A Few Thoughts

Welcome to AP English Literature and Composition! This is the capstone class of your study of English (reading and writing) at Fife. It will attempt to bring together all that you've learned along the way, celebrating humanity's attempt to describe, explore, and chronicle what it means to be human. Of course, we'll also be prepping our skills for the AP test in May, but I trust that won't get in the way too much. Alternatively, we also offer English 105 from CWU in AP Lit. The prerequisites are a C- or higher in English 101 or a 3 or higher on the AP Lang test.

As in AP English Language and Composition, we will endeavor to reach and master the AP College Board standards. Those of you who've been in the program your first two years at FHS should be well on your way to doing so already. The summer assignment is simply a means to shake off the quarantine and summer doldrums and re-sharpen our academic prowess. It's not a test. Don't obsess. Be thoughtful, but don't obsess.*

“The role of a writer is not to say what we can all say, but what we are unable to say.”

                                                                                                                   -- Anais Nin

Introduction

I should be grading, but it’s more fun to think about literature and how literature, art, connects to being human. I think that may be even more important than usual in a time of pandemic and social change. So this has morphed from just reading The Great Gatsby to thinking about poetry, art, and literature. There's a bit in here to help with note-taking that goes beyond and offers more freedom than Cornel notes.

Your summer assignment is a chance for you to read a variety of texts, explore ideas, and write in response to what you are reading and thinking. The assignment has three parts and all work is due the first week of school. We will begin the year with a series of discussions about the novel.

I have linked to all the texts that are available online, but in some cases you may need to go to your local library to get a copy of a novel. In many cases, I have included extra links if you are fascinated by what you read and are interested in exploring more (Beware: I find the Nerdwriter's videos to be addicting).

As Voltaire said, “Think for yourself and let others enjoy the privilege of doing so too.”  Enjoy the privilege of reading great texts. Enjoy the writing process. In short, have a great summer!

Part I -- Organizing

Text -- How I Take Notes and 10 Note-Taking Tips and for those of you who take notes on an iPad 

After watching StudyTee’s and/or Samuel’s notes system, I want you to think about how you can benefit from this organization method that will be used for this summer and throughout the year. 

Assignment -- Get a notebook* of your choice with the style of paper that you prefer (lined, graph, blank, bullet point, etc.). We will use this notebook to create notes for the major works that we study, so find one that you really like. 

Why it is important -- The process of learning something often starts out feeling disorganized and unwieldy; the most important aspects are not always salient. Consolidation helps organize and solidify learning. This notebook will serve as a means to consolidate what you have learned throughout the year, allowing you to retrieve the significant progress we make. Make it your own. Decorate it if you like or keep it clean and clear.

*This was written at a time when I thought/hoped we'd be back in person of at least hybrid by now. Alas. So, if you have a notebook, fine. I would personally like the notebook for my notes unless I was using the Notability or GoodNotes app. As far as turning things in, you can transfer your notes to Google Docs or take pictures of your pages. Please make sure the pages are numbered, preferably in the image file name if you go this route.

Part II -- Seeing

Text -- The Nerdwriter Analyzes Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks"

Evan Puschak has his own YouTube channel (NerdWriter) in which he offers video essays. He is thoughtful, well-researched, and has a keen sense of timing and audience awareness. In this video essay he analyzes one of the iconic 20th century American paintings, “Nighthawks.” Pay attention to not only what he sees, but also notice the biographical and historical context he weaves into his analysis. I admire how he uses both images and words to teach you about the painting.

Assignment --For your first set of notes, I want you to write two pages.  Choose a work of art that has had meaning to you. It can be a work of literature. It can be a painting. It can be a song. It can be any creative endeavor that has some fascinating artistry. I want you to analyze that work of art on a similar level to Evan Puschak (the Nerdwriter). If you look at his show notes on the YouTube page for the “Nighthawks” video essay, he has done a fair amount of research. I want you to do the same. In your notes, find an organized way to explain its artistic merit and value. Don’t just provide a summary of what it is, analyze how it operates and why it is important.

Why it is important --  I want you to use your notes to enrich your personal language, background knowledge, and vocabulary. For that to happen, these notes should be so much more sophisticated than a summary. They should reveal the complexity of the work of art. You have to articulate not only what it means to you, you should also have a broader appreciation for the artist, the cultural and historical context in which it was created, and how the work has transcended time and remain relevant.

Part III -- Reading

Text 1 -- Leo Babauta's Why I Read (+ a Dozen Book Recommendations)

Assignment -- Write a page of notes about your relationship with reading. Share an honest assessment of the role that it plays in your life.  Think about how you would conceptualize and categorize reading’s impact on you. I value honesty over flattery. If reading is not your thing, say it. If you love it, then let me know. I don’t care so much which side you take. More important than what you choose is the truth of your reflection. I want to read about why you feel the way that you do. I want to get to know you as a reader.

Why it is important -- This is the first step in me getting to know you as a reader. What’s more important than that?

Text 2 --A good novel

Assignment -- Read one good novel.

Then create 3 pages of notes about the book. How you organize those three pages is up to you. I know that this is vague and undefined, but look at it another way. I am empowering you to do what you feel is right. You have the freedom to do what you want. You can create whatever you want. All I’m asking you to do is create three interesting pages of notes about your reading experience. When there are little to no rules, the possibilities are endless. It is up to you to make it awesome! We will begin AP Lit with a week or two of discussion on this book. Bring your thoughts and ideas. I have mine, but mine are not the only thoughts and ideas. 

Why it is important --  A mature thinker chooses and develops his or her own criteria in order to evaluate the quality of texts. I respect your ability to make connections to other texts, ideas, cultural perspectives, eras, and personal experiences and when you have control over how you do that, you often exceed my expectations. So do it.

Text 3 -- Two Poems of Your Choice from Poets.org

Assignment  -- Choose two poems from this site and create 1 page of notes for each. The notes should focus on an analysis of each poem. Look for parts that are interrelated. Find the individual aspects of the poem that give it meaning. Here is a good example of a complex analysis of a popular middle school poem. A more sophisticated analysis of an e.e. Cummings poem can be found here.

Why it is important -- Thoughtful readers write to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately by selecting apt and specific evidence, organizing that evidence into broader ideas, and conveying the impact of its meaning.

Finding poems -- I recommend using the poets.org poem-a-day feature (see screenshot below). If you use this to make your choice random, you might discover a new perspective or voice you haven't heard before. As this isn't a closed list, and I may not be familiar with the poem, please include the text of the poem. The text of the poem does NOT count for the page of notes on the poem, though it could be part of a thorough annotation of that poem with additional notes.

 This seems like a lot, but it is actually pared down from previous years' AP Lit assignments. It is more focused, wanting to give you more independent thinking skills. You've got this. Fear not young padawan. ;)

See you in September!

As Fitzgerald once wrote,

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”

* Remember to not obsess. I know some of you just thought to yourselves, "Hmmm, I wonder if I should just do all 10 poems or maybe two novels just to be on the safe side." Stop it. Focus, but be thoughtful and just engage with the texts.