Summer Reading AP Literature & Composition Summer 2019 Welcome to AP Literature & Composition! We are so excited you will be joining us in the fall! We cannot wait to “nerd out” with you about all kinds of classic literature and contemporary, authentic applications of “lit life.” See what we did there? Oh, you just wait…! You might not know it yet, but you’re in for a treat. To begin, summer reading is more important than you might think. We have a lot of material to cover before the exam in early May, so it is imperative that you complete the summer reading assignment in order to later be adequately prepared. We cannot stress enough that the summer reading is required and critical to your success in the course. Not to mention, you WILL be using your assignment and novel throughout the year on at least one summative. Phase 1: You need to read Thomas C. Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor. (Psst - we heard there are free copies online for the discerning student... but you didn’t hear that from us.) This is a necessary introduction into how we analyze and evaluate literature from a more sophisticated standpoint. We will reference concepts throughout the year from this book, so YES, you DO need to read the whole book. Foster is excellent at puns and corny dad jokes, so you’ll likely enjoy it. Phase 2: You need to choose an AP-level novel from the suggested book list attached. The list includes all the books which have appeared on the FRQ (Q3) section of previous AP Lit exams for the past few decades. This is good news! You get CHOICE! Pick a book you actually find engaging and READ IT, giving special consideration to literary elements as delineated by Foster in his guide. ***IMPORTANT: You will likely be using this novel in conjunction with a challenging essay summative developed throughout the year. We strongly suggest you choose a book that addresses a real world topic you are personally invested in. For example, if you are interested in teenage anxiety and depression, you might choose Catcher in the Rye or The Bell Jar. If you are interested in women’s reproductive rights, perhaps you would choose The Handmaid’s Tale. If you need help with selection, contact either Jessica White or Ryan Browne at the emails listed below. ****DOUBLE IMPORTANT: The movie/TV show adaptation(s) do NOT count as an appropriate substitute, nor does utilizing internet sources like SparkNotes, etc. We want to know what YOU glean from your reading, not a director’s portrayal or what you can find on the internet. *****ALSO IMPORTANT: You should NOT choose one of the books listed on our “course materials” list (also included). We will read those as a class, so you should not read it as your summer reading. Finally, Phase 3: You will need to complete a Major Works Data Sheet on your novel (attached). These sheets will assist you in compiling relevant information about your book, and will also come in handy when it is time to craft your Dual Analysis essay (more details later). It will also be critical in helping you review for the exam! Heads up: the MWDS is NOT an assignment you will want to try to complete the night before it is due, so plan ahead! Please click the hyperlinks above and see the rubric below for more details. DUE DATE: Tuesday, August 27, 2019. Contact: Jessica White ([email protected]) or Ryan Browne ([email protected])