Well, you've made it through. Passing the AP test is a bonus for the hard work that you've done, but the real value of this course has been the upper level language skills that you've gained through thinking, writing and practicing. I feel that the journals and the intense amount of quality writing that we've done have put you in a position from a writing standpoint to be able to better accomplish your college goals. Writing and reading are the keys to a successful college career. We've accomplished the writing goals (although we'll continue to practice), and next year we'll work on reading. As many of you know, you're stuck with me for AP12, English Literature. The emphasis will be on reading practice and comprehension. Many of the types of projects that we've done this semester will be required in the new year, but we'll continue to make the most of the task at hand, and have a little fun while we work hard.

Your summer reading requirement is to read 1984 by George Orwell (a novel we touched upon this year) and The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. There is also a 500 to 700 word essay that will award you extra credit toward class. Anyone who chooses to do the essay will turn it in to me no later than September 15th, 2004. The essay must be of the quality a college student would submit to receive full credit.

I've had a great, relatively painless semester and I hope you have too. I look forward to seeing all of you next year. Check with the website periodically for updates and if you need to contact me.



The website (how do you like the new look?) will continue to be an integral part of what we do and how we communicate. During the course of the class, many assignments will be required through the internet. As well, you will continue to write in and do select assignments in a journal. The class structure will be quite similar to this year, but a warning: there will be considerable more reading to accomplish over the course of the year, a lot of which will be required outside of class.

A partial list includes Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, War of the Worlds and A Room with a View. We will also tackle Beowolf, many of King Arthur's Tales and work together through the harder "middle English" writings.