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The notes for the environmentalism unit are located in this folder. The quiz will cover:
The real onslaught began with the onset of large-scale commercial hunting carried out by well-organised trappers and shippers in order to supply the developing cities on the east coast of the United States with a cheap source of meat. It began once railways linking the Great Lakes area with New York opened in the early 1850s. By 1855 300,000 pigeons a year were being sent to New York alone. The worst of the mass slaughter took place in the 1800s and 1870s. The scale of the operation can be judged by figures that seem almost incredible but which were carefully recorded as part of a perfectly legal and highly profitable commerce. On just one day in 1860 (23 July) 235,200 birds were sent east from Grand Rapids in Michigan.
Not surprisingly, even the vast flocks of pigeons could not withstand slaughter on this scale. Numbers fell rapidly and by the late 1880s large flocks, which had once been so common, had become a matter for comment and investigation, and most were no more than a few hundred strong. The last known specimens were seen in most states of the eastern United States, in the 1890s, and the passenger pigeon died out in the wild in Ohio about 1900. The last survivor of a species that had once numbered 5 billion died in captivity in 1914.
–Clive Ponting, A Green History of the World
Read two of the following works of non-fiction thoroughly. When you return to school in the fall, you should be able to write intelligently about the ideas, arguments, concepts, and writing style of each work. Pay particular attention to the central argument(s) of each work, and how the author connects with her audience. Some of these works are very challenging; make sure to read carefully and consider finding a partner to read and discuss the text with you. Download the complete list of books here. I have one copy of each book available for checkout. Once you’ve decided on a book, feel free to come check it out.
Also, please select one of the blogs listed here or an editorial columnist and follow his/her work during the summer.
A final suggestion would be to read as many articles from quality magazines like The Atlantic, The New Yorker, and/or Harper’s Magazine during the summer.
Students entering AP Literature in the fall should read The Odyssey and one additional text from the list located on this page. Read each text thoroughly, paying close attention to how the author constructs meaning and demonstrates style.
Students entering AP Language in the fall should read The New Kings of Non-Fiction and one other title from the list available on this page. Read each text thoroughly, with particular attention paid to style and argumentation.
Students entering AP Language would also benefit greatly from becoming more familiar with current events and social issues. Periodicals like The New Yorker, Harper’s, and The Atlantic Monthly would be great sources.
