Summer Reading Assignments for
12AP: Literature and Composition (2025).
The turnitin.com class name, ID, and password can be found under
"12AP: turnitin.com information."
____________________________________________________________________________
12AP: Literature and Compositio
2025 Summer Reading and Assignments
The assignments must be submitted to www.turnitin.com no later than 20 August 2025. Try to finish early and submit to avoid problems. If there is a problem, email the completed assignment to avoid late points, then submit to turnitin.com as the issue, if there is one, is resolved.
After you sign into the site, you will find a listing for each assignment; submit each to its designated place. Please do not wait until the last moment to submit. Since this is a long-term assignment, 20 points will be deducted for each day after 20 August 2025.
Create a class account for yourself on turnitin.com. Since you will make submissions here throughout the year, please write down your ID and password. The ID and password for your class are listed on the 12AP turnitin.com page; BEFORE you leave for the summer, create an account for yourself using the ID and password; this way if there are problems creating the account, it can be solved more easily. Use 12 pt Times New Roman for all typed work. Read over the assignments and make sure you understand what is being asked. Please be mindful that plagiarized or AI-written or assisted text will receive a zero. If you have any questions, please email or see me BEFORE you leave for the summer so I can answer any major questions. If you have questions over the summer and the directions do not address them, email.
1st Required reading and assignment: Dialectical Journal for Great Expectations by Charles Dickens*
* You’ll need a copy of How to Read Literature Like a Professor to complete the assignment
for Great Expectations.
Try to purchase the Barnes and Noble Classics version of Great Expectations so we're all using the same version; this will make it easier during class so the pages match up. If you'd like to sign out a copy, I have them. Just ask.
2nd Required assignment: College Essay
________________________________________________________________________________
1. First required reading and assignment: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
(Due by 20 August 2025; submit to turnitin.com)
This assignment will count as two test grades.
Your responses will be recorded as a Dialectical Journal (Two-Column Notes/ Reader-Response Notes). Since the book is divided into three parts, write a total of twenty entries (ten for "a" and "b" as shown below for the Dialectical Journal. Make sure to fully represent each of the three sections of Great Expectations, so you could, for example, write five entries for part I of the novel and seven entries for part II and eight for part III. A variation is fine as long as there are twenty in total and at least five for one of the parts. Choose significant moments and provide more detail if you see it; you’ll be using all of this work and the novel for various assignments and writings throughout quarter one, so it is also suggested that you annotate/text mark the physical copy of the book (suggestion: use sticky notes/page markers.) You’ll need to have the physical copy of this book for class.
Dialectical Journal (Two-Column Notes):
Information for a-b below can be found in the “Types of Quotes/Responses” section on the next page.
A. 10 Chapters: a. Connect to How to Read Literature Like a Professor.
B. 10 Chapters: b. “Analysis and Responses”
This will show a written dialogue between you and the novel/author and provide a map of this ongoing discussion. On the left-hand side you will identify the type of quotes/ commentary then place the quotation from the text that is an example from the “Types of Quotes/Responses” listed below. The example given on the next page shows an “M” on the right-hand side because what is being quoted will explore a motif. Your comments/analysis will appear on the right-hand side, and each response must be at least ninety words. Using the example below, since a motif is being explored, the writing will be an analysis of the motif as it is in the quoted section and can also look at its development in the novel. Place the word count in parenthesis at the end of each response. Identify the focus of the quotation by using the identifiers in bold below from section b: Analysis/ Response.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
SETUP FOR DIALECTICAL JOURNAL (Two Column Table)
Focus/ Quote/ citation (Page number) Commentary/ Analysis
M: “ “ (236). Write at least ninety words per response. Place the word count in
parenthesis at the end of each response. This feature should be under
“tools” when typing. (Word count)
________________________________________________________________________________________
Types of Quotes/Responses
A. (Prof) How to Read Literature Like a Professor (The first 10 entries):
This section should be completed first. Ten of the responses you write about must relate to any of the chapters from How to Read Literature Like a Professor (from last summer). Ten different chapters must be represented. Write the chapter title on the left side after the identifier (Prof) to signify that it is coming from How to Read Literature Like a Professor followed by the quotation and page number.
B. Analysis/Response (The next 10 entries):
In the left-hand column label what the quote/analysis will focus on from the list below along with a quotation from the novel along with a citation, and in the right-hand column write your analysis/commentary. Each of the items below must be used at least one time as part of the total of ten entries, and use Tropes and Motifs at least two times each.
-- (Sig) Significant: This appears meaningful or significant and could be in reference to theme, characterization, etc.;
-- (Con) Confusion.: Note lines/passages that confuse you. Try to identify what it is that you find confusing as you read it, then come back to it later and explain what has helped to clarify it. Is there information later in the novel that helps? Did you do research and now have the information needed? etc.
-- (T) Trope(s): Figurative language.
-- (Syn) Syntax: Identify syntax that, for whatever reason, draws your attention, then analyze and explain what is significant about how it communicates .
-- (M) Motifs: Examples of types of motifs and meaning as each develops or evolves;
-- (P) Personal: Something that resonates with you for whatever reason. Explain its importance to you.
__________________________________________________
2. Second required assignment: College Admissions Essay
(Due by 20 August 2025; submit to turnitin.com)
This assignment will count as one quiz grade.
Research colleges you are interested in attending, select an admissions essay topic, and write the admissions essay. Include the topic and requirements along with your essay so I can give you the feedback you’ll need. Regardless of the college requirement this assignment must be between 1 ½ and 2 pages (Times New Roman, 12 pt, Double Spaced).