Summer Reading

AP English Language & Composition 2025 Summer Reading

AP Lang is an awesome course designed to teach reading, writing, and thinking skills to students. It is NOT a literature class, although we do manage to squeeze in some fiction. The class will be 99% nonfiction and heavy on writing, including in-class timed writing. I wanted you to know this up front in case you were thinking this is similar to an English class you’ve taken before. AP Lang runs on discussion, presentation, and writing, and I should warn you that some of the issues we talk about in class require maturity. In taking this class, you are also signing up to take a 3.5 hour writing test in May, so we will be preparing for that with frequent practice throughout the year.

Due the 2nd class of the school year:

1. Select any non-fiction book that has been on a best seller list (current or past) and read it. This is totally YOUR choice, so pick something that sounds good, interesting, or engaging to you.

• Select a short passage to read aloud to the class (1 paragraph to 1 page of your book, so you’ll need to bring the book with you the first week of the class.)
• Be prepared to present the context of the passage (what is going on and why the passage is significant to the rest of the book) to the class.
• Write out the answers, in complete sentences, to the following questions and be prepared to share them with the class (your response should be typed and double-spaced).

                                    i. Who is the author? (Tell a little about them. Where are they from? What is their  background/profession?)

                                    ii. Who is the book marketed toward? (Who is the intended audience?)

                                    iii. What was the author’s purpose in writing this?

                                    iv. What is the subject of this book?

                                    v. What stood out to you in how the author crafted the book?

                                    vi. Why should or shouldn’t the class read the book?

Due the 2^nd week of the school year. You need to have completed reading:

A)     Educated, Tara Westover

• Enjoy this book! It’s usually a favorite of students. I want you to annotate, but not the point where it’s merely obligatory. Read and enjoy this excellent book. We will use it to kick off our enlightenment unit;

B) The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet, John Green

• This is a cool book of essays in which the author reviews random “humanly” things like the QWERTY keyboard, Tetris, and diet Dr. Pepper. How does Green craft each of his arguments? Focusing on how arguments are built is the basis of our first unit, rhetorical analysis, so start zoning in on it during your reading.

The second week of class:

• You will have a “Did You Read?” quiz on each book, so make sure you’ve really done your reading.
• We will be writing an essay comparing these two books, so do NOT leave all your reading to the last minute. We will discuss the books before we write the essay.

Any questions, please contact our Counseling Assistant at mmoore@rosaryacademy.org

I look forward to seeing all of you!

AP English Literature 2025 Summer Reading

*There are THREE parts to your assignment this summer.

Please follow the directions below carefully and in order. On the first day of school, you will need to bring your annotated texts. On the first day of class, you will also need to bring a printed and completed copy of the writing assignment (part III). 

Reminder: I will not print your assignments for you. You must have your assignment printed before you enter my class on the day it is due to receive credit. The summer assignment is due on the first day of class.

Summer Reading Assignment—Part I

Text Needed: How to Read Literature like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster
ISBN: 9780062301673

Read chapters 1-15 and 18-27 in How to Read Literature like a Professor.

For annotations in this text, students should consider:

• How does Foster challenge the way you’re used to reading literature?
• What points do you agree with? What points do you disagree with?
• Look back on previous books you’ve read (The Kite Runner, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Metamorphosis, The Great Gatsby, etc.). What symbols, allegories, and allusions did you miss?

Summer Reading Assignment—Part II

Text Needed: The Three Theban Plays by Sophocles (Penguin Classics). This version should have Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Oedipus at Colonus. Please get this translation: we will also be reading Oedipus the King during the first weeks of class.
ISBN: 9780140444254

Apply what you’ve learned from Foster as you read Antigone by Sophocles. You should also annotate for the following:

• Character: Values, beliefs, biases, and cultural norms represented by characters.
• Setting: Setting can depict time place, and values associated with a location.
• Structure: Sequence and arrangement can contribute to interpretation and understanding.
• Narration: Narrator’s perspective controls details and emphasizes reader’s experience.
• Figurative Language: Look out for all important, meaningful, or repeated literary devices.
• Literary Argumentation: Major themes!!!

Further annotate for answers to the following questions:

• What does Antigone argue about the values, beliefs, biases, and cultural norms of the particular time and place it was created?
• Are there ideas, characters, or situations in Antigone that still exist today? How have stories like Antigone (for better or for worse) influenced current culture?

Summer Reading Assignment—Part III—Writing Portion

Many works of literature feature characters who accept or reject a hierarchical structure. This hierarchy may be social, economic, political, or familial, or it may apply to some other kind of structure.

Choose a character in Antigone who responds to a hierarchy in some significant way. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how that character’s response to the hierarchy contributes to an interpretation of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

• In your response you should do the following:
• Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible interpretation.
• Provide evidence to support your line of reasoning.
• Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

Have a great summer and enjoy your reading! If there are any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out: abrinegar@rosaryacademy.org

Honors English IV 2025 Summer Reading

Part I:

Please come to school with a complete Common App essay. Even if you do not think you will need an essay for the Common App, your assignment is still to write an essay in response to one of the Common App prompts and bring it with you to the 2^nd class of the school year. Your essay should be no longer than 650 words and respond to one of the following Common App prompts:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

• Your essay should be double-spaced and PRINTED. It is due on the 2^nd class of the school year.
• Your essay will be posted to Turnitin.com when school starts.

Part II: 

Read and annotate Antigone by Sophocles ISBN: 978-0140444254 (Penguin Classics)

*This copy is going to have 3 plays in total in it. You’re only responsible for reading Antigone over the summer.

Assignment: Read, think about, and annotate the text. Annotating means reading closely and carefully, which will take effort on your part. It might mean you look up words you come across and don’t understand. It might mean you ask questions while you read. Or, even better, it might mean you write interjections in the margins because you’re shocked or disgusted. Ultimately, it means you are not just passively reading. You may feel that annotating the book slows down your reading. Yes, it does. That is the point. If annotating as you read annoys you, read a section, then go back and annotate after.

Here are some ideas on how to get the most out of your summer reading annotations:

• Underline names of characters. In the margin, make a note about the personality/traits of the character.
• Mark the setting- when and where does scene take place?
• At the top of each page, Summarize important plot events. Not every page will be marked.
• Look up unfamiliar words and make a note of their definitions.
• Look for patterns, symbols, or reoccurring themes.
• Make predictions.
• Underline quotes or lines you think are significant, powerful, or meaningful.
• Put a question mark in areas of the text you do not understand.

There will a graded discussion when we get back to school, so make sure the reading has been completed. Your contributions to the discussion should show whether or not you took the time to read, think about, and interpret the text.

Part III:

Read (and annotate as you read) the novel Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim, by Patricia Park

• Enjoy this fun book! It’s about a high school senior dealing with her multicultural background, elite prep school, family, and college dreams.
• You will be having a test on the book the 2^nd class of the school year.

Have a great summer and enjoy your reading!

Any questions, please contact our Counseling Assistant at mmoore@rosaryacademy.org

Honors English III 2025 Summer Reading

Congratulations on your decision to take Honors English III next year! I look forward to meeting you. Here is your summer assignment:

• Read and annotate The Crucible by Arthur Miller. This is a play written in the 1950s about a fictionalized account of the Salem Witch Trials at the end of the 1600s. Over the top and so dramatic, this play is awesome. It’s a good place to start understanding America’s Puritan origins.

• Read and annotate Educated by Tara Westover. This is a pretty riveting memoir. Some students have even said it’s a beach read. Annotate as you go, but not so much that you stop enjoying yourself. In the margins, ask questions and make comments about parts that you like or that stand out. This book shows the American Dream topic in a modern way. 

What you should know:

• We will have a “Did You Really Read?” quiz on both books the 2^nd week of school, so make sure to do your reading.
• We will be writing an essay comparing these books’ messages about truth, so it would be a good idea to annotate for this topic as you read.
• What are the authors saying about what/who is true?
• What are the authors saying about how we recognize truth?
• Does truth mean the same thing in all settings, or does it vary?

Any questions, please contact our Counseling Assistant at mmoore@rosaryacademy.org

Honors English II 2025 Summer Reading

Text Needed: Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao

Read Ex Marks the Spot then write on the following prompt.

Prompt: In Ex Marks the Spot, Gloria Chao delves into the complexities of cultural identity, expectations, and the concept of second chances. The protagonist, faced with the tensions between her family’s traditions and her own desires, navigates moments of personal growth and self-discovery that challenge both her relationships and her cultural assumptions. The theme of second chances is central not only to romantic relationships but also to the broader struggle of reconciling one’s cultural heritage with one’s evolving identity. For this essay, write an analytical personal narrative that explores how your own experiences with cultural identity have shaped your sense of self and how you’ve navigated moments where second chances—either in relationships, actions, or perspectives—played a pivotal role in your personal development.

In your narrative, be sure to:

1. Reflect on a significant moment or period in your life when you faced a challenge related to cultural expectations or identity. This could be a conflict between your heritage and societal pressures, a misunderstanding rooted in cultural differences, or an opportunity for growth rooted in cultural exchange.
2. Analyze the impact of this experience on your personal development. How did this challenge force you to reconsider your values, assumptions, or relationships?
3. Explain how second chances—whether in actions, forgiveness, or shifts in perspective—played a role in overcoming this challenge. Did this opportunity for growth lead to reconciliation, deeper understanding, or change in how you approach future situations?
4. Conclude with a reflection on how this experience has contributed to your evolving cultural identity and how it influences your views on personal growth, forgiveness, and multicultural understanding.

Guiding Questions:

• How did your cultural background (family, community, traditions) shape your initial response to this challenge?
• In what ways did a second chance or change in perspective alter your approach to this situation, and what did you learn about yourself in the process?
• How does your experience reflect or differ from the struggles faced by the characters in Ex Marks the Spot, particularly regarding the tension between cultural expectations and personal autonomy?
• What insights did you gain about the broader theme of second chances in terms of relationships, identity, and self-growth?

Requirements:

• 500-600 words, Typed
• MLA Formatting
• Maintain academic writing rules 
• Sophisticated reflection and analysis: Move beyond simple recounting of events. Analyze your emotions, decisions, and the significance of the experience.
• Evidence of thoughtful introspection: Support your narrative with detailed reflection on how the event influenced your personal growth, beliefs, or future actions.
• Organization and clarity: Ensure a clear, cohesive structure with a compelling introduction, well-organized body paragraphs, and a reflective conclusion.

Any questions, please contact our Counseling Assistant at mmoore@rosaryacademy.com 

Honors English I 2025 Summer Reading

English I CP and Honors Summer Assignment:

Text needed: A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

ISBN: 9780063065406

Prior to reading A Thousand Ships, it would be helpful to familiarize yourself with the stories of The Ilidad. 

You can find summaries online and even some good, animated summaries on YouTube. 

For ease of A Thousand Ships, it is important to understand the definition of an "Epic". The definition of an "Epic" is: a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation (Oxford Languages). 

Assignment: As you read A Thousand Ships, create a brief character summary (2-3 sentences) for the following characters. You may type this or write this by hand.

1. Odysseus
2. Achilles
3. Penelope
4. Clytemnestra
5. Helen of Sparta
6. Thetis
7. Paris
8. Hecabe
9. Calliope
10. Eris
11. Themis
12. Gaia

Additionally, as you read please annotate when you see the following in your reading: 

• Character: Values, beliefs, biases, and cultural norms represented by characters.
• Setting: Setting can depict time, place, and values associated with a location.
• Structure: Sequence and arrangement can contribute to interpretation and understanding.
• Narration: Narrator's perspective controls details and emphasizes reader's experience.
• Figurative Language: Look out for all important, meaningful, or repeated literary devices.
• Literary Argumentation: Major themes (some examples of themes: good will always triumph over evil, bravery can be found in the most unsuspecting people, etc.)

Text Needed: Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno Garcia

ISBN: 9781529402643

Assignment: As you read Gods of Jade and the shadow, create a brief character summary (4-5 sentences) for each of the following characters. This can be handwritten or typed. 

1. Casiopea
2. Martin
3. Hun-Kame
4. Vucub-Kame

Once you have finished reading Gods of Jade and Shadow, look over the following characteristics of an epic hero. Then answer the following questions (7-10 complete sentence responses for each question). Please type your responses. 

1. Is Casiopea an epic hero? Why or why not?
2. What is one attribute of an epic hero (see “Characteristics of Epic Heroes” below) Casiopea does not have? Does this affect her ability to be considered a hero? Why or why not?

Characteristics of Epic Heroes: 

Trait 1: A Noble Birth - Most epic heroes will have an above average station in life. They will be kings, princes, o nobles of some sort. Commoners usually do not become epic heroes.

Trait 2: Capable of deeds of great strength and courage. Basically, this means the hero has the potential for great deeds.

Trait 3: Great Warrior- Before the hero of an epic does his business in the epic, he has usually established himself in combat during war. 

Trait 4: Travels over a Vast Setting- Simply put, you cannot be an epic hero if you stay in your village your whole life. The more countries or areas traveled to, the better. The farther away from your own country, the better. 

Trait 5: National Heroism- Before a hero can be celebrated by countries the world over, he must first be recognized in his home country as a great and heroic person. 

Trait: Humility- Even as the rest of the world recognizes the great deeds of the hero, he is never a braggart or even willing to take applause.

Trait 7:  Faces Supernatural Foes and/or Receive Supernatural Help- Most epic heroes either receive aid from a god or goddess or battle some superhuman enemy.

I want to stress how important reading and annotating will be for your success at Rosary. If you have any questions while doing the reading or working on this assignment, please do not hesitate to reach out to please contact our Counseling Assistant at mmoore@rosaryacademy.org 

English IV 2025 Summer Reading

Your TWO-part summer assignment is as follows:

1. Please come to school with a complete Common App essay. Even if you do not think you will need an essay for the Common App, your assignment is still to write an essay in response to one of the Common App prompts and bring it with you to the 2^nd class of the school year. Your essay should be no longer than 650 words and respond to one of the following Common App prompts:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

• Your essay should be double-spaced and PRINTED. It is due on the 2^nd class of the school year.
• Your essay will be posted to Turnitin.com when school starts.

2. Read (and annotate as you read) the novel Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim, by Patricia Park

• Enjoy this fun book! It’s about a high school senior dealing with her multicultural background, elite prep school, family, and college dreams.
• You will be having a test on the book the 2^nd class of the school year.

Any questions, please contact our Counseling Assistant at mmoore@rosaryacademy.org 

English III 2025 Summer Reading

I am excited to see you all in English III next year! I look forward to meeting you.

Here is your summer assignment:

•  Read Educated by Tara Westover. This is a pretty riveting memoir. Some students have even said it’s a beach read. Annotate as you go, but not so much that you stop enjoying yourself. In the margins, ask questions and make comments about parts that you like or that stand out. This book shows the American Dream topic in a modern way.
• Write a short response (500-600 words TYPED in MLA format and printed for day 2 of class) on the prompt “what’s your American story?”. For example: do you have family who came to America in pursuit of a dream? Are you 1^st generation? 2^nd? 3^rd?  Does your lineage date back all the way to the Mayflower? Tell me about you and your family/ancestry!

o   This is all in preparation for the overall idea of the course: what is the American Dream? Is it attainable?

What you should know:

• We will have a “Did You Really Read?” quiz the 2^nd week of school, so make sure to do your reading. You will also begin writing an essay on the text in the first week of school (different from the writing assigned on this page).
• It would be a good idea to annotate for the following as you read: What is the author saying about what/who is true? What is the author saying about how we recognize truth? Does truth mean the same thing in all settings or does it vary?

Any questions, please contact our Counseling Assistant at mmoore@rosaryacademy.org

English II 2025 Summer Reading

Text Needed: Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao

Read Ex Marks the Spot then write on the following prompt.

Prompt: In Ex Marks the Spot, Gloria Chao explores second chances within the context of family, relationships, and personal identity. A major theme of the novel involves characters navigating cultural expectations and finding their way through the challenges of growing up, particularly in multicultural environments.

For this essay, write a personal narrative that reflects on your own experience of navigating cultural expectations in your life and how a second chance—or a moment of growth—impacted you.

In your narrative, be sure to:

1. Describe a moment when you encountered a challenge related to your cultural identity, traditions, or expectations.

2. Reflect on how this experience shaped your understanding of yourself and your relationships with others.

3. Explain how you were able to navigate or overcome this challenge, whether through a second chance, a change in perspective, or a moment of growth.

4. Conclude by reflecting on how this experience has influenced your personal growth or understanding of different cultures.

Guiding Questions:

* How did your cultural background influence the way you approached or reacted to the situation?

* What role did second chances or forgiveness play in your experience?

* How have your cultural identity and personal experiences shaped your understanding of others’ perspectives?

Requirements:

*300-400 words

*Typed

*Answer the entire prompt

*MLA Formatting

*Maintain academic writing rules 

Any questions, please contact our Counseling Assistant at mmoore@rosaryacademy.org 

English I 2025 Summer Reading

English I CP and Honors Summer Assignment: Text needed: A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

ISBN: 9780063065406

Prior to reading A Thousand Ships, it would be helpful to familiarize yourself with the stories of The Ilidad. 

You can find summaries online and even some good, animated summaries on Youtube. 

For ease of A Thousand Ships, it is important to understand the definition of an "Epic". The definition of an "Epic" is: a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation (Oxford Languages). 

Assignment: As you read A Thousand Ships, create a brief character summary (2-3 sentences) for the following characters. You may type this or write this by hand.

1. Odysseus
2. Achilles
3. Penelope
4. Clytemnestra
5. Helen of Sparta
6. Thetis
7. Paris
8. Hecabe
9. Calliope
10. Eris
11. Themis
12. Gaia

Additionally, as you read please annotate when you see the following in your reading: 

• Character: Values, beliefs, biases, and cultural norms represented by characters.
• Setting: Setting can depict time, place, and values associated with a location.
• Structure: Sequence and arrangement can contribute to interpretation and understanding.
• Narration: Narrator's perspective controls details and emphasizes reader's experience.
• Figurative Language: Look out for all important, meaningful, or repeated literary devices.
• Literary Argumentation: Major themes (some examples of themes: good will always triumph over evil, bravery can be found in the most unsuspecting people, etc.)

I want to stress how important reading and annotating is for your success here at Rosary. If you have any questions while doing the reading or working on this assignment, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Counseling Assistant at mmoore@rosaryacademy.org