novel
Choose a novel you have not previously read from the list below. As you read annotate the text or make notes, using
the list of “overwhelming questions” attached (page 4) as a guide. Annotating will help you as you complete the
assignment for this novel.
Novels you may use – These were chosen for their appearance on the AP Literature Exam. These are novels written
for adults and may contain mature themes or content. A brief synopsis of each book is included, but you should
research the book before you purchase or read it if you’re worried about being offended by the subject matter. If you
would like to read a book not on the list, please email me for approval before you do so. Do NOT select a book which
you have already read.
Atonement (McEwan)
The Bonesetter’s Daughter (Tan)
Catch-22 (Heller)
Crime and Punishment (Dostoevsky)
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Foer)
In the Lake of the Woods (O’Brien)
Invisible Man (Ellison)***
Jane Eyre (Bronte)
The Kite Runner (Hosseini)
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter (Edwards)
Never Let Me Go (Ishiguro)
Oryx and Crake (Atwood)
The Picture of Dorian Gray (Wilde)
Pride and Prejudice (Austen)
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (See)
A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
The Women of Brewster Place (Naylor)
***Invisible Man NOTE: Be careful to read Ralph Ellison’s book, NOT the science fiction novel by H. G. Wells.
No credit will be given for reading the wrong book.
Assignment: After reading, select one of the “overwhelming questions” from the list attached (page 4) that you feel is
appropriate for your novel. Apply this question as you respond to this prompt:
Critic Roland Barthes has said, “Literature is the question minus the answer.” Considering
Barthes’ observation, write an essay in which you analyze a central question raised in your selfselect novel and the extent to which it offers answers. Explain how the author’s treatment of this
question affects your understanding of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.
Part 2: Lord of the Flies –William Golding
This book is short and very easy to read. Don’t be insulted by its simplicity; we will use the novel as a basis
for training for free response essays.
• Read the novel, annotating the text as you read. Focus on character development, imagery,
symbolism, irony, repetition, contradictions, and anything that seems to be leading toward theme.
• There will be a READING TEST on the novel after you begin school in August.
• Produce a Dialectical Journal for your reading (see next page.)
What is a Dialectical Journal?
A dialectical journal records a dialogue, or conversation, between the ideas in the text and the ideas of the
reader. In your journal, have a conversation with the text and with yourself. I suggest you mark significant
passages while reading, then go back and select the ten (10) quotes you find most interesting after finishing the
novel. These responses then become a part of your analysis (and later your essay.)
You need at least ten journal entries for Lord of the Flies completed using the format below. You may
download a journal page template from the school website or reproduce the format by hand. Follow the format
below for the journal entries exactly.
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Sample Entry:
Quote & Context
Quote:
“The pause was only long enough for them to
understand what an enormity the downward stroke
would be” (31).
Context (what’s going on at this point?):
While Jack, Ralph, and Simon are initially exploring
the island, they find a trapped piglet and Jack pulls
out his knife to kill it, but he hesitates too long and it
escapes. He reacts with embarrassment at his delay
and vows next time will be different.
Analysis & Commentary
Analysis (select something important from the quote
to discuss):
Jack’s initial impulse is to kill the piglet, but the conditioning of
society against violence makes him hesitate to strike.
Commentary (discuss the quote’s significance to the
work as a whole):
Not even Jack is completely ready at this point to commit such an
act, realizing instinctively that this act of violence would
irrevocably change his view of himself.
Quote the words exactly as they appear in the text. You may use ellipses [. . .] to leave out parts you don’t need
or to shorten very long quotes. Be sure to include the page number as shown in the model entry. The quotes you
select should be significant in some way, meaning they should relate to some of the bigger “issues” in the novel.
You may focus on character, conflict, themes, symbols, or motifs. Select quotes from throughout the novel—the
beginning, middle, and end. Remember, you are analyzing the quotations—don’t ask questions, make
predictions, or respond personally.
Journals are due: THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS, so be sure you have it with you.
Grades are
-- Completeness
based on:
-- Thought and insight found in your discussions
-- Following all directions concerning formatting the document
-- All work is your own.
Staple or paperclip the two written assignments separately with your name and the date at the top left-hand
corner of each first page. No folders, please. A cover sheet is not necessary—save the trees! Contact
[email protected] if you have any questions.
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The Overwhelming Question(s) addressed by authors
Ontological (of or relating to essence or the nature of being) Questions
Select one that you feel applies to your self-select novel for your essay.
What is the meaning of life?
How should I live?
How can I accept the idea that someday my life will end?
What does it mean to be a good person?
What is truth?
Am I brave, or a coward? Does courage matter?
Do the rewards of life balance or outweigh its pain?
Is man a creature of the earth or of the sky? . . . a child of God or a beast crawling in the mud?
How should people treat each other?
What do women/men want? How can the sexes coexist harmoniously?
How can man live in the ugliness of modern world without despair?
Why do evil and suffering exist?
How can we tell the false from the genuine?
Does my existence matter? (Do I dare disturb the universe?)
How can dreams affect one’s life?
Is following the rules of society (morality) more important than survival as an individual?
Can one’s insecurities be destructive?
Does one’s ethical standard outweigh the moral standard of society?
Is it right to resist or oppose authority?
How can one find meaning in life?
What is the responsibility of parent to child or creator to creation?
Can one recapture or relive the past?
What is the result of attempting to avoid the consequences of one’s actions?
How can one learn his identity?
How can one prevail against the pressure of his society?
Since Life always ends in death, how can it have meaning?
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Extra Credit Opportunity:
Shakespeare in the Park
She Stoops to Conquer and Richard III
If you’ve never attended Shakespeare in the Park, here’s your opportunity to see what all the fuss is
about and earn 10 extra credit points on your summer reading test over Lord of the Flies—just bring
your program the first week of class. Take friends, family, a blanket, and a picnic. Enjoy!
Shakespeare in the Park -- 2016 Summer Season
She Stoops to Conquer
by Oliver Goldsmith
Opening week June 15-18, 2016 at Samuell Grand Amphitheatre
Continuing Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from June 29-July 22, 2016
All shows start at 8:15pm
Richard III
by William Shakespeare
Opening week June 22-26, 2015 at Samuell Grand Amphitheatre
Continuing Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from June 29-July 23, 2016
All shows start at 8:15 pm
Admission is free on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (donations requested). Admission for students is $7
on Thursdays and Sundays and $12 on Fridays and Saturdays at the gate only at 7:30. The regular
price of admission is $10 on Thursdays and Sundays and $15 on Fridays and Saturdays. Children
under 12 are always free. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance through the website
(no student prices for advance tickets). Advance ticket holders may enter the park at 7:00; general
admission tickets are sold at 7:30 pm. Plays begin at 8:15, usually ending around 11:00.
Directions: Samuell-Grand Park is located east of Downtown Dallas. From I-30, exit East Grand
Avenue and travel a half-mile north to Tennison Parkway. Turn right onto Tennison Parkway and
the park entrance is on the right.
Website: http://www.shakespearedallas.org
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KEEP THIS COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS
NORTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL
SUMMER READING CONTRACT
2016-17
The purpose of the summer reading program is to provide a foundation of literary experience that
will enable a student to be successful in all of his classes at the high school level and beyond. All
Mesquite Independent School District honors and Renaissance programs require summer reading;
therefore, a transfer to another Mesquite school does not relieve the student of this responsibility. Each
student and one parent are asked to sign a statement confirming that they fully understand the summer
assignment requirements for participation in this program.
STUDENT STATEMENT
I, ____________________________________________________________, on this date,
_____________________________, 2016, agree to read the works listed on the summer reading sheet
designated for students enrolled in AP Literature and Composition at North Mesquite High School and to
do the related assignments required. I understand that failure to complete these assignments will gravely
impact my grade for the first six-weeks of the 2016-2017 school year. I understand that the assignments
will count as first six-weeks grades and will serve as the basis for other assignments throughout the
school year.
I know that the required assignments are due on the very first day I go to English class. I
understand that all work submitted must be my work alone and represent my independent effort. I also
understand that watching a movie version of the novels or using any “study” guide in place of reading the
text itself is not acceptable and is considered intellectual dishonesty.
In addition to signing a returning this statement to the teacher, I understand that I am to keep the
student copy in the assignment packet to remind me of my obligation and commitment.
STUDENT SIGNATURE: _________________________________ DATE: ________________
PARENT SIGNATURE: __________________________________ DATE: ________________
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Synopses of Self-Select Novel Choices
Atonement: On a hot summer day in 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis witnesses a moment’s flirtation between her older sister, Cecilia,
and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant and Cecilia’s childhood friend. But Briony’ s incomplete grasp of adult motives–together with her
precocious literary gifts–brings about a crime that will change all their lives. The novel follows that crime’s repercussions through the
chaos and carnage of World War II and into the close of the twentieth century.
The Bonesetter’s Daughter: In a remote mountain village where ghosts and tradition rule, LuLing grows up in the care of her mute
Precious Auntie as the family endures a curse laid upon a relative known as the bonesetter. When headstrong LuLing rejects the marriage
proposal of the coffinmaker, a shocking series of events are set in motion–all of which lead back to Ruth and LuLing in modern San
Francisco.
Catch-22: Set in Italy during World War II, this is the story of the incomparable, malingering bombardier, Yossarian, a hero who is furious
because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy—it is his own army, which
keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to excuse himself
from the perilous missions he’s assigned, he’ll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule: a man is considered
insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he makes a formal request to be removed from duty, he is proven
sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved.
Crime and Punishment: Raskolnikov, a destitute and desperate former student, wanders through the slums of St Petersburg and commits a
random murder without remorse or regret. He imagines himself to be a great man, a Napoleon: acting for a higher purpose beyond
conventional moral law. But as he embarks on a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a suspicious police investigator, Raskolnikov is
pursued by the growing voice of his conscience and finds the noose of his own guilt tightening around his neck. Only Sonya, a
downtrodden prostitute, can offer the chance of redemption.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: Nine-year-old Oskar Schell has embarked on an urgent, secret mission that will take him through
the five boroughs of New York. His goal is to find the lock that matches a mysterious key that belonged to his father, who died in the
World Trade Center on the morning of September 11. This seemingly impossible task will bring Oskar into contact with survivors of all
sorts on an exhilarating, affecting, often hilarious, and ultimately healing journey.
In the Lake of the Woods: The novel examines the lasting impact of the twentieth century’s legacy of violence and warfare, both at home
and abroad. When long-hidden secrets about the atrocities he committed in Vietnam come to light, a candidate for the U.S. Senate retreats
with his wife to a lakeside cabin in northern Minnesota. Within days of their arrival, his wife mysteriously vanishes into the watery
wilderness.
Invisible Man: The nameless narrator of the novel describes growing up in a black community in the South, attending a Negro college
from which he is expelled, moving to New York and becoming the chief spokesman of the Harlem branch of "the Brotherhood," and
retreating amid violence and confusion to the basement lair of the Invisible Man he imagines himself to be.
Jane Eyre: Having grown up an orphan in the home of her cruel aunt and at a harsh charity school, Jane Eyre becomes an independent and
spirited survivor-qualities that serve her well as governess at Thornfield Hall. But when she finds love with her sardonic employer,
Rochester, the discovery of his terrible secret forces her to make a choice. Should she stay with him whatever the consequences or follow
her convictions, even if it means leaving her beloved?
The Kite Runner: The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's
servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in Afghanistan as the country is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the
power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love,
their sacrifices, their lies.
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter: On a winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced by a blizzard to deliver his own twins. His son,
born first, is perfectly healthy. Yet when his daughter is born, he sees immediately that she has Down's syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need
to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split second decision that will alter all of their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away
to an institution and never to reveal the secret.
Never Let Me Go: As children Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy were students at Hailsham, an exclusive boarding school secluded in the English
countryside. It was a place of mercurial cliques and mysterious rules where teachers were constantly reminding their charges of how
special they were. Now, years later, Kathy is a young woman. Ruth and Tommy have reentered her life. And for the first time she is
beginning to look back at their shared past and understand just what it is that makes them special–and how that gift will shape the rest of
their time together.
Oryx and Crake: Oryx and Crake is at once an unforgettable love story and a compelling vision of the future. Snowman, known as Jimmy
before mankind was overwhelmed by a plague, is struggling to survive in a world where he may be the last human, and mourning the loss
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of his best friend, Crake, and the beautiful and elusive Oryx whom they both loved. In search of answers, Snowman embarks on a journey–
with the help of the green-eyed Children of Crake–through the lush wilderness that was so recently a great city, until powerful corporations
took mankind on an uncontrolled genetic engineering ride.
The Picture of Dorian Gray: Wilde forged a devastating portrait of the effects of evil and debauchery on a young aesthete in late-19thcentury England. Combining elements of the Gothic horror novel and decadent French fiction, the book centers on a striking premise: As
Dorian Gray sinks into a life of crime and gross sensuality, his body retains perfect youth and vigor while his recently painted portrait
grows day by day into a hideous record of evil, which he must keep hidden from the world.
Pride and Prejudice: Set in England in the early 19th century, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's five unmarried
daughters after the rich and eligible Mr. Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr. Darcy, have moved into their neighborhood. The story
follows the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education, and marriage in the
society of the landed gentry of the British Regency.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: In nineteenth-century China, in a remote Hunan county, a girl named Lily, at the tender age of seven, is
paired with a laotong, an “old same,” in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. The laotong, Snow Flower, introduces herself by
sending Lily a silk fan on which she’s written a poem in nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women created in order to communicate in
secret, away from the influence of men. As the years pass, Lily and Snow Flower send messages on the fan and compose stories on
handkerchiefs, reaching out of isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.
A Tale of Two Cities: It was the time of the French Revolution — a time of great change and great danger. It was a time when injustice
was met by a lust for vengeance, and rarely was a distinction made between the innocent and the guilty. Against this tumultuous historical
backdrop, Dickens' great story of unsurpassed adventure and courage unfolds. Unjustly imprisoned for 18 years in the Bastille, Dr.
Alexandre Manette is reunited with his daughter, Lucie, and safely transported from France to England. It would seem that they could take
up the threads of their lives in peace. As fate would have it though, the pair are summoned to the Old Bailey to testify against a young
Frenchman — Charles Darnay — falsely accused of treason.
The Women of Brewster Place: Once the home of poor Irish and Italian immigrants, Brewster Place, a rotting tenement on a dead-end
street, now shelters black families. This novel portrays the courage, the fear, and the anguish of some of the women there who hold their
families together, trying to make a home.
All synopses from Amazon.com.
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