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Well, are you ready for some summer reading? I'm excited to hear what you make of the book you've chosen to read for AP Language and Composition!

Some quick notes about what to expect if you've never posted on a wiki before:

First of all, I need to you request membership to the wiki by clicking the "**Join this Wiki**" link on the left side of the page. Once you do that, I will be able to accept your request, and you will be able to start writing.

(//I do this so I can monitor who posts what and when it was posted. Any changes you make on this wiki, I will be able to see what you've done and be able to change it, if I need to.//)

When you have selected the book you'd like to read, click on the link below or in the far left column of this page that represents the title you've chosen. When you open that page, you will need to click on the "**Edit**" tab at the top of the page -- then you can **start writing**. Make sure you click on the "**Save**" button on the bar that appears when you're editing before you close the window. (//Some folks do their writing in Word, and then copy and paste to the wiki to ensure they have a version saved before they get to the wiki.//)

Before you start your book, it might help to read some of my thoughts about the literature and what I hope to hear from you as you read. These can be found on the pages (links below or to your left).

A quick note about **writing style**: This is not meant to be a formal writing assignment. My hopes are that this wiki becomes a place where readers can share their thoughts about what they're reading: exchanging ideas, sharing insights, and reflecting together. I don't want any of that to be lost because we're worried about where the semi-colon goes.

Txt language might show up, fragments might be the perfect way to communicate your ideas, and sentences might just start with a coordinating conjunction -- and it'll be ok. (//On that note, if you want to see my all-time favorite way to start a story, check out Seamus Heaney's first sentence in his translation of// __//Beowulf//__.)

Also, it might look a bit messy as we're responding to each other, and that's ok, too. If you want to put your writing in a different color than black, go right ahead (check out the "T" button in that edit bar). Changing the text color might be especially helpful if you're responding to someone else's work; for example (you've read //Julius Caesar//, right?):

Wow! I'm not sure what to make of **Portia** -- I mean, I get why she wants to know Brutus' secrets, and it it kinda impressive how she finds all of those ways to try to change his mind. I guess what struck me the most was when she cut her leg to prove the point that she could handle anything he told her. This may have something to do with the philosophy of stoicism that started in Greece. The idea was that emotions could be ruled by reason, and that's what Portia was trying to prove, right? It was also cool how she used "I grant I am a woman ..." over and over to drive her point. I like that use of repetition, too. It reminds me of lots of political speeches I know. "I have a dream ... " ring any bells? :)


 * //Don't forget :) Your challenge in this writing is to discover why Ms. Lange categorized the six works into those two columns. After enough people have posted, look for similarities between the books. What could connect them? and what makes them different from the other three? //**
 * * //Outcasts United //
 * //Mountains Beyond Mountains //
 * //Three Cups of Tea // || * //All Over but the Shoutin' //
 * //I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings //
 * //The Woman Warrior // ||


 *  If you have any questions, e-mail me: petra.lange@dmps.k12.ia.us **

Ok -- so let's get started. The links below connect you to the pages where you can write about the book you've chosen.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">http://aplange.wikispaces.com/All+Over+But+the+Shoutin
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">http://aplange.wikispaces.com/Three+Cups+of+Tea
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">http://aplange.wikispaces.com/Mountains+beyond+Mountains
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">http://aplange.wikispaces.com/The+Woman+Warrior
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">http://aplange.wikispaces.com/Outcasts+United
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">http://aplange.wikispaces.com/I+Know+Why+the+Caged+Bird+Sings