Summer Reading Lists
STUDENTS ENROLLED IN HONORS, IB or AP ENGLISH CLASSES ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE SUMMER READING BEFORE THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR
Honors English 9
Summer Reading Assignment
25-26 Material Coming Soon
Contact Mrs. Jennifer McElroy at jmcelroy@avhsd.org if you have questions or concerns.
Honors English 10
Summer Reading Assignment
25-26 Material Coming Soon
Contact Mrs. Jennifer McElroy at jmcelroy@avhsd.org if you have questions or concerns.
AP English 11
Summer Reading Assignment
All students enrolled in IB English 11 or Advanced Placement English 11 for the 2025-2026 school year are required to read the following books during the summer prior to the opening of school:
25-26 Material Coming Soon
In this advanced English course, you will study and practice the art of persuasion. Our primary focus is rhetorical analysis, a critical skill that requires a thoughtful approach in understanding the choices an author makes, and guides us in determining how and why those choices create a greater appeal.
We will explore a diverse array of texts–primarily nonfiction–including essays, documentaries, speeches, op-eds, memoirs, and visual media, each challenging us with a variety of purposes and perspectives. In turn, we will consider our aptitude for discourse and rhetoric, and implement those effective techniques into our own argumentative writing.
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Summer Writing Assignment In preparation for AP Language & Composition coursework, you will compose a rhetorical analysis essay. The prompt will ask you to read a short text and detail the strategies the author used to enhance the effectiveness of their message. We ask that you treat this essay as a true representation of your own original writing, without guidance, collaboration, research, or AI assistance–complete it on your own. This will provide your teacher with a writing sample, and you will use this as a starting point for this school year. We are also requiring that you write the essay by hand on lined notebook paper (this is how the majority of writing assignments will be completed throughout the year) to be similar to the timed-write setting. Once complete, you will scan or submit a picture of your essay and upload it to the Google Classroom assignment. (The prompt will become available at the start of summer break) |
While there is no requirement to read a particular novel this summer, we absolutely encourage you to spend time with literature that challenges and engages you. Great readers make great writers, and you will have the opportunity to practice these same skills throughout the year with independent reading assignments, so feel free to get a head start.
We look forward to seeing you at the start of the 2025-26 school year!
IB English 11
SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT
25-26 Material Coming Soon
International Baccalaureate Program
Advanced Placement
IB/AP English 12
Summer Reading Assignment
25-26 Material Coming Soon
AP/English 12
25-26 Material Coming Soon
AP/IB English 12
Summer Reading Assignment
2025-2026
25-26 Material Coming Soon
Students should take careful notes examining literary elements including, but not limited to themes, motifs, characters, setting, tone, and point of view. These are terms students should be conversant with as they enter the advanced level senior year classroom. During the first few weeks of school, teachers will be focusing on these novels during in-class discussions; therefore, it is important that students are prepared. As a culminating activity, students will write an analytical essay at their teacher’s direction.
Note: These books may contain adult themes.
As you read, take notes on notebook paper, in a Google Doc, or on Post-It notes in the book. You may choose to purchase your own copy so that you can write notes directly on the pages. If you cannot purchase a copy, please consider using the public library. If neither of these are available to you, please contact English Department chair Mrs. Jennifer McElroy at jmcelroy@avhsd.org.
IB students may contact Mr. Jonathan Fitch at jfitch@avhsd.org with questions about the summer reading or any other IB12 Literature issue.