Summer Session #1 & Passage Responses for *Invisible Cities*

The first summer session will be held at nine-thirty antemeridian (9:30 am) on Monday, July 11 in room 2205.

Also remember that responses to ten passages from Invisible Cities are due on Monday, July 11. Bring them with you to the summer session. (If you cannot attend the session send an email letting us know you won't be there and then make sure you email your passage responses by midnight Monday, July 11. If you are going to be away and do not have access to email where you are going make sure you contact Mr. Cook and Mr. Telles before leaving.)

Here is a link to a passage response template that is easy to use.
Notice that sixty words is a minimum and not a recommendation. Responses that short will likely score in the lower half of the grading rubric (needs improvement/warning status) whereas typical AP level responses vary are most of in the 100 to 300 word range.

Here is a link to the grading rubric for passage responses.
Click on the link if you want to understand how you will be evaluated. We recommend reading this. Email us with questions.

Here is a link to a two AP level passage responses from last year's students.
We recommend taking a look at these so you are familiar with the level of work that AP students produce.
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Finally, don't forget to comment on the previous blog post and to respond to the email Mr. Telles sent last week. (He asked you to reply to the email with your favorite word. Today I might have responded with the word inimitable.)

Post a Comment Here

Respond to these prompts in the comment box.
1. What is your full name?
2. What would you like your classmates and teachers to call you?
3. What sources do you use to get news?
4. What period of history -- or aspect of history (or what country's/region's history) -- are you most interested in? (Or, if you prefer, what aspect of psychology or sociology are you most interested in?)
5. What is your favorite science experiment? (Or, what is your favorite scientific discovery?)
6. What is your favorite mathematical equation, rule, or property?
7. What book would you most like to re-read when you get older?
8. Of the books that you want to read but haven't read yet, which one do you most want to read before you get out of high school?
9. Translate one of your responses into a foreign language you are studying or have studied.

Commitment Letter

We, Mr. Telles and Mr. James Cook, will be teaching the AP English Literature and Composition course during the upcoming school year. Twenty-four of you have signed up for AP English, and, fortunately, Gloucester High School can offer two sections of the course during the 2011-2012 school year, which means there is room for everyone. However, before the English Department finalizes the roster for the course I want to make sure you are committed to the course. 

During the summer you are expected to read the Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino (165 pages), Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (581 pages), Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (171 pages), and a book of your choice. You will also be expected to keep a passage response journal for each work, participate in four AP English Literature summer sessions at Gloucester High School, post comments on the AP English blog (apenglitghs2012.blogspot.com), and create a theme web. (You will find out more about the web in August). This litany of work is not intended to scare you off. However, we want to be honest and upfront about the expectations. If you are seriously committed to reading, writing, talking, and thinking at a college level, we promise that you will find the summer experience to be fulfilling and rewarding. 

During the school year you will read between 500 and 1000 pages, write between twenty and thirty pages, and participate in several graded discussions each term. You are expected to be self-motivated and genuinely engaged; and, since the goal of the class is for every student to do well on the AP exam, it is important that you are willing to work with classmates in small groups to analyze text and evaluate peer work. You will learn from the texts, your teacher, and each other. To achieve this goal the class atmosphere must be collegial rather than competitive, and you must do your share of the work. 

Please consider this description of the course and make a decision about whether or not you are committed to fulfilling the requirements of AP English Literature and Composition. Please complete the "commitment form" (on the back of this letter) and return it to Mr. Telles in room 2209 by Friday, June 10. If you have questions about any of the expectations please stop by 2207 or 2209. We are looking forward to getting to know you.

Sincerely,

Mr. James Cook                                     Mr. Telles
English Teacher                                      English Teacher
Gloucester High School                          Gloucester High School

Commitment Form for AP English Literature and Composition

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Circle one:

Yes, I am committed to AP English.               No, I will take another senior English.

______________________________                          ______________________________

student signature                                                                                parent signature