English 10 Honors
Mrs. Graff
Room 201
Email: hgraff@pv-eagles.org
Phone: Ext. 7246
Course Overview:
In this course, students will improve comprehension and analysis skills through the study of world literature. Genres including fables, epics, poems, and plays will be explored, enhancing student understanding of literary elements. An extensive research assignment will enable students to explore a topic and utilize the school’s material and technological resources. Students will also be expected to read several independent reading novels, compose literary analyses, and improve upon editing and revision skills. The goal of this course is to bridge the gap between world and American literature, as well as prepare students for AP English and college English courses.
Syllabus –
Unit 1: Early European Literature
Unit 2: Modern European Literature
Unit 3: East Asia and the Pacific
Unit 4: Southwest and South Central Asia
Unit 5: Africa
Unit 6: The Americas
Class Rules:
Lateness - Students are expected to arrive to class on time.
Absences – Students are expected to report to the teacher or another classmate for all missed work. Do not expect the teacher to notify any student of missed work. Makeup work is the student’s responsibility. For each day missed, a student is given one school day to complete missed assignments. Students will have one week to make up missed tests or quizzes. Failure to comply by these rules will result in an automatic zero. If one is absent the class period prior to a test or quiz, one is expected to still take it the day one returns. Lengthy absences or extenuating circumstances will be handled on an individual basis.
Class Conduct – This course is designed to expose students to various cultural writings as well as to analyze how literature has evolved throughout the world. Please leave any biases or prejudices outside our class.
Mature behavior is expected in class. Disruptions, inappropriate language or gestures, and lack of courtesy for fellow classmates or the teacher will not be tolerated. Teacher referrals and administrative intervention will occur.
Course Expectations:
Assignments – No homework will be accepted late.
For major writing assignments (such as the literary analysis), 10 percent of the total value will be deducted for the first day late, and no papers will be accepted beyond that point. Papers turned in after the student’s class period will be reduced by 10 percent. All papers will be submitted to Google Classroom. Additionally, a Turnitin.com submission will be required for each paper. It is the student’s responsibility to have the assignment submitted to this database.
The teacher will assist students in rough draft editing. For this to occur, the paper must be turned in at least two days prior to the due date.
Weekly Writings– Students will have a Google Classroom account and will complete weekly written assignments. These writings will be relevant to the curriculum and will allow students to further practice analytical skills. All weekly writings will be due Friday by midnight.
Word of the Day - We will record a word of the day each day. Marking Period 1 and 2 will be foreign words commonly used in our language, and Marking Period 3 and 4 will be SAT words. A quiz on these words will occur at the end of each marking period.
Literary Analyses - Selecting from the reading list, each student will be writing a literary analysis on some of the works read. It is expected this analysis will follow MLA guidelines and be handed in on or before the assigned due date. All papers must be submitted to Google Classroom. Because of this quantity of reading, one will need to budget his/her time. Personal goals will be created for each paper throughout the year.
Turnitin.com submissions are due by midnight on the due date.
Research Paper – The research paper will be a 200 point assignment involving extensive research and MLA skills. This will occur in the spring.
Classroom Reading/Novels - No textbook will be given. I will supply all materials, often in print and on Classroom. We will read, as a class, Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, and Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner.
Google Classroom - We will utilize Google Classroom for most assignments. I will often provide paper copies of readings as I find it important to take a break from the screen. The “Stream” will only be used for communication; the “Classwork” tab will have all assignments, categorized by topic (whichever country we are studying) or by assignment (there will be a weekly homework heading, literary analysis heading, etc.). Each Friday, I will post on the Stream the expected work/agenda for the following week. This is tentative, but it will give each student a preview of what is to come!