AP English Literature and Composition - Summer Reading & Writing Assignment - Due Date The first day of school MS. CLARK 2019-20

Sep 20, 2026

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AP English Literature and Composition summer reading and writing assignment outlines exam expectations and a schedule due the first day of school (MS. CLARK, 2019-20). Students are instructed to read listed works in order and manage summer time, then complete multiple writing tasks. Assignments include an argument essay defending or rejecting a claim about Jane Eyre, an AP open analysis essay on The Kite Runner, a reading response journal for Picture of Dorian Gray, and annotated reading tasks for Purple Hibiscus and The Glass Menagerie.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Summer Reading & Writing Assignment

Overall requirements and due date

Reading and Writing Assignment #1

Reading and Writing Assignment #2

Reading and Writing Assignments #3

Reading Assignment #4

Reading Assignment #5

A . P. ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION SUMMER READING & WRITING ASSIGNMENT DUE DATE: The first day of school MS. CLARK – 2019-20 The A. P. Literature exam tests your knowledge and understanding of great works of literature. The more prose and poetry you have read from 16th century authors to today’s writers, the better you will do on the A. P. exam. It is also a test of your writing ability; that is, the ability to analyze, create provocative theses, support them by close reading of a text – and do it all in a limited amount of time. I strongly suggest that you secure your own copies of these books so you can write and make notes on your copies. In addition, you need to manage your time appropriately so that you can complete all the work – and still enjoy your summer. Please Note: It would be best to read these books in the order in which they’re listed. Reading and Writing Assignment \#1 Read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte ESSAY TOPIC: Some readers have found fault with the character and behavior of Jane Eyre as a fictional character. They regard her as too prim, overly virtuous, much too pedantic in speech and language, excessively tight emotionally, almost vain at times, and so totally introspective as to rule out the possibility of her ever finding real happiness, even after she has been reunited with Rochester. DEFEND OR REJECT this line of reasoning, being certain to cite specific examples from throughout the text to make your conclusions reasonable. In an argument essay (6-pargraphs including the counterclaim) , persuade the reader that your argument is logical. Be sure to use quotations from the work to support your ideas, and to explain the quotes you use in commentary that follows each example (try to use two examples in each paragraph) . Also be sure to use proper textual notes (in-text citations) and include a “Work Cited”page for the novel itself. (See OWL Purdue for help with MLA Style.) Reading and Writing Assignment \#2 Read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Answer this AP open essay question that appeared on the 2011 A.P. exam. “Choose a character from the novel who responds in some significant way to justice or injustice. Then write a well-developed five-paragraph point-by-point essay in which you analyze the character’s understanding of justice, the degree to which the character’s search for justice is successful, and the significance of this search to the meaning of the work as a whole.” Be sure to use quotations from the work to support your ideas, and to explain the quotes you use in commentary that follows each example (try to use two examples in each paragraph) . Also be sure to use proper textual notes (in-text citations) and include a “Work Cited” page for the novel itself. (See OWL Purdue for help with MLA Style.) Reading and Writing Assignments \# 3 Read Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde As you read, keep a reading response journal to explore your intellectual ideas about the book and your journey to understanding its themes. (Use a one-subject spiral or marble notebook.) What are my expectations for a reading response journal? 1. It should be neatly handwritten. Not too small or large – if you can write script, use it. 2. You should be writing about YOUR intellectual understanding of the novel – and also your confusion--and I should see how you try to make sense of it. Because this work is an unusual modern work, I don’t expect that you will “get” everything in every chapter. However, I want to see your mind groping toward meaning. I don’t want to read, “I don’t understand this part” but rather, “This part is confusing because…however, I think that perhaps the author is trying to ” 3. Journal entries must include frequent page-numbered references covering the whole book. 4. These writing journal entries will be shared with the class as a means of making intellectual sense of the book. I will not be leading the discussions. YOU WILL! You will be using

FAQs

What is the due date and how should students approach the reading?

The due date is the first day of school. Students should read the books in the order listed and manage their time so they can complete the work and still enjoy summer.

What is required for Writing Assignment #1 on Jane Eyre?

Students must write a six-paragraph argument essay, including a counterclaim, that defends or rejects critiques of Jane Eyre’s character and behavior using specific textual examples and quotations with MLA-style “Work Cited.”

What are the key requirements for the reading response journal for Picture of Dorian Gray?

Students must keep neatly written journal entries that reflect intellectual understanding, include frequent page-numbered references, avoid SparkNotes, and use entries as preparation for class discussion about major aspects like perspective and literary techniques.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Aldword