[PDF] Summer Reading APWH

15560_5Summer_Reading_APWH.pdf

GREETINGS AP WORLD HISTORY 2021-2022 STUDENTS:I hope your exam preparation is going well and you are looking forward to a refreshing summer break!Congratulations on being recommended for and accepting the challenge of A.P. World History next year! You are like Neo in the first Matrix movie who opted for the red (adventure, challenge) pill rather than the blue (status quo, complacency) pill. If you are not sure what this means, check out the video on Canvas after you enroll in the course. Watch your email for a Canvas course invite!In an effort to prepare for an AWESOME year in AP WORLD you will need to complete a summer reading assignment. Below are example options for reading. You only need to CHOOSE ONE. All of these books are excellent introductions to how the study of history can be awesome and insightful. The synopses gives you an idea of period and place - consider them carefully when making your choice. You need to choose your book on Canvas and will become part of a "Virtual Book Club.". Sign-up on Canvas will begin next week and only 6 readers will be allowed per book on a first-come-first-served basis. Once you have a confirmed choice, acquire the book at your local library, Amazon, or bookstore (or audiobook) and begin reading at your leisure. BONUS: An OPTIONAL posting forum with guiding questions will be available where you have the opportunity to earn a BONUS POINT that you can "pocket" and add to any of the 1st Semester Essay Assessments. While the bonus point may not sound like much, the rubrics are on a 7 and 6 point scale, so the point would actually make the difference of a letter grade. The first four students to post for each book earn the point.When the year begins, we will have activities related to the content of each book. Later in the year, when the part of history dealing with your book becomes more relevant, your group will prepare a presentation using the book's content to elaborate on World History. Feel free to email with questions: timschrems@grcatholiccentral.org I look forward to seeing you in the fall and until then - have an awesome summer!

UNIT 1: The Global TapestryUNIT 6: Consequences of IndustrializationSiddhartha - Hesse A young Siddhartha leaves his family for a contemplative life, then restless, discards it for now of the flesh. He conceives a son, but bored & sickened by lust & greed, moves on again. Near despair, he comes to a river where he hears a unique sound that signals the true beginning of his life. (152 pages - historical fiction)King Leopold's Ghost - Hochschild In the 1880s, King Leopold II of Belgium seized territory surrounding the Congo River & out a genocidal plundering of the Congo. A brave handful of missionaries, travelers, and young idealists went to Africa for work or adventure & unexpectedly found themselves witnesses to a holocaust & began the 1st human rights movement of the 20th C.. (366 pages - history)UNIT 2: Networks of ExchangeUNIT 7: Global ConflictThe Baljuna Covenant - PelkeyJames Andrews finally appears to be catching a break. After years of searching for Genghis Khan's tomb, he unearths a bone during a dig on Mongolia's holy mountain. The journey begins to unlock the secrets of13th century Eurasia.(364 pages - historical fiction)In the Garden of Beasts - Larson This book lends a stunning, eyewitness perspective on the rise of Nazi Germany, revealing an era of surprising nuance & complexity. The result is a dazzling, addictively readable work that speaks volumes about why the world did not recognize the grave threat posed by Hitler until Berlin, and Europe, were awash in blood and terror. (444 pages - history)UNIT 3: Land-Based EmpiresUNIT 8: Cold War and DecolonizationThe Architect's Apprentice - Shafak 16th c. Istanbul: a stowaway arrives bearing an extraordinary gift for the Sultan. Utterly alone he begins an epic adventure that will see young Jahan rise from lowly origins to the highest ranks of the Sultan's court. One day he encounters the royal architect, Sinan, who will change his fortunes forever. (455 pages historical fiction)Train to Pakistan - Singh In 1947, India and Pakistan are partitioned leaving its people with little choice but to migrate to their new lands. This has a disturbing impact on what had been a peaceful community populated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims. (181 pages-historical fiction)UNIT 4: Transoceanic InterconnectionsUNIT 9: GlobalizationMagdalena and the Perilous Journey - Cash A chronicle of a young woman's journey during the era of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Indian Pueblos, led by Cuernos Blancos, unite together to revolt against the Spaniards. Magdalena and her family are caught in the crosshairs of the revolt. (217 pages- historical fiction)How Soccer Explains the World - Foer In this remarkably insightful, wide-ranging work of reportage, Franklin Foer takes us on a surprising tour through the world of soccer, shining a spotlight on the clash of civilizations, the international economy, and just about everything in between. How Soccer Explains the World is an utterly original book that makes sense of our troubled times. (288 pages - non-fiction)UNIT 5: RevoutionsRECAP OF HOW YOUR SUMMER READING ESTABLISHED SUCCES IN APWH 2020-21•provides insight into an era/topic in World History that captures your interest•provides the subject matter for first day(s) team activity (ice breaker)•optional bonus essay point for posting to forum•opportunity for you to teach your peers about your book choice and it's connection to world history!A Tale of Two Cities - Dickens It was the time of the French Revolution - a time of great change, danger, injustice, & vengeance. Unjustly imprisoned for 18 years in the Bastille, Dr. Alexandre Manette is reunited with his daughter, Lucie, and safely transported from France to England. Yet danger for him does not end. Brilliantly plotted, the novel is rich in drama, romance, and heroics. (304 pages - historical fiction)

Ten Reasons Why Students Should Take Advanced Placement Courses1.Students study a subject in greater depth and are in classes with other students who are enthusiastic about sharing ideas and concepts in academically challenging ways2.Students who take AP courses are likely to vastly improve their writing skill, which is the main type of assessment in college course work.3.Students who succeed in AP courses and exams know that they have the ability to succeed in college, which helps them have the confidence to take more difficult and demanding courses.4.Students who are successful in AP courses often enter college as sophomores. Over 1,400 institutions in the United States grant a full year's credit to students who have enough credits from taking AP courses and exams.5.Students who take AP courses often look at things differently. They often have experiences that broaden their horizons and provide them with new insights into their own skills and interests.6.Rigorous classes develop those "soft skills" you need in college like work ethic, study skills, collaboration with peers, and time management.7.Students who take AP courses improve their chances of getting into competitive colleges.8.Students who take AP courses and exams increase their options at college. They may be able to take upper level courses in their field of interest or complete their undergraduate degrees in less than four years thus saving money on college tuition.9.Students who excel in AP courses may receive a Scholar Award from the College Board.10.Most importantly, students who take AP courses know that they have mastered rigorous academic courses. This knowledge may encourage them to take academic risks that result in significant accomplishments in college and throughout their lives.