AP English II – Literature and Composition
Summer Reading/ Book Review Guidelines
Welcome to Pre-AP English II! You will be reading The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd for your summer assignment. Actively read through the piece. This means that you must conduct a close and analytical read. Then, create a review of piece. Follow the guidelines below, and provide an in-depth response for each of the four sections. This is due the first day of class upon our return.
Summary: Provide a brief summary of the basic plot elements of the novel. Be sure to cover all the major moments of the piece, but be mindful to not get carried away with minor details – this can become cumbersome. **Of all 4 sections, this should not be the most detailed.
Historical: Analyze the historical influence of the literary piece and modern connections. This means that you need to evaluate the historical context of the piece. Historical context is the political, economic, social or cultural setting for a particular idea or event. The context which surrounds a novel will further add to its overall meaning. Therefore, not only will you need to explain the historical influence of the literary piece, but you will need to analyze how it helps the reader understand the novel better. (You will need to conduct additional research to fulfill this section. Properly cite your sources using MLA format. This means that you should have both in-text citations and a works cited page.) For Modern Connections, discuss the thematic connections of the book with modern day themes. For example the book my talk about forbidden love and you may connect it with Twilight. You must discuss how the book connects to modern text, movies, etc. **This section should be well developed.
Writing Style: Analyze the author’s writing style – specifically his/her use of figurative techniques – and discuss how this helps to develop the theme of the piece. You need to focus on two different techniques that are continuously apparent throughout the entire piece. Provide examples to enhance your points. Be sure to fully and effectively develop your points and extend your analysis to how this helps the reader understand a larger thematic message. It is very important that you convey theme correctly. For example, it would be incorrect to say that the theme is love. The theme must be conveyed as a full universal thought. What is the author saying about love, for example, and how do the figurative techniques help develop this theme? **This section should be well developed.
TYPES OF LITERARY TECHNIQUES
Symbolism Metaphor Personification Imagery Simile
Plot Personification Setting Foreshadowing Antagonist Protagonist
Tone Mood Point of View Flashback
Personal Thoughts: Use this section to provide your overall opinion of the piece. Please be candid with these thoughts; this allows me to understand your overall reading experience.