AP US History Summer Reading Project

Mr. Monte F. Bourjaily, IV

 

Reading furnishes the mind only with materials for knowledge;

it is thinking that makes what we read ours.

~ John Locke ~

 

Learn as much by writing as by reading.

~ Lord Acton ~[1]

 

Introduction

 

The value of history is in being able to use the lessons of the past to make decisions about the future.  In their words, quoted above, John Locke and Lord Acton capture the three principle objectives of this AP US History course, that you will learn to read, think and write about US History in order to develop a deep and useful understanding of our past.  Not only is the understanding necessary for the AP exam, but reading, thinking and writing are the skills that you, as young professionals, need to succeed in college and in the workplace.  To help you continue to develop these skills and begin to think about American History this summer, you will read at least two of the books on the list below and complete the assignments set out in the next section of this assignment.  Please get your books as soon as possible so that you have enough time to read, think and write about them.  You may contact me during the summer at monte.bourjaily@fcps.edu, however, I will be away and unavailable for most of July.

 

Assignments

 

I.              Book Reading & Reviews (50pts/review = 100pts)

 

**Each student must choose two (2) books from the Book Choices list below; one (1) book each from the Non-fiction section and the Fiction section.  Obtain your books from the public library, the bookstore or on-line retailers like Amazon.com.  You may not read a book that you have read before.**

 

  1. Reading. Read each book from “cover to cover”.  It is especially important that you read and work to understand the author’s Introduction.  This section contains the author’s thesis and provides you with the keys to understand his/her message in the body of the book.
  2. Book Reviews. For each book, write a book review that you will turn on the 4th class meeting of the 2009-10 school year.  A good book review provides both description and analysis, and uses specific information from the book as evidence to support the analysis.  Please use the following format for each review:
    1. Create a citation of the book using the MLA format (Go to the Citation Guides section of the Media Center Welcome Page for assistance with citations in MLA format)
    2. 750 word essay-style book review that is typed in Times Roman 12 point font and double spaced
    3. Your review should include the following parts in an order that you choose:[2]

                                                               i.      The Origin of the work (use the introduction, preface and outside sources to answer these questions)

1.        Who is the author?

2.        What is his/her background, experience, education, occupation, etc.?

3.        What conclusions may be drawn from this knowledge? (ideology, political affiliation, bias, etc.)

                                                              ii.      The Purpose of the work

1.        What is the author’s purpose in writing the book?

2.        What is the author’s thesis?

                                                            iii.      A detailed Description of the work

1.        What is the book about?

2.        What is the historical context (background) of the book?

3.        What are the author’s key points?

4.        Use examples from the book to demonstrate the author’s key points.

                                                            iv.      Analysis of specific sections and arguments within the book and of the work as a whole (This is the central part of your Book Review)

1.        How clearly and convincingly does the author make his/her points?  Explain.

2.        What lessons can the reader take from this book?

3.        Is this book important or relevant?  Explain.

4.        Choose and discuss one part of the book (an argument, story, connection, etc.) that made you think “Wow!” or “interesting.”

  1. Honor Code Pledge.
    1. You will turn in your reviews through www.Turnitin.com.  I will provide you with instructions about how to use Turnitin.com either during the summer or during the first week of school.
    2. You may consult outside sources including SparkNotes to clarify your understanding of the book, but must cite all outside sources using MLA Format.
    3. I strongly recommend that you ask your parent or another trusted source to read and edit your book reviews.  The work must be your own, and their edits may not include rewriting paragraphs or larger portions of your essays, but you may receive and use their editorial advice to revise your essays.
    4. If your work violates the Hayfield Honor Code, you will receive a “0”.  At the top of your paper, you must write and sign the following pledge (do not include the footnotes):

 

I pledge that I have neither given nor received unauthorized[3] assistance[4] on this assignment.

[Your Signature]

 

II.            In Class Essay (25 pts/essay = 50 points)

 

  1. Non-Fiction Book In-Class Essay. During the first class meeting, you will write an essay that answers a question that evaluates your understanding of the non-fiction book that you read over the summer.
  2. Fiction Book In-Class Essay. During the second class meeting, you will write an essay that answers a question that evaluates your understanding of the fiction book that you read over the summer.

 

III.           Additional Credit (up to 10pts/additional book – There is no denominator in the point calculation)

 

You can receive up to 10pts of additional credit for each additional book that you read and for which you write a book review that follows the format in section I. above.

 

Book Choices

 

Non-fiction (Choose 1 book from this list)

 

  1. American Colonies: The Settling of North America by Alan Taylor
  2. 10 Days that Unexpectedly Changed America by Steven Gillon
  3. The Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War by Drew Gilpin Faust
  4. A People’s History of the Supreme Court: The Men and Women Whose Cases and Decisions have Shaped Our Constitution by Peter Irons
  5. The American Political Tradition: and the Men Who Made It by Richard Hofstadter

 

Fiction (Choose 1 book from this list)

 

  1. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
  2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
  3. Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara
  4. The Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson by Ralph Waldo Emerson (or one of the anthologies of his essays)
  5. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
  6. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
  7. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

[2]I have used the book review format of Matt Oderman of Leigh High School in San Jose, CA as a source to create these instructions.

[3] Assistance is unauthorized unless the instructions for the assignment expressly permit said assistance.

[4] Assistance includes, but is not limited to, oral or written provision or receipt of information necessary to complete an assignment and copying or failing to cite properly the work of others.