Please see special selection at end of required reading list.

APUSH Reading*
Summer Reading Assignment for APUSH
While you are reading during the summer send a photo of you with the book(s) to me. You may email it as a JPG attachment to: teacherjoe@aol.com 
Make subject line "Book Pix." Be sure your name is attached.  

Since you have no idea whether you will be in Mr. Joeb's class or Mr. Potts' class, the only guarantee of an extra credit grade for doing the reading will come from Mr. Joeb.

The following items must be completed before the first day of class.  You must always write for a reader unknown to you (i.e. use complete sentences that reflect any question being answered).

 Written assignments with a “due date” more than 24 hours away must be typed.  There are no exceptions.  You may wish to devote a few days this summer to finding a new family for your dog that eats homework.

 Select and read one of the items from the list and perform the following task.
If your reading is an essay (or collection thereof):  
Identify the historical setting (time frame, major events, etc.).
Type a brief summary of the essay (including all of the points listed below).

            1. For whom was the essay written (intended readership)?
           
2. Is there a purpose (political, social, religious, etc.) to the piece?
           
3. What is the author’s topic?
           
4. What position does the author take?
           
5. What support is offered?
           
6. Does the author cite an alternate argument?  What is it?
           
7. Does the author refute the alternate argument? How?
           
8. How does the author summarize (re-state) the argument?
           
9. Are you convinced, persuaded, angered (i.e. how do you react and why)?

If your reading is a novel (includes biography and/or historical fiction):
Identify the historical setting.
Identify the characters.
Summarize the story in NO MORE THAN 500 words.
Complete numbers one, two and nine above.

 Please do not compose any summary for The Elements of Style.

You may select from the list below.  Elements of Style must be read.  At least one other must be selected.  One or more of them may satisfy a reading assignment for an English AP class as well.

Enjoy your summer and don’t forget to send the photo.

 APUSH Summer Reading Titles
* Items so marked (*) MUST be read.

 Some of these books may satisfy an AP English requirement as well.

  The Great Gatsby............................................................................. . F. Scott Fitzgerald.
             The "Jazz Age," prohibition, fast living and compromised values
   Double check, but this may satisfy a requirement for Ms. Herban.

 Johnny Tremain .............................................................................   Esther Forbes
           
Chronicles a young man’s life in pre-revolution America
This can be purchased on-line for as little as $4.00 (Amazon.com) and certainly can be found in a public library.

 Roughing It .......................................................................................  Mark Twain
           
Typical Twain

 The President’s Lady ............................................................................Irving Stone
           
Scandal surrounds a president (Jackson) whose wife is already married.
           
Historical, if a bit loose

 *The Elements of Style ............................................................    Strunk and White
           
If you pay attention to this VERY short book, your writing will improve.
           
You would do well to purchase a copy for your desk. Get one if you are taking AP English.

 Common Sense ..............................................................................   Thomas Paine
           
This pamphlet focused colonial discontent into a demand for independence.
The entire essay can be found on-line (use a search engine) or can be purchased from a variety of publishers. (see below)

The Rights of Man..........................................................................  Thomas Paine
Borders or Waldenbooks can get a collection of Paine’s essays (Oxford World’s Classics) for under $15.00 ( ISBN 0-19-283557-2 ) or you may use another source (but this is worth having for the other essays).

The True Believer..........................................................................   Eric Hoffer
            Views on mass movements and zealotry. 

  Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams: A Social History of Modern Florida ..........Gary Mormino              
 This particular selection is NOT a required reading.
  However, I mention it  because we get too little Florida history and Dr. Gary Mormino has written an entertaining and informative book on the kind of Florida history that matters now.  This is NOT required, but should prove interesting and informative.  If you wish to use this as your subject book you may.  Be prepared, however, to purchase a just published hardbound book.

* Items so marked MUST be read.

Return to Pointer Page     Go to APUSH Page         Go to Reading/Note taking skills

 

Hit Counter