Advanced Placement English: Language and Composition (139)

Dr. Alice Price

Summer Assignment

 

In this class, we will be reading and writing essays of argumentation. All our reading is non-fiction, so we do not focus on novels, plays or poetry.  The editors of the very fine anthology, Patterns for College Writing, have selected many samples of great essays.  For the entire year, we will be studying how to write and read argumentative essays.  Therefore, to begin that study, I want you to become familiar with the basic terms of argumentation.

 

Reading:

 

In Patterns for College Writing, Tenth Edition please read the section on Argumentation, Chapter 14, pages 555-703. Take notes on the important points for pages 555-573.  I will collect these notes on the first day of class.

 

The editors of this textbook then give you twenty argumentative essays. I want you to read all twenty, beginning on page 582 to page 743.  Read each one and write one paragraph for each, stating your opinion about the basic argument.  This is simply your analysis of the argument.  Do you find it compelling?  Has the author persuaded you to his point of view?  I will also collect these twenty paragraphs on the first day of class.

 

Thank you for your cooperation.