Ap Lang Sra 2016

AP Language & Composition
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AP English Language & Composition

Summer Reading Assignment
Fall 2016
Programs of academic study typically have an essential question that underlies all components of
the tasks pursued. The essential question of AP English Language and Composition (AP Lang)
addresses rhetorical analysis: how is language used deliberately and skillfully by a speaker to
inform, convince, or persuade her audience? Two assumptions arise from this question: first, every
text is an argument; second, conditions exist that generate the rhetorical situation in which an
argument occurs. Over the course of the year, we will explore the meanings and dynamics of text,
argument, and rhetorical situation.
Note taking and acquisition of content knowledge are two ongoing activities that will be central to AP
Lang. Each class session will require students to read and to prepare for discussion, and students
will write every week. Each discussion and each composition is expected to demonstrate progress,
progress that can only be achieved through diligent note taking and acquisition of content knowledge.
Students should expect to devote a significant amount of time outside of class to the program and to
write more than the teacher will read. High expectations are held of students in terms of motivation,
work ethic, and the ability to receive and make productive use of constructive criticism. The ideal AP
Lang student is drawn to the program by the desire to learn and to be challenged, and accepts that
her or his academic performance will be assessed according to a set of criteria different than that to
which they may have become accustomed. In return, students will receive the unflagging energy and
attentionand respect and admirationof the teacher.
AP Lang is by definition a university level program, and success on the AP Lang exam requires
demonstration of exit-level proficiency in an entry-level university program. The objectives of AP
Lang are pursued at a goodly pace and with unwavering dedication to the programs objectives.
The following Summer Reading Assignment, crafted by former AP Lang students, will
allow each AP Lang student to work on both components. All written work for the summer
assignment must be handwritten, not typed. Acquire each of the following:
1. Thank You for Arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach
Us about the Art of Persuasion by Jay Heinrichs (ISBN 978-0-141-03258-0),
2. a multitude of index cards, and
3. a notebook or binder.
Read the instructions thoroughly, carefully, and repeatedly!
Please read and re-read the instructions below carefully before you begin working. Read
the instructions again as you work on the assignment. When you have completed the
assignment, read the instructions again and make sure your work has been completed as
required.
Pages 2 and 3 provide detailed instructions for the summer assignment.
On page 4 below, please find a checklist for this assignment.
Page 1 of 4
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Reading
Read Thank You for Arguing in its entirety. All of the book is relevant and useful in
both AP Lang and in AP Seminar.
Outlining
Outlining will be a crucial discipline and skill to develop in AP Lang (as well as in AP
Seminar).
Read chapters 1 14 and 18 19 of Thank You for Arguingabout 180 pages (if youre
like me, you appreciate knowing the distance before beginning a journey!). (When
youve finished reading these chapters, skim the rest of the chaptersthe information will
be useful and relevant in both AP Lang and AP Seminar.)
Before you begin outlining, study the methodology and structure of outlines at the two
sites below.
Notice the I, A, 1, a, i hierarchy of ideas, and notice that there can be no point or
sub-point A or 1 or a or i without a B or 2 or b or ii.
Such elements of structure are also part of the logic of the arrangement of ideas in an
outline.
Outlines MUST be thoughtfully and meticulously organized, as the examples
provided at the two sites below:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/03/
http://www.albany.edu/eas/170/outline.htm
1. Outline any five (5) chapters from chapters 1-14 and 18-19. You MUST use the
outline format illustrated and explained at the links in the box above. Pay attention to
how ideas are organized:
a. a chapter title presents a main idea, sub-headings present secondary ideas,
each paragraph presents an idea in its topic sentence, the contents of the
paragraph develop the idea of the topic sentence.
b. in the organization of an outline, an A must be followed by a B, a 1 by
a 2, an a by a b, a i by a ii, etc. It is imperative that you discern and
understand this logical concept.
2. The length of each chapter outline should be two to three (2-3) pages.
a. Introduce each chapter with a brief explanation of why you selected it:
i. The chapter was particularly interesting because . . . .
ii. The chapter was particularly challenging because . . . .
iii. The chapter seemed particularly important because . . . .
iv. etc.
b. Make sure to identify the central idea of each chapter.
c. The purpose of an outline is to discern and record the essential ideas with
enough clarity, concision, and coherency that your notes will provide an
accurate source for review of content knowledge.
Page 2 of 4
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3. The contents of an outline should paraphrase the source material.

a. Do not rely on quoting the source material.
b. To ensure your understanding of an idea, you should paraphrase the text
state the idea as clearly and coherently in your own words.
c. The length of an outline will depend on the length of the source material, but
outlines should be significantly shorteras they are summariesthan the
source material.
i. The guiding principle is comprehending and learning the source
material!
ii. The best students actively review and revise outlines
1. first drafts of outlines can be lengthy;
2. revisions of outlines become increasingly abbreviated.
d. Adding or including examples of ideaswhether your own examples or
those from the source materialis an effective strategy to ensure
comprehension.
e. Leave room in the margins for your own notes on your outline: these
notes may indicate questions you wish to pose in class, questions or notes to
yourself, or notes you add as you use and review your outline.
4. Understand that there are many purposes to the skill of outlining, viz:
a. Discerning the central idea of the source material.
b. Understanding the development of the central idea and the relationships of
the ancillary ideas to the central idea of the source material.
c. Summarizing and paraphrasing the language of the source material to
develop your own clear understanding of the text (avoid quotingif you
cant summarize or paraphrase the text in your own coherent words you do
not understand the ideas and language of the text).
d. Learning the content of the source material.
e. Developing a structure in which ideas can be placedthink of outlining like
building a set of shelves and drawers: when the structure is completed, you
know where to put things in it and where to find them when you need them.
f. Reviewing source materials.
g. Locating ideas, concepts, etc. within source materials.
Vocabulary
5. Compile two (2) lists of essential vocabulary. Youll know it when you see it;
mostly it will be words you dont know. Provide defintions in your lists. (Hint: see
the Appendices.)
a. List I: technical jargonthe terms of art essential to Rhetorical Analysis.
b. List II: any and all other words you dont know. Make sure to provide
context appropriate definitions.
c. In both lists, provide page references in parentheses. e.g. (123).
6. Compile two (2) sets of vocabulary cards.
a. List I: technical jargonthe terms of art essential to Rhetorical Analysis.
b. List II: any and all other words you dont know. Make sure to provide
context appropriate definitions.
c. In both lists, provide page references in parentheses. e.g. (123).
Note cards will be encouraged throughout the year, and you may bring them into class for
timed-writing essay prompts.
Page 3 of 4
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REVIEW
required.
A binder with:
outlines of five chapters and
two lists of vocabulary words:
o technical jargon
o other words new to you.
Index cards:
Two sets of vocabulary words that
provide definitions for the words on the vocabulary lists referenced above:
o technical jargon
o other words new to you.
All outlines and vocabulary work must be written neatly by hand.
Your binder and index cards will be due on the first day of class.
This assignment will be worth 11% of your first quarter grade.

required.
Page 4 of 4

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AP Language & Composition

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AP Language & Composition

AP Language & Composition

3. The contents of an outline should paraphrase the source material.

AP Language & Composition

All outlines and vocabulary work must be written neatly by hand.

This assignment will be worth 11% of your first quarter grade.

Read the instructions thoroughly, carefully, and repeatedly!

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