ENGLISH 10 SYLLABUS
Okanogan High School
Instructor:
Dennis P. O'Connor
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7:30-8:00 AM, 12:45-1:10, 3:00PM-4:00PM
Contact Info:
Work – 422-3770 ext. 3667, doconnor@oksd.wednet.edu
Home – 422-1844 (before 8:00PM), dpoc@charter.net
Course Description:
The English 10 program is designed to prepare students to think clearly and
express those thoughts in a variety of formats. Successful completion of this
course will prepare students to take the Common Core Reading and Language
Exam their junior year. Students will study poetry, literary analysis, creative
writing, research writing, drama, and debate. Sophomore students will be
expected to expand upon their basic understanding of punctuation, sentence
structure, vocabulary, and paragraph and essay development. Students will
move beyond basic self-expression toward eloquence in thought and word.
Computer skills will be expanded to include various internet resources and
classroom programs. All final projects are expected to be created upon a
computer.
Resources:
Cool Hand Luke, ,The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, To Kill a Mockingbird, The
Writer’s Options, Getting the Knack, Poetry Out Loud, Quizlet, OSPI HSPE Prep
materials, Taming of the Shrew.
Procedures and Grading:
Please see the “Course Policies” link for classroom procedures and grading
policies.
General Expectations:
1. All students will attempt to pass this course.
2. Students will be polite to their classmates and the teacher.
3. Students will be ready to work as soon as the bell rings, (pen and paper
already out).
4. Students will be prepared to work until the bell rings at the end of class.
5. The teacher will provide worthwhile, practical, and fun (usually) learning
projects.
6. The teacher will help students understand and complete assignments.
7. The teacher will be available to help students during office hours.
8. The teacher will be fair and attempt to have a good sense of humor. 
Semester 1 – Analytical Reading, Authentic Intellectual Work,
Academic Courage, Vocabulary Study, Huckleberry Finn, Cool Hand
Luke, Research and Debate, Poetry Out Loud, The Research Paper.
Review: Classroom Procedures, Grading, Vocabulary Study, Mindset, Authentic
Intellectual Work, Academic Courage, Reading Non-Fiction and Poetry
Analytically.
(one week)
A. Huckleberry Finn - Author’s Purpose, Evidence-Based Responses. Close reading,
using quotes as evidence, personal connections, hooks, transitions, expansion,
layering, closing links.
1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – reading, analysis.
2. Non-fiction reading for historical context – Civil War, Reconstruction, Jim
Crow Laws.
3. Up Front – Current Events – Tied to literature and content readings.
4. Literary Response Essay
(four weeks)
B. Journalism – Biographical Profile for Veteran’s Day.
1. Interviewing.
2. Writing an article form interview notes.
3. Publication and cash reward for contest winners.
(two weeks)
C. Cool Hand Luke- Reading and Analyzing a Movie.
1. Self-Reliance – Ralph Waldo Emerson – Compare and Contrast with CHL.
2. Examine our principles, compare and contrast our principles to Luke’s,
applying principles, oral presentation.
3. Non-fiction – Work camps in the south.
4. Non-linguistic Representation with Oral Presentation
(three weeks)
Quarter 1 Vocabulary Final - Spell and define a selection of words from previous first
quarter spelling quizzes. Latin Etymology. Portfolio Assessment.
D. Research and Argumentation – Issues in Education.
1. Debate – MLA documentation, Toulmin Model, Analysis of Online Sources.
2. Academic controversy, moving debate, Lincoln/Douglas structure, internet
search techniques, credible sources, MLA works cited formatting.
(two weeks)
E. Poetry Out Loud - Poetry Out Loud – Literary Analysis.
1. Decoding, Word Order, Tone.
2. Close reading, connotation versus denotation, memorization techniques,
recitation, emotional maturity.
(two weeks)
F. Research and Argumentation –
1. CBA – Cogent Argumentation and Organization.
2. Cross-curricular project: reading non-fiction analytically, evaluating
information, internet search techniques, credible sources, MLA works cited
page, research paper structure, use of data and quotes within paragraphs,
writing creatively and personally in argumentation.
3. Research Paper with Works Cited.
(two weeks)
Quarter 2 Vocabulary Final - Spell and define a selection of words from previous second
quarter spelling quizzes. French and Spanish Etymology. Portfolio Assessment.
Semester 2 – Literature, HSPE Writing, HSPE Reading, Lyric Analysis,
Project, Taming of the Shrew, Vocabulary Study.
A. To Kill a Mockingbird - Author’s Purpose, Evidence-Based Responses. Close
reading, using quotes as evidence, personal connections, hooks, transitions,
expansion, layering, closing links.
1. Non-fiction – Civil Rights Movement, and Legislation.
2. Up Front - Current Events – tied to other readings.
3. Literary analysis paper.
(four weeks)
B. HSPE Test Preparation Activities; on-demand writing for exposition and
argumentation, connecting current writing skills to testing, responding to
prompts, brainstorming, organizing, conventions, style, scoring; reading multiple
choice questions, factual vs. inference questions, reading text, charts, tables.
(two weeks)
HSPE Testing; Expository Writing, Persuasive Writing, Reading
Quarter 3 Vocabulary Final - Spell and define a selection of words from previous second
quarter spelling quizzes. Greek Etymology. Portfolio Assessment.
C. Song Lyric Analysis - Figurative language, Analysis, and The Arts in Our Lives.
1. Imagery and Meaning – Constructing meaning.
2. Metaphor and Simile.
3. Oral presentation with PowerPoint.
(four weeks)
D. Taming of the Shrew - Shakespeare synthesis of literary themes into
current times, creative writing, performance.
1. Comparison/Contrast – Video vs. Script.
2. Decoding Language.
3. Gender and Relationships – Times have changed.
4. Non-fiction – historic and social context. Current events.
5. Performance of modern ending. Students choice of scene and format.
(four weeks)
Quarter 4 Vocabulary Final - Spell and define a selection of words from previous second
quarter spelling quizzes. Old English Etymology. Portfolio Assessment.
Dennis O'Connor - 2014/2015