Summer+Reading+Project

= AP United States History Summer Reading Project, 2007-2008=

First off, welcome! The purpose of any AP class is to give you content at an accelerated or “college level” pace. Whether you are taking this course for “kicks” (Seniors) or for original credit (Juniors), this summer reading assignment will help you refresh what you already know about American history OR give you something new to think about as you prepare for next school year.
 * So, you’re taking AP United States History 2007-2008…**

This is a REQUIRED assignment that will represent a project grade for the first marking period. Your assigned book for the Summer Reading Project is //[|Don’t Know Much About History: Everything You Need to Know About American History But Never Learned]// by Kenneth Davis.


 * Info on the book:** Davis's aim in this book (as it is in all the titles of his popular series) is to make learning relevant and fun. As an author, he has an easygoing style and a good sense of humor and, most importantly, he knows how to present the "big picture." His history of the United States is not a series of isolated incidents that happened long ago with no bearing on contemporary American life. Reading this book, you will recognize patterns, notice how problems of the past resurface in our own present, and realize that history is what makes us today.

This book also presents a look at American history that is far more honest than anything gleaned from traditional textbooks. Heroes and villains alike are presented, warts and all, and the "less savory moments" in America's past are discussed frankly. For, as Davis explains, "the real picture is much more interesting than the historical tummy tuck." Six hundred years of history are broken up into manageable segments though a series of questions, each of which is given a specific answer and then discussed in the context of its contemporary setting and perhaps past and future events. This is a crash course that focuses on the basics but will inspire you to want to know more – which is what next year will be all about.


 * The assignment (First Marking Period Project):** You will be asked to develop a list of additional questions not raised (or not fully elaborated on) by the book. The book itself is written in a question/answer format but there are many questions that are left unanswered by the author. Your assignment is to write five “follow-up” questions that could be added to future editions of the book along with a response (for one of the five) between 500 and 1000 words (double spaced). That means that you should have about three to five pages completed when you finish this assignment (double spaced).
 * Mr. Freccia's example of the format desired
 * Rubric for assignment (so you know how you will score)

//Do I really have to pay for this book in order to get credit next school year?//
 * Common Questions about the assignment...**

Yes! This book is a national bestseller and often most bookstores have three to five paperback copies in stock in their stores (retail cost of about $15.00). It is also available (in paperback) at [|Amazon.com] for $10.17 and [|Half.com] has used copies reselling at less than the online price. This would be a great book to keep as a reference for next school year, but if you don’t want to buy “rent it” by checking it out at your local library.

//Five questions?!? 500 to 1000 words per question?!? Are you kidding me?//

No. This assignment will be due in the first week of October. That means you have…June, July, August, and September (roughly 120 days) to read, research and write for this project. This is an AP level class, with AP level expectations – trust us when we say this is “easy” compared with what is expected at the college level (more pages, more reading, less time). This class is not for kicks…if you aren’t up to the workload and/or don’t plan on taking the AP Exam in May 2008 you should change your schedule **__now__** instead of in September.

//Ok, so what CAN we write about?//

Anything Davis does not go into depth on (anything over one page in the book) and you wish he did. For example he spends a lot of time on Mr. Freccia’s favorite president Teddy Roosevelt but doesn’t talk about Mr. Tomashek’s favorite president Jimmy Carter that much. He mentions the Dutch settlement of the New World (page 38-39) but just briefly mentions the settlement at Wilmington, Delaware. The newest editions talk about the 2000 election and 9-11 – what about Iraq? The list can go on and on…we suggest that you keep a running list of your own while reading – it will help when deciding what to write about at the end (allowing you to choose what you find interesting).

//Where can I find information to “research” the answers?//

Anywhere you want. Go to a national park. Go to an archive or musuem. Go online. Go anywhere you can to get the best answer – but make sure you source it properly (a great site to help out is http://citationmachine.net/index.php?callstyle=1&all=).

//What if I have a question about this assignment?//

Contact Mr. Freccia (frecciab@christina.k12.de.us). My response may not be immediate, but hopefully I will reply to your message in a timely manner (a few days).

//Since I’m paying for this book now, any suggestions on review guides?//

If you’ve taken an AP Course before and bought a review guide, go with the company that worked best for you. Buying a review guide and using it throughout the year (unit by unit) is the best way to prepare not only for unit exams but also for the AP exam. Princeton Review and Kaplan are the two most common choices.

Return to the AP United States History Unit Guide