English 10

English 10 Syllabus

Reading and Literature

Focusing on a study of literary themes, students will develop an understanding that the theme of a work of literature is what relates literature to life, and that common themes recur across diverse works of literature. Students will read, interpret, and analyze informational material such as newspaper articles, editorials, and magazine and journal articles. They will also analyze themes and structure in fiction, including short stories, poetry, novels, and drama. Through extensive reading, students will acquire new vocabulary specific to the study of literature and apply that knowledge in their writing.

Writing

Students will continue to produce narratives, poems, informational essays, and technical documents. Students will practice timed writings and continue to use the stages of the writing process to develop compositions and writings that demonstrate an understanding of tone, point of view, style, organization, author’s purpose, and audience. Students will continue to use research and technology to support reading and writing.

Conventions

Students will increase their knowledge of the conventions of language in reading, writing, and speaking. They will demonstrate their control of the rules of English, focusing on the correct use of clauses, phrases, and the mechanics of punctuation. Sentence construction and usage will continue to be a focus for tenth graders. They will apply their knowledge of the conventions of format when producing technical writing, workplace writing, and research based papers.

Listening/Speaking/Viewing

Students will continue to develop their critical listening skills. Through presentations and interactions with the teacher and other students, they will apply effective speaking techniques in small and large group settings. The viewing standards will enable students to develop media literacy skills through the careful examination of contemporary texts including television, radio, film productions, and electronic media.

Grading Policy

Each assignment, in a point-based grading system, is assigned a point value. The final grade in a course is cumulative and determined by adding up all the points earned in individual assignments.

Homework policy

Absences and Make-up Work

All hand written assignments (aside from major papers which must be word processed unless otherwise stated) must be written in blue or black ink only (believe it or not, I am unable to read pencil).
Please write an appropriate heading on the top of each assignment. This will include your name, the course, the class period, the date, and the assignment title.
You must have the work in hand when you cross the threshold of the classroom. Late work is not expected, but certainly accepted.
It is the student’s responsibility to complete all work within a prescribed time. Failure to make up work will result in a zero for the assignment.

Classroom Rules/

expectations

Student Expectations

My students must:

be self-motivated and willing to do more than what is asked or required.
be tolerant of other people’s opinions.
accept instruction and constructive criticism in order to improve oral, written, and interpretive skills.
take full responsibility for all assignments.
make attendance a priority and make-up for missed work without prompting—ie: please see Google Classroom for assignments when you are absent so that you are caught up when you return.
listen carefully in class and take notes.
follow directions without excessive need for clarification.
prioritize one’s learning as an on-going process by refraining from procrastination and cramming.
I am available in Room 112, Monday through Thursday during ninth period, or by appointment.

Supply List

Required Materials

Three-ring binder, separate folder, or a section in an accordion folder to be used for English class only
Loose leaf paper
Pens – blue or black only

Recommended Materials

Highlighters

ENGLISH 10 SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT

Tenth-grade Honors English is designed as preparation for Advanced Placement Language and Composition (offered in the 11th grade) and Advanced Placement English Literature (offered in the 12th grade). The course of study is rigorous and should be attempted only by serious readers and writers. Students who do not maintain a satisfactory average and demonstrate a strong work ethic may not be recommended for future honors and/or advanced placement classes. It is important that you be placed appropriately for success in this program.

Your Task: This summer, you are to read an independent choice piece of literature. From this, you are to choose FIVE quotes or short passages (no more than three sentences) that YOU think are significant from the literature you have chosen for this assignment. You are to have a PHYSICAL COPY of these five quotes/passages (either handwritten in blue or black ink, OR word processed AND printed out) UPON ENTERING THE CLASS ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. Each student should be prepared to complete an assignment on the first day of class.

Criteria for choosing an independent choice piece of literature:

Choices could be any genre (fiction/nonfiction/fantasy/science fiction/dystopian etc.).
Must be appropriate for the tenth-grade classroom/reading level.
Selections could include novels, novellas, novels in verse, graphic novels, poetry collections, etc. NO SHORT STORIES, PLEASE.
You should be prepared to discuss plot, characters, thematic elements, etc.
It should be something that you HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY READ.

How do I know what quotes/passages are significant?

The quotes/passages that you choose could/should:

offer insights into the reading of the novel framed by thematic and/or structural connections.
demonstrate something about what the author might be saying about life. Think about what the author’s purpose might be in writing this quote or passage.
contribute or develop something else within the story (character, theme, conflict, central idea, etc.).
make you think and speculate about them. What do they add to the story? Why did you notice them?

This assignment is due the first full day of class in September 2025 and is a requirement to be accepted into the program. Again, please be prepared to complete an additional assignment on the first day of class.

Page updated

Report abuse