Syllabus
English 10 Honors
Course Description
Through the study of the following units, students will build their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and thinking skills. Integrated into the units will be reinforcement of vocabulary, grammar, research skills, and study skills. English 10 Honors is preparatory to English 11 AP. Thus, more attention will be given to vocabulary, writing, analytical thinking skills, and public speaking skills. These units follow the Common Core Standards.
Assignments
Vocabulary-Vocabulary will be assigned on a weekly basis. Vocabulary is completed in two steps: (1) Write the definition (2) Use the word or variation of the word in a sentence and underline the word.
Homework-You will be given two to three homework assignments per week in addition to your regular assignments. Most homework and regular assignments are worth 10 points each. More complex and/or extensive writing assignments may be worth substantially more. Homework and daily assignments are worth 30% of your grade. Major assignments (essays, reports, projects), are worth 30% of your grade. See Grading Policy for further details. Do not discard any assignment until after the semester is over. This includes vocabulary, quizzes, homework, and other assignments.
Makeup work-See Grading Policy for details.
Extra Credit-See Grading Policy for details.
Participation/Merit
Points-Each student will receive approximately 25 participation/merit points each week just for being in class. However, there are many things that will cause you to lose these valuable points: being tardy to class (you cannot participate if you are not in class), not bringing books and required supplies, nonparticipation, unexcused absences, and not following the rules, to name a few. Participation is 10% of your grade.
Cheating-I have no tolerance for cheating. This includes quizzes, assessments, homework assignments, or anything else that I expect you to work on individually. Unless I specifically say for you to work on something with others—which will be in writing—you are to work alone. Any cheating will mean a zero for that test or assignment. If I catch you copying from another student’s work, you will both get zeros. This means that if you give someone your paper in order for him or her to copy, you will also get a zero. Every major writing assignment will be typed and a copy will be uploaded to
Assessments
There are benchmark tests at the end of every quarter. There will also be short weekly or biweekly quizzes covering vocabulary, grammar, literary terms, and reading comprehension. Quizzesare worth 20% of your grade. Benchmark tests are worth 10%.
Text
The primary textbook for the course is Holt Literature and Language Arts- Fourth Course; Warriner’s Handbook- Fourth Course.
Potential novels: Of Mice and Men, Things Fall Apart, Lord of the Flies, A Separate Peace, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Unit 1- Short Stories
Holt Literature & Language Arts: Chapter 1- Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket, The Trip, from In the Shadow of Man. Chapter 2- Everyday Use, Two Kinds, MLK’s Legacy: An Interview With Congressman John Lewis, A Young Boy’s Stand. Chapter 3- The Storyteller, Typhoid Fever, Evacuation Order No. 19, Islam in America, We Are Each Other’s Business. Chapter 4- Through the Tunnel, The Possibility of Evil, The Seventh Man, The Man in the Water, R.M.S. Titanic, A Fireman’s Story, From a Lifeboat, Unit 1 Writing Workshop- Biographical Narrative. Listening and Speaking Workshop- Presenting an Oral Narrative. Warriner’s Handbook: Chapter 1- Parts of Speech Overview, Chapter 2- The Parts of a Sentence, Chapter 3- The Phrase, Chapter 4- The Clause, Chapter 5 Agreement, Chapter 6- Using Pronouns Correctly, Chapter 7- Using Verbs Correctly.
Unit 2- Reading for Life
Holt Literature & Language Arts:Chapter 5- Following Technical Directions, Analyzing Workplace Documents, Citing Internet Sources, Reading Consumer Documents, Chapter 6- There Comes a Time When People Get Tired, Eulogy for Martin Luther King, Jr., from Cesar’s Way, Pack of Lies, Unit 2 Writing Workshop- Persuasive Essay, Listening and Speaking Workshop- Presenting an Argument. Warriner’s Handbook:Chapter 8- Using Modifiers Correctly, Chapter 9- A Glossary of Usage, Chapter 10- Capitalization.
Unit 3- Poetry
Holt Literature & Language Arts:Chapter 7- Same Song, Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?, since feeling is first, We Real Cool, Unit 3 Writing Workshop- Response to Poetry, Listening and Speaking Workshop- Presenting a Response to Literature. Warriner’s Handbook: Chapter 11- Punctuation, Chapter 12- Punctuation.
Unit 4- Drama
Holt Literature & Language Arts: Chapter 8- The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Acts I and II, A Big-Name Brutus in a Caldron of Chaos, Unit 4 Writing Workshop- Expository Essay, Listening and Speaking Workshop- Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches. Warriner’s Handbook: Chapter 13- Punctuation, Chapter 14- Punctuation.
Unit 5- Myths and Legends
Holt Literature & Language Arts: Chapter 9- Theseus, The Sword and the Stone, Birth of a Legend, Real Princess: A Portrait of Pocahontas, Unit 5 Writing Workshop- Research Paper, Listening and Speaking Workshop- Presenting Research. Warriner’s Handbook: Chapter 16- Spelling, Chapter 17- Correcting Common Errors, Chapter 18- Writing Complete Sentences.
Unit 6- Literary Criticism
Holt Literature & Language Arts: Chapter 10- from Into Thin Air, A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, from 102 Minutes, And of Clay Are We Created, from The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation, Unit 6 Writing Workshop- Business Communications, Listening and Speaking Workshop- Conducting an Interview. Warriner’s Handbook: Writing Complete Sentences.
*All units are subject to change or modification. The order shown is not necessarily the order in which they will be completed.
Weekly assignments can be checked at
You can contact me at the following web sites:
Class Guidelines
The following class rules will be strictly enforced. Please note that this is not meant to be an all-inclusive list.
1.Be in your seat and ready to work when the bell rings
2.Be respectful and polite to all people
3.Bring supplies and materials to class
4.Remain in assigned seat at all times
5.Respect other people’s property
6.No electronic devices, including cell phones—school board policy
7.No gum, candy, food, or drinks (water in bottle OK)
8.No hats, bandanas, etc. on head inside the classroom
9.Absolutely no red ink (or any variation of red or pink) allowed (best to use black or blue ink)
Consequences
Loss of participation points
Verbal warning
Detention
Parent contact
Office/counseling
Other (seat change, etc.)
Tardies
Each tardy will cost you five participation points.You are tardy if you are not completely in the classroom by the time the tardy bell begins to ring. You must get a tardy pass in order to enter the classroom. Remember, you cannot participate if you are not in class.
Passes
You will receive two passes per semester. Obviously, you cannot participate if you are not in class. Therefore, you need to save your passes for emergencies only. I will not allow you to use a pass for drinks or trips to the vending machines. I will need a note from a parent or guardian if a temporary medical condition exists that requires more visits to the restroom. Please do not leave necessary items in other teachers’ classrooms. You will NOT be allowed to go to other teachers’ classrooms to retrieve items after the tardy bell has rung.
Supplies
You must bring your textbook, paper, pencil, and pen to class every day.Remember, I have never had a “free day” in fifteen years of teaching, so the above items must be brought to class every day.
BHS English Department Grading Policy
See Grade Policy.
Please return to class by Friday, 8-15-14
I have read the English 10 Honors syllabus with my child and understand the requirements and expectations.
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