summer assignment

2013-2014 A.P. English Summer Reading Project

Required summer reading for A.P. English:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

1984-George Orwell

            Welcome to A.P. English!  As you’ve by now gathered, to participate in A.P. English next year, you must first complete a summer reading project.  Your summer reading will no doubt be challenging, intimidating, and, at times, frustrating.  Both of the selected novels are far more dense and difficult texts than any we read in English 11.  You will find the language is sophisticated; the vocabulary, complex and demanding.  Each author is as philosophical as they are artistic; both may seem inaccessible and impenetrable.  Completing this reading assignment is a formidable task.  But not impossible!

            If you’re enrolled in this class, I expect your motivation, interest, and dedication will match the standard of an A.P. English student.  Reading difficult texts is not always fun and enjoyable…but such a task should be rewarding.  While keeping in mind the need to stay interesting, I’ve chosen books that will broaden and challenge you as a thinker.  That is their value.  If you need constant excitement, buy a pet rock.

            As you read these texts, you’ll undoubtedly be filled with questions, concerns, complaints, and problems.  Because we will not meet as a class until September, the best resource to alleviate such concerns is the internet.  Thus, the second component of your summer reading project is to keep your own literature blog online.  Further, you must consult the Class blog, which I will create and moderate, for questions and concerns I will pose to you throughout the summer.  Your blog will consist of a mixture of your answers to questions I pose and your own comments and reactions to the literature.  After I complete the requirements for completing your blog, I will post them online at the class blog at the following web address:  hfcssymposium2013.blogspot.com.  You should plan on checking the classblog for updates at least once per week throughout the summer.

Your first tasks:

1)      Create your own blog at www.blogger.com.  This will first require you to set up an email account with Google’s gmail, if you do not already have a gmail account. 

2)      Subscribe to the Class blog at hfcssymposium2013.blogspot.com and leave a comment/greeting to let me know you made it this far.

3)      Bring me your new Google email address as well as the web address for your new blog no later than Friday, June 21^th 2013.