WELCOME TO AP LIT!!!

Welcome to Advanced Placement Literature and Composition with Mrs. OK! I am so happy
that you have chosen to challenge yourself, and work to be a more critical reader and writer.
Throughout the year we will be reading several class novels, as well as choosing individual novels
from the AP recommended reading list for independent reading. This is intended to be a college level
class, so we are going to be challenged to read and write in completely new and different ways. At
the end of the year you will have the opportunity to take the AP exam, and if you pass you could
receive college credit! In order to start the school year with the right mindset, you will need to
complete some summer work before the first day of school.

Class Novels​: ​Hamlet​ by William Shakespeare, ​1984​ by George Orwell, ​The Kite Runner​ by Khaled Hosseini,
Heart of Darkness​ by Joseph Conrad, ​The Catcher in the Rye​ by J.D. Salinger, and ​How to Read Literature
Like a Professor​ by Thomas C. Foster.

The Assignments

Choose a book​: Take a look at the AP reading list. Your assignment for this summer is to read ​three
of these works (make sure to not choose one of our class novels).
● Two novels can be ​any​ choice from the AP reading list
● The third novel must be one of the following three:
○ Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian​ by Sherman Alexie
○ Their Eyes were Watching God​ by Zora Neale Hurston
○ The Handmaid’s Tale​ by Margaret Atwood

You have many titles and authors to choose from, some of which may be unfamiliar to you. The
books on this list are probably not the type of books you would typically choose for some light,
vacation reading. However, they serve a few important purposes:
● They are a sampling of the types of texts we’ll be reading, discussing, and writing about next
year.
● ​They provide you with enough depth and complexity to get you thinking about key themes and
the elements used to express them.
● They begin/add to your literary storehouse of knowledge which you’ll need to pull from when you take
the AP exam next spring.

*** Do not choose any of our class novels, or novels that you have read in a prior English class***
(i.e. Romeo and Juliet, Night, To Kill a Mockingbird, etc…)

Take notes​: In order to get the most out of your reading (and make your fall assignments much
easier), make sure you’re an active reader of these books.
As you read, consider taking notes over the following literary elements:
● Genre, Writing Style, Point of View, Setting & Atmosphere
● Plot development, major conflicts
 ● Major/Minor Characters
● Symbols and Motifs
● Themes
● Significance of title
● Significant quotes (with speaker, context, and significance)
● Pose questions and do your best to answer them.
Remember to jot down page numbers so it is easy to find the passages you want. These notes
should be ample proof that you have carefully read the work - do not just summarize the plot. Your
submitted notes should be concise and organized.

Write a personal response for the two summer reading novels you chose from the list:​ This personal
response will take the form of a letter, addressed to me. (“Dear Mrs. Osterhout-Koch”) In the letter tell
me about your experience reading the book, your insights about it, stylistic aspects that made an
impression on you, themes that resonate with you, etc. It is about you and your experience with the
book, not just the book. The letter should still, however, still contain thoughtful ideas that demonstrate
both your reading of the novel and your engagement with it. See rubric attached for further details.
● This letter may have an informal tone; use the first person. You are not bound by the
5-paragraph thesis essay structure; you are encouraged to organize the letter in a manner
than suits your personal experience with the novel. A word of caution, though: please avoid the
dreaded “uni-paragraph”. The letter should NOT be one gigantic paragraph. It should still
reflect considered organization.
● Direct quotations are certainly allowed and may add to your writing, but your emphasis should
be on personal engagement with the novel.
● Even though the letter can have a personal tone, use mature expression and vocabulary and
correct grammar and punctuation.
● Don’t spend a lot of time proving you read the book with unnecessary summary. You’re a
senior; summary is beneath you! Get to the up-close-and-personal interesting details that have
meaning to you. I’m interested in how you let the book into your brain and “lived” with it, so to
speak.
● The letter should be 2-3 pages, typed, double-spaced, one-inch margins, size 12 font.
Maximum 3 pgs.

Thematic Essay:​ For the third novel (Choice of Three) write a 2-3 page essay that explains how the
novel you chose to read reflects the theme of ​oppression​. Make sure to give specific examples from
the text to support your reasoning. See the rubric attached for further details.

Your notes and responses will be due the first day of class—make sure to bring them with
you!

Structured assignments will follow.

Contact Info​: If you have questions over the summer about any part of the class, a book, or
assignment you can contact me through classroom, check my weebly at
http://mrsokaplit.weebly.com/​ or by email at ​jessica.osterhout@concordschools.net​.
 Summer Assignment - 100 Points Total
Novel Notes: 10 pts per novel, 30 pts total
Personal Response Letters: 20 pts per letter, 40 pts total
Thematic Essay: 30 pts

Personal Response Letter Rubric

Exceptional Very Good Average Poor
(Exceeds (Meets (Approaching (Falls below
Expectations) Expectations) Expectations) expectations)

Comprehension & consideration of the

novel’s main ideas & content
(Understanding & appreciation of the 4 3 2 1
“big picture”)

Thoughtful consideration of the novel’s

stylistic & artistic elements
(Understanding & appreciation of the 4 3 2 1
“little picture”)

Level of personal engagement with book

(awareness & depth of your reactions to
the content & style of the novel; 4 3 2 1
connections to your life, current events,
other subject matter, etc.; comparisons
to other writing you’ve encountered)

Organization & cohesion (Your ideas 4 3 2 1

are easy to follow, and there is evidence
of planning.)

Clarity of expression, writing style, 4 3 2 1

grammar, vocabulary, punctuation

____________ /100% (20 pts per letter, 40 pts total)

Average Score conversion to percentage grade

4.0 = 100% 3.0 = 80% 2.0 = 60% 1.0 = 40%

3.9 = 98% 2.9 = 78% 1.9 = 58% 0.9 = 38%
3.8 = 96% 2.8 = 76% 1.8 = 56% 0.8 = 36%
3.7 = 94% 2.7 = 74% 1.7 = 54% 0.7 = 34%
3.6 = 92% 2.6 = 72% 1.6 = 52% 0.6 = 32%
3.5 = 90% 2.5 = 70% 1.5 = 50% 0.5 = 30%
3.4 = 88% 2.4 = 68% 1.4 = 48% 0.4 = 28%
3.3 = 86% 2.3 = 66% 1.3 = 46% 0.3 = 26%
3.2 = 84% 2.2 = 64% 1.2 = 44% 0.2 = 24%
3.1 = 82% 2.1 = 62% 1.1 = 42% 0.1 = 22%
 Thematic Essay Rubric
4 3 2 1
Shows a thorough Shows a satisfactory Shows limited Shows no
Theme understanding of the understanding of the understanding understanding of
theme theme of the theme the theme

Shows an excellent Shows an ability to Develops a Lacks an analysis

ability to analyze, analyze or evaluate faulty analysis or evaluation of
Analysis evaluate, compare issues and events, but or evaluation of the issues and
and/or contrast issues not in any depth issues and events
and events events

Richly supports the Includes some facts, Includes few Includes no

theme or problem with examples, and details accurate or accurate or
Detail relevant facts, relevant facts, relevant facts,
examples, and details examples, or examples, or
details details

Is a well-developed Is a satisfactorily Is a poorly Lacks focus; no

essay, consistently developed essay, organized organization
Organization demonstrating a logical demonstrating a essay, lacking
and clear plan of general plan of focus
organization organization

Introduces the theme by Introduces the theme Introduces the Fails to introduce
establishing a by repeating the task; theme by the theme
Introduction framework that is includes explanation of repeating the
beyond a simple theme task
restatement of
the task; includes thesis

____________ /100% (30)

Average Score conversion to percentage grade

4.0 = 100% 3.0 = 80% 2.0 = 60% 1.0 = 40%

3.9 = 98% 2.9 = 78% 1.9 = 58% 0.9 = 38%
3.8 = 96% 2.8 = 76% 1.8 = 56% 0.8 = 36%
3.7 = 94% 2.7 = 74% 1.7 = 54% 0.7 = 34%
3.6 = 92% 2.6 = 72% 1.6 = 52% 0.6 = 32%
3.5 = 90% 2.5 = 70% 1.5 = 50% 0.5 = 30%
3.4 = 88% 2.4 = 68% 1.4 = 48% 0.4 = 28%
3.3 = 86% 2.3 = 66% 1.3 = 46% 0.3 = 26%
3.2 = 84% 2.2 = 64% 1.2 = 44% 0.2 = 24%
3.1 = 82% 2.1 = 62% 1.1 = 42% 0.1 = 22%