AP Junior English Summer Assignment

Angela’s Ashes

For your summer reading assignment, you will read Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt. You will need to purchase your own copy of this book, either new or used.

As you read the novel, a memoir of growing up in Ireland, you will compose 6 journal entries. Each entry should be 1 ½ -2 typed, double-spaced pages. You will be responding to 4 of the major themes/concepts of the novel listed below. The fifth journal entry will be a personal response or reaction to a character, event, or the work as a whole. The sixth journal will require you to read How to Write a Memoir by William Zinsser and discuss to what extent Frank McCourt follows Zinsser’s suggestions. The order of your responses is your choice, but I expect the entries to address the beginning, middle and end of the novel. Please clearly indicate to which theme you are responding.

Respond to 4 of the following

• Social class
• Hunger/Food
• Anti-British sentiment
• Stories, folklore, songs
• Use of humor
• Alcohol/drinking
• Value of education
• Religion/Catholic church

And

• Personal response
• Zinsser article response

Your journal is due on the first day of class; it is your passport into class. If you do not have your work you will be moved from AP Junior English into Honors Junior English.

Please see the attached rubric that will be used to grade your journal. You should refer back to this document as you compose your journal entries to be sure you are fulfilling the requirements of the assignment especially those that refer to the inclusion of quotations.

Please see Mr. Lee before the end of the school year if you have any questions about the assignment.

Enjoy the summer, enjoy the book!