English 10 Honors Syllabus

Fall 2010

Mr. Beppler

Room 440

E-mail:

Objectives/Standards of Learning:

Students will…

  • Participate in and report on small-group learning activities (SOL 10.1).
  • Analyze, produce, and examine similarities and differences between visual and verbal media messages (SOL 10.2).
  • Apply knowledge of word origins, derivations, and figurative language to extend vocabulary development in authentic texts (SOL 10.3).
  • Read, comprehend, and analyze literary texts of different cultures and eras (SOL 10.4).
  • Read, interpret, analyze, and evaluate nonfiction texts (SOL 10.5).
  • Develop a variety of writing to persuade, interpret, analyze, and evaluate with an emphasis on exposition and analysis (SOL 10.6).
  • Self- and peer-edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, and paragraphing (SOL 10.7).
  • Collect, evaluate, organize, and present information to create a research project (SOL 10.8).

Class Description

English 10 Honors is an exploration of literature from a variety of cultures and subcultures within the United States. The aim of this course is to further develop students’ grammatical, vocabulary, and writing skills. Projects, writing assignments, and class activities promote higher-level thinking skills that will prepare students for future honors and advanced placement classes as well as for the English SOL exam.

Texts

Major works:

Cisneros, Sandra – House on Mango Street

Gaines, Ernest – A Lesson Before Dying

Hansberry, Lorraine – A Raisin in the Sun

Hosseini, Khaled – The Kite Runner

Kingsolver, Barbara – The Bean Trees

Krakauer, Jon- Into the Wild

Lord, Walter – A Night to Remember

Martel, Yann – Life of Pi

Rose, Reginald – 12 Angry Men

Shakespeare, William – Much Ado About Nothing

Materials

You will need:

  • a one-subject, college-ruled notebook to use only as a writer’s journal
  • a three-ring binder with loose-leaf paper (this can be a binder you use for other classes as well)
  • pens / pencils

Grading

Your grade will be based on total points earned on quizzes, tests, writing assignments, homework, and classwork. To determine your average, the number of points you earn will be divided by the total points possible.

Your final grade will be the average of the three six weeks’ grades and the final exam grade. All students must take the final exam. There are no exceptions.

2 (1st six weeks) + 2 (2nd six weeks) + 2 (3rd six weeks) + 1 (final exam) = final grade

A = 93-100B = 86-92C = 78-85D = 70-77F = 0-69

Late Work

I am not under the impression that my class will be one of the important details of your entire existence. However, deadlines are a reality of life. If I file my taxes after April 15th, I pay a penalty. If I miss car payments, my car will get repossessed.

I will give you plenty of notice when assignments are due and will do my part to enable you to plan well. If you want to succeed, do your part.

1-3 days late = 5 point deduction per day

4+ days late = additional letter grade deduction per day

Behavior Expectations:

1. Be on time. Do not place your books on your desk before class and assume you’re free to return to the hall without being marked as tardy – if you are not in the classroom when the bell rings, you are late.

  • Be aware of the HHS tardy policy!

2. Do not talk or get out of your seat when the teacher is talking to the class.

3. Do not have any electronic device out during class. This includes cell phones, CD players/iPods, and cameras.

  • No warnings for this school-wide rule: device will be confiscated and turned in to the office

4. Restroom policy: Do not ask to leave the room for a restroom break or water during instruction. Depending on the class, we will take a five-minute, full-class restroom break each day…behavior permitting.

5. Respect your classmates and the teacher.

6. Obey the HHS Honor Code.

Writing Notebook

For an Honors class, I find it perfectly acceptable to expect half a page of writing for the daily warmup. I won’t even require you to write about the prompt of choice – feel free to respond with another topic on your mind that day. The constant variable, however, needs to be a half-page of exposition. We will do this at the beginning of class every day without fail – don’t fall behind!

* One final detail that arises EVERY semester: because English 10 is not an SOL test course, you HAVE to take the final exam for the class in January, regardless of how well you have performed or how high your grade is.