AP Literature – Inquiry Project: The 3-Novel Study
Overview: The purpose of this reading and writing
assignment is to allow you to delve into the world of
fiction by choosing three related novels to read over
the course of first semester. You will be expected to
finish your first book by the end of first quarter and
the other two by the end of the semester.
Because the focus of AP Lit is fiction from a variety
of time periods, you are free to choose from the
classics all the way up through recent works. The
only stipulations are that your books be works of
fiction and meet the rather subjective distinction “of
literary merit.”
Requirements
Each student will:
• Read 3 books, all must be fiction and all should relate in some way that you will
explain in your proposal. Your first book needs to be completed by the end of
first quarter. The other two by the end of the semester.
• Complete a Data Sheet for each book. This will be typed and submitted to
turnitin.com.
• Complete a 2-3 page, double-spaced analysis essay for each book. Topic and
thesis will be determined by you. Body paragraphs will require evidence from
the text in the form of examples and quotes. The first paper will be due at the
beginning of second quarter. Exact date TBD by your teacher. All papers will be
submitted to turnitin.com.
• Complete a final essay synthesizing all three novels with examples and quotes
from each text. Topic and thesis will be determined by you. This paper will be
due at the end of the semester and will be 4-6 pages, double-spaced.
Getting Started: Proposal of Study
Submit a written proposal that includes everything outlined below.
• The unifying element among the books you’ve selected. See samples on back and
consult the attached lists for ideas. Talk to your parents. Stop by and see your
librarians.
• An explanation of why you want to study this
• 1-3 big questions that you want to ponder while you read.
• A summary of what you know about this author or topic at this time (and it’s ok if
it’s very little)
• A prediction about what you think you will discover
• An MLA Works Cited entry for all three books you plan to read.
DUE DATES
• Your typed, single-spaced proposal is due: WED, SEPT. 24, 2014
• You need to have book #1 in class on: FRI, SEPT. 26, 2014 for our first Relax and
Read day.
© 2010 by Jim Burke from What’s the Big Idea? Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. Adapted for SWHS AP Lit and Comp. Gade/Knox. 2014
Need Ideas?
• War: Johnny Got His Gun, Waiting for Cacciato, Slaughterhouse Five
• Author study – Cormac McCarthy’s border trilogy: All the Pretty Horses, The
Crossing, Cities of the Plain
• Author study – Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma
• Growing Up: The Catcher in the Rye, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Go Tell it on the
Mountain
• That’s Absurd!: The Metamorphosis, Catch-22, The Plague
• Rivers: Heart of Darkness, Huck Finn, A River Runs Through It
• Take Me Away: A Fine Balance (India), Waiting (China), Half of a Yellow Sun
(Nigeria)
• Money Problems: The Great Gatsby, The House of Mirth, Sister Carrie
• Road Trips: On the Road, The Road, The Grapes of Wrath
Lists to browse…
NPR’s 3 Books (but be sure to choose fiction) http://www.npr.org/series/three-books/
AP Reading List http://mseffie.com/AP/APtitles.html
Pulitzer winners (fiction) http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Fiction
Modern Library’s top 100 http://www.modernlibrary.com/top-100/100-best-novels/
Make some notes below about books/themes/ideas you have ….