European History (AP)

Enrollment in AP European History indicates a commitment to prepare for and take the AP exam on Friday, May 11, 2007. Since AP courses must meet the rigorous curriculum standards established by the College Board, there must be an adequate amount of preparation that occurs during the summer before the actual class begins. This will help give you a foundation for the material covered in the first few weeks of class. The assignments below are the equivalent of a test grade, during the first quarter.

Required Summer Reading

Manchester, William: A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance, Back Bay Publishers, 1993. ISBN: 0316545562. This book can be purchased locally or ordered online. Purchase the least expensive copy available with the best available quality. There is no need to "buy it new". After reading the first chapter, "The Medieval Mind", write a four to five paragraph essay on the following: "As medieval men, crippled by ten centuries of immobility, they viewed the world through distorted prisms peculiar to their age." (pg. 26) Analyze and evaluate Manchester's statement. What were those prisms and how did they reflect the medieval character? After reading the second chapter, "The Shattering", write a four to five paragraph essay on the following: Identify and describe the social, political, and intellectual institutions that existed during the 15th century and how they were shattered by any TWO of the following: • Desiderius Erasmus • Martin Luther • Henry VIII of England • Niccolo Machiavelli • Johannes Gutenburg • Niclaus Copernicus The third chapter will be covered by your summer reading test during the first week of school. Criteria: Essays should be formally structured in the eight or eleven sentence format with a clearly identifiable thesis, typed, double spaced, with one-inch margins on all sides, in Times, New Roman 12 point font. Papers shall be submitted to Mr. Corner via email, as an MS Word attachment, at scott.corner.palmahs@gmail.com What does the AP mean by "analyze, evaluate, identify, and/or describe? Follow this link to the AP European History course description. AP Task Definitions You will find the definitions on page 28 of 54. Due Date: (Papers may be submitted early) Chapter 1 Essay: No later than, Monday, July 17th Chapter 2 Essay: No later than, Monday, August 14th

www.palmahs.org