Dear GT/AP students,

Next year is fast approaching; it is time to start preparing! GT/AP English courses are rigorous and demanding courses for students who wish to grow as learners. We expect GT level students to be independent readers and thinkers. Our goal is to prepare students for college and the Advanced Placement exams they will take during their junior and senior years. In order to prepare for these rigorous tests and courses, we recommend additional readings.

Traditionally, students have benefited from completing these works before the beginning of the new school year. All students should bring notes and assigned works to class.

English 9 GT
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway- September 11, 2017
In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, American author William Faulkner said, “I decline to accept the end of man... I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance…”
After reading the book, identify 3-5 passages from the text that you believe SUPPORT or REFUTE Faulkner’s claim regarding humanity with 2-3 sentences of explanation for each. Be sure to cite each passage in MLA format: (Hemingway [page #])
Please visit the URL below for a graphic organizer and a link to a digital copy of the text: https://sites.google.com/site/9gtstuppy/summerreading17

Mr. Thomas Stuppy Nicole Payne Shawn Douglas

Thomas_Stuppy@hcpss.org Nicole_Payne@hcpss.org Shawn_Douglas@hcpss.org
 

10GT
Oedipus the King -- Sophocles (Fagles translation) --September 29
For Oedipus, answer the following question: What is the protagonist’s hamartia, or tragic flaw? How does Sophocles present Oedipus as a tragic hero? What is Oedipus’ punishment?
Jeannette Bonomo-Thomas Scott Vennard
Jeannette_Bonomo-Thomas@hcpss.org Scott_Vennard@hcpss.org
 

11GT/AP
Each of the works below will be assessed on the dates given:
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain – November 28
Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston – February 26
For the specified works, take notes on the major themes and author’s style. These notes should be your own ideas, not copied or summarized from other sources. In class on the assigned due dates, you will be given an assessment of the work (more details given in September).

Emily Dulany Courtney Lucente
Emily_Dulany@hcpss.org Courtney_Lucente@hcpss.org
ATHOLTON HIGH SCHOOL
6520 Freetown Road  Columbia, MD 21044  410-313-7065  (F) 410-313-7078  www.hcpss.org/atholton

12 GT/AP
Each of the works below will be assessed at the end of the assigned month. You may want to read them over the
summer, then review or re-read them prior to the assessment.
No Exit or Waiting for Godot (September)
Familiarize yourself existentialism before you read the work. You will be expected to apply these ideas to the works
in class.
Richard III or Henry IV, Part I (October)
Keep track of major and minor characters as you read. There are a lot of them.
Note: For these history plays, you may find it helpful to do brief research on the time
period and/or significant historical figures in the play before you read the work.
Emma or Pride and Prejudice (December)
Identify what the work says about the time period and the author’s attitude.
A contemporary novel of literary significance written by a non-American (for the midterm exam in January).
Look at major literary prizes for suggested authors. (ex. Booker Prize, Nobel Prize). You will use this work to address
one of the AP open questions included in your AP Packet.
For all of these works, take notes as you are reading. You may want to focus on the works as a reflection of their time
periods, thematic elements, stylistic elements, significant passages, and the significance of character relationships.

Emily Stackhouse  Emily_Stackhouse@hcpss.org

We also encourage GT/AP students to read other works, both fiction and non-fiction. Studies show that students who
read in a wide variety of genres and time periods have greater success on the AP Language and AP Literature exams.
Have a great summer. We look forward to working with you next year.

Sincerely,
Thomas Stuppy Courtney Lucente
Emily Stackhouse Scott Vennard
Nicole Payne Emily Dulany
Shawn Douglas Jeannette Bonomo-Thomas