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AP Language and Composition Summer Reading
The AP Language and Composition test has three essays: argumentation, rhetorical analysis, and synthesis. To prepare for these, we have a required assignment and some suggested additional assignments for the summer.
Required:
Read a memoir of literary merit from the following list.
An American Childhood by Annie Dillard
This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolfe
Teacher Man by Frank McCourt
Growing Up by Russell Baker
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
NOTE: A memoir is a story written by an author about his or her own life; it is NOT an autobiography. Instead, a memoir reads more like a novel, focusing in on one specific slice of life for that author or one theme from that life. Literary merit implies complexity of ideas and notable writing styles.
Assignment:
Practice active reading by underlining memorable quotes and writing notes in the margins as you go. An in-class essay will be based on these readings on the first week of school. Be prepared.
Highly recommended:
Have an opinion. Read the news, letters to the editor, and editorials or other nonfiction articles about an interest of yours or some current world event. Try to determine the bias of the author toward the subject. You could even take notes, using evidence or examples to support your position. Practice arguing for what you want over summer, and tell your parents it is required for AP Language.
Suggested Activity:
Read anything that amuses you, because English is fun.