10th Grade
Students should complete at least ten questions from the SKillsbook every day. Please go over the
answers in class and allow the students to correct it for credit. They need to write the sentences
everyday! I count this as a participation grade a couple times a week. If they finish the skillsbook, they
need to respond to writing prompts. Write at least 5 sentences.
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday-Literature Days
(FRIDAYS ARE ALSO QUIZ DAYS)
Tuesday and Thursday-Writing Days
December
http://www.slideshare.net/MattChristensen/literary-terms-presentation Review Literary Terms from the
slideshow and start giving students quizzes on Fridays, or every other Friday, over the literary terms,
grammatical terms, and dramatic elements.
The information for the terms is on my website: www.schoolrack.com/lstine
Write expository essays
(a) Cause-Effect Essay Write Source Pg. 145
Read Kaffir Boy (literature book pg 445) and write an opinion-based cause/effect essay that
would explain what caused Mark to understand the importance of education and how it affected
his life.
(b) Definition Essay Pg. 185-Have students write a paragraph describing an abstract idea of their
choice without mentioning the name of the idea. Read the paragraph aloud to the class and
determine if anyone can figure out the idea.
(c) Problem-Solution Essay Pg. 201 Read “And of Clay we are Created” and “Columbia’s Mortal
Agony” (Literature book 343 &355) Write a problem solution essay to explain the problems
created by volcanic eruptions and some potential solutions to solve the problem.
Read “Contents of a Dead Man’s Pocket” (Literature book pg 199), and then write a response
Analyzing the theme of the work. Write Source Analyzing theme pg 255.
Read Le Morte d’Arthur (Literature book pg 915). Go over the types of archetypes in the lessons, and
then write a creative writing assignment: Imagine that you are a reporter sent back in time to report
the events involving Arthur and the sword. Write a news story, using “quotations” from people who
witnessed the events. If you have time—schedule a day in the library for students to create authentic
looking articles. (creative writing—Write Source pg 313)
January
Go over the material in the Write Source book about how to do a research paper. They need to know
the MLA format—how to cite sources. (write Source 343 &355)
Write a research paper. Tenth grade must write an analytical essay. They need to select one story
from the text book, and write an analytical essay about the story. (NO MORE THAN TWO STUDENTS
SHOULD WRITE ABOUT THE SAME STORY). Go over the Writing An Analytical Essay powerpoint with the
students so they understand the types of things that they should be looking for in the text. They should
explain their opinion of the author’s purpose, use of literary elements within the text, reason for using
the specific point of view, how the setting affects the events in the story, their ideas about the theme of
the text, ect. They need to have 20 note cards with information, an outline, a rough draft, and a final
copy. Their research paper needs to be 1250 words. They should also make an oral presentation of the
information. It should be approximately two minutes long and include some type of visual aid. (Write
Source pg 393)
Review the elements of drama from the Drama powerpoints. Go over Shakespeare and Elizabethan
Drama (Literature book pg 772). Read Julius Caesar (Literature Book pg 778) in class.
February
Read Animal Farm with the class. Go over the following terms and discuss how they apply to the story:
Fable –a narration intended to enforce a useful truth,especially one in which animals speak and act like
humans.
Parable – short fictious story that illustrates a moral attitude or religious priniciple.
Allegory- A narration with 2 levels of meaning. One level is the surface or literal meaning and the
second level is a deeper meaning. The events, characters, settings, and object represent specific ideas
and have a one to one correspondence.
Example: Each of the animals/ characters in Animal Farm represent specific people or groups from the
Russian Revolution and rule of Stalin. Allegory should NOT be confused with symbolism.
Satire – The literary art of making fun of something that the author believes should change. A writer’s
purpose in satire is to (hopefully) bring about a change. While the reader may find the satirical work
entertaining, the primary purpose is to evoke change – NOT to entertain.
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the absurd
allusion
antihero
Bolshevik Revolution
communism
digression
fantasy
fate
grotesque
irony
narrator reliability
persona
repetition
Stalinism
During the reading, students should take the Animal Farm quiz, and after reading,
students should take the Animal Farm Test to assess knowledge.
Powerpoint to introduce the book:
http://www.slideshare.net/tranceking/animal-farm-powerpoint-intro
Before Reading: This slideshow is great to teach historic terms in Animal Farm:
http://www.slideshare.net/widenerd/historic-terms-in-animal-farm
Review for Animal Farm game should be presented before the test:
http://www.slideshare.net/tranceking/animal-farm-review-game