AP English III

AP English Language and Composition Summer Reading Assignment 2019


This assignment will be due on the second day of class and will be used to write an On-Demand In-Class essay for a 100-point test grade.


Choose one non-fiction novel from below. You may purchase the book or check-out one of the school’s versions. Please peruse summaries of the books before making your selection.

  • Educated by Tara Westover
  • Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance
  • The Line Becomes a River by Francisco Cantú
  • Suggested Reading: articles, editorials, and podcasts from several differing news sources

Norman Public Schools Policies

Norman Public Schools recognize that students must be able to read and comprehend increasingly complex informational and literary text in order to meet the rigorous demands of college and future workforce. They must read widely and deeply from among a broad range of high-quality, challenging text and develop the skill to read these texts independently and proficiently. Literature provides rich and timeless insights into universal themes, dilemmas and social realities of the world representing complex stories in which the thoughts and actions of human beings are revealed. Life shapes literature and literature shapes life. In our attempt to provide rich and varied reading experiences for all students, some selections are focused toward mature readers. If parents feel the content of a text assigned is not appropriate for their child, please consult your child's teachers for an alternative assigned reading. We encourage parents to preview all required texts.


Please contact Amber Worster Lawson aworster@norman.k12.ok.us or Amy Lawson alawson@norman.k12.o.us with any questions.

------------Complete the following in a typed document using MLA format.------------


Part I. Reading Questions

  1. State your chosen book and the author.
  2. What images or events did you consider most memorable about the book?
  3. Who is the specific intended audience? Why did the author write about this particular subject?
  4. What stylistic choices did the author make? What strategies characterize the author’s style? How/why do these specific choices affect the author’s purpose?
  5. What is the main idea of the book? How does this idea connect to current events today? Find specifics in the news that can relate to this piece.


Part II. Claim and Evidence -- Quotations

A claim is a statement essentially arguable, but used as a primary point to support or prove an argument. Evidence is presented to prove why a certain claim should be accepted as logical.

Step 1: Identify the claim the author asserts in your selected book. State this as a complete sentence.

Step 2: After writing your claim, list ten quotations that you believe support this claim (use correct citation format). Then defend, giving specific reasoning. How does this quote support the author’s claim? Do not merely summarize the quote. Elaborate on why this piece of evidence supports the claim of the book.