05/20/04

     Welcome to the Advanced Placement English Language and Composition program.  I am looking forward to working with all of you in the coming school year.  Together, we will embark on a rigorous course of study that centers on the essential question, "How do authors of prose use their writing to create arguments and produce social change?"  The AP English Language and Comp class will culminate with a national examination in May 2005.  I hope that the course of study will make you a more proficient reader and writer, increase your vocabulary, prepare you for the SAT and ACT, as well as prepare you for the AP exam. 

     AP Lang and Comp has a heavy reading and writing schedule.  You are required to read The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald; and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, during the summer.  Both are available for check-out by me at FHS, or are found at local libraries and book stores.  They are engaging novels that will provoke discussion and mark the starting point of our study.  Both are highly regarded novels from American authors, and appear on the College Board list of top 10 novels that entering college students should have read. For BOTH novels, answer the questions, as instructed.  Please type the responses and do not exceed one paragraph for each response (this will make you very careful about what you wish to say).   Focus on your analysis, support, and writing style.  Don't simply summarize the plot.  Limit yourself to five pages, typed.  NOTE:  QUESTIONS 1 and 2 ARE TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE READING!

1.  Novels often reflect social or cultural aspects of the times from which they were written.  Before reading, examine "The Roaring Twenties" or "The Jazz Age" for GG and "The Gilded Age" for HF and write a paragraph about a social, political, or cultural aspect of the times that interests you to help set the time period.

2.  It's important to know about the author.  Look up Fitzgerald and Twain and write a paragraph about how their writing was impacted by events in their lives.

3.  Discuss a character in each novel that you have a strong reaction to, describing his/her characteristic qualities and motivation, and your reaction to him/her.

4.  Discuss something in that novel that you found ironic and why.

5.  Discuss something in the novel that confused or frustrated you as you were reading.  Explain specifically what problems you had as you read and why you thought this became problematic.

As you should note, these answers MUST COME TO ME BY THE END OF THE THIRD DAY OF SCHOOL, no matter which semester you have AP Lang and Comp.  It is your responsibility to find me, but I should still be in RM. 169.

     Further suggestion:  you will be taking the PSAT, SAT, and ACT.  All three tests require a strong vocabulary.  I suggest you purchase Word Smart, by the Princeton Review, available in local bookstores.  It contains a word list that prepares you for advanced reading and writing.  It can be used as a workbook or study guide that will help you prepare for reading, testing, and perhaps a round or two of Sheppardy!!!

     A final note:  regular attendance at school is a must to be a successful student.  It is even more important in an Advanced Placement class.  Keeping up with reading and class assignments is vital. 

Happy summer!  See you in August!