English 10 Syllabus
Mr. J. E. Tolliver, Jr.
Tenth Grade English
Syllabus 2008-2009
Kecoughtan High School
Planning: First and Seventh
Grade Scale: A=100-93 B=92-85 C=84-75 D=74-68 F=67
Grade Distribution
Test/Essays/Projects 40% Classwork/Homework 30%
Quizzes 20% Class Participation 10%
Text: Elements of Literature, Fourth Course. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Wilson, Inc., 2007.
English-Blue Level. Evanston, 111: McDougal, Littell & Company.
Class Requirements
Loose-leaf Notebook: Students will need a three ring binder to keep all English work organized. It should be brought to class daily along with paper, pens and pencils. The notebook will be divided into the following sections with tabs: Daily Objectives, Notes, Writing and Journals, Vocabulary and Grammar. Notebooks will be checked periodically for organization and completion.
Journal: Students will be required to keep a writing journal. Students will be provided writing prompts daily and expected to thoroughly respond to them in a composition book or tablet, dedicated only to an English journal. The journals will be collected periodically and graded according to response efficiency, not grammatical accuracy. However, this does not mean run amuck.
Annotation of Literature: Students will annotate (make notes about text) on several reading assignments. Annotations are another form of writing. Annotations will be done on notebook paper or students personal copies of the text, never in the textbook.
Novels: Students will be required to read two novels from the appropriate grade level list and respond in the form of an outside reading log. Specific instructions will be given when the first novel is assigned. Responses will be graded on the understanding of the elements of literature, depth, and clear insightful understanding of the text.
Essays: Essays must present a clear well-written thesis, free of plot summary, with convincing evidence sited from the text. Rubrics for essays will be provided and directed toward each content selection. Essays are graded using Hampton City Schools SOL Rubrics involving students in the writing process: pre-writing; first rough draft; edit; second rough draft (revision); self-peer-edit; (revision) Final Draft. All errors noted should be validated and corrected to insure presentation of a quality final product. Most products will be word-processed in a double space format using 12 pts size and Times Roman font. All drafts must be presented on the date assigned and inside the manila writing folders provided by the instructor. No writing assignments will be accepted without the folder. Plagiarism-use of borrowed words without giving credit, copying without permission, or using another work is cheating. It is not acceptable and will not enhance your writing skills. Please see the Student Rights and Responsibility Handbook for clarification and discipline.
First Nine Weeks: Understanding Consumer Information/Elements of Fiction
Grammar: Subject/verb agreement, Verb tense, Fragments and run-ons, Direct/indirect object, prepositional phrase, predicate nominative/predicate adjective
Writing: Define ideas and concepts, comparison/contrast, literary analysis
Reading Elements of fiction, universal themes, archetypes, imagery, figurative language, identify main ideas and supporting ideas, make predictions/draw inferences, analyze authors’ word choices; short stories and novel selections
Second Nine Weeks: Elements of Nonfiction
Grammar: Subject/verb agreement, Direct/indirect object, Predicate nominative/predicate adjective, Parallel structure, Correlative conjunctions,
Writing: Define ideas and concepts, comparison/contrast, literary analysis, Collect information using technology from a variety of sources, organize information, MLA documentation
Reading: Elements of fiction, universal themes, archetypes, imagery, figurative language, identify main ideas and supporting ideas, make predictions/draw inferences, analyze authors’ word choices; short stories and novel selections; Short stories, nonfiction, and novel selections
Third Nine Weeks: Elements of Poetry
Grammar: Active vs passive voice, Sentence development, Parallel structure across sentences and paragraphs, Appositives and clauses, Colons, MLA documentation
Writing: Research process: Credit sources for both quoted and paraphrased ideas, organize information, central idea, accuracy and relevancy, organized patterns and techniques, present information in a variety of formats, use of technology
Reading: Elements of Poetry: Rhyme, Rhythm, and Sound, Apostrophe, Allusion, Imagery, Paradox, Oxymoron, Analogy, Symbolism, Personification
Fourth Nine Weeks: Elements of Drama
Grammar: Colons, Active and passive voice, Appositives, Main clauses and subordinate clauses, Sentence development, Parallel structure
Writing: Persuasive: Establish central idea, organization, elaboration, and unity; Revise for clarity; Proofread and prepare final product
Reading: Drama Unit. Dramatic elements: Aside, Monologue, Soliloquy, Irony (Dramatic, Verbal and Situational), Staging, Scripting, Character, Setting, Plot, Stage Direction
