MADISON HIGH SCHOOL
Honors English 10A
MHS- English Department
1st Trimester- 2012
Monday-Friday 3rd Period
Instructor: Ryan Snelgrove
Office/Room: W107
Office Hours: M-F 7:30-8:15 a.m., M-F 1:05-2:15 p.m., M-Th 3:30-4:30
Phone: 359-3305 x 3122
Email: SnelgroveR@msd321.com
Name of Text Used:
10th Grade Literature Anthology- McDougal Littell, Houghton Mifflin, 2008. Units 1-4, 7-8
Crossroads: Classic Themes in Young Adult Literature. Foresman, Scott.
Grammar for Writing Handbook. McDougal Littell, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008.
The Count of Monte Cristo. Dumas, Alexander. Translated and abridged by Lowell Bair.
The Old Man and the Sea. Hemingway, Ernest.
To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee, Harper.
I Am the Cheese. Cormier, Robert.
Course Description: Honors English 10A is an augmented course that prepares sophomores for the
rigors of advanced placement, college-level course writing and reading. This course is not a prerequisite
for taking any AP or Dual Enrollment courses, but can provide experiences that will provide opportunities
to read and write in preparation for such. Throughout the course, you will be introduced to both classical
and contemporary literature, discusses themes and motifs as well as other literary elements, and write
both narrative and informative essays.
Course Objectives: The course objectives for Honors 10A coincide with the Common Core Language
Arts Standards and will focus on specific objectives. Upon completion of the course, the student should
have sufficient knowledge of and be able to:
Reading Objectives
 Determine theme and central ideas of texts, analyze complex characters, and understand
elements that advance plot and develop theme.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases in literature, including figurative and
connotative meanings.
 Analyze specific author choices including structure, point of view, and cultural experiences
related in works of literature.
 Read and comprehend literature, including stories, drama, and poems at a 10-11 text
complexity band independently and proficiently.
Writing Objectives
 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and
information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis
of content.
 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique,
well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
 Produce clear and coherent writing as well as develop and strengthen writing for a specific
purpose and audience.
 Conduct research projects that answer questions or solve a problem, using relevant
information, and drawing evidence from literary or informational text to support analysis,
reflection, and research.
Language Objectives
 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English Grammar and usage when
writing or speaking.
 Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts.
 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple meaning words and phrases as
well as demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in
word meanings. Acquire and use general academic and domain specific words and phrases.
Weekly Agenda:
Week One (three days)
Introduction
Beginning Course Assessment
Building Blocks
Root Words
Journal Writing and Peer Reviewing (Journal Entry #1)
Quiz
Week Two
Short Story Unit
Writing an Essay
Root Words Continued
In Class Essay #1
PERSONAL ESSAY
Quiz
Week Three (four days)
The Count of Monte Cristo Unit Begins
Root Words Continued
Grammar Rules
Establishing character/setting
Journal Entry #2
Content Quiz
Grammar Quiz #1
Week Four
Count of Monte Cristo Week Two
Root Words Conclusion
ICE #2
Character/Setting/Plot/Rhetoric
Quiz
Week Five
Count of Monte Cristo Week Three
Beyond Roots-Vocabulary Lists
Drafting a Narrative
Journal Entry #3
Quiz
TCOMC Group Project
Grammar Quiz #2
Week Six
Count of Monte Cristo Final Week
Your Vocabulary List DUE
Narrative Essay DUE
ICE #3
Monte Cristo Multiple Choice Test
Harvest Break
Week Seven (Four days)
To Kill a Mockingbird Week One
TKM Vocabulary
Intro to Informative Essay
Journal Entry #4
TKM Character Journal and Map Assigned
Quiz
Week Eight (Four days)
TKM Week Two
Vocabulary
ICE #4
Journal/Map
Grammar Quiz #3
Quiz
Week Nine
TKM Final Week
The Real World of Harper Lee
Vocabulary Due
INFORMATIVE ESSAY DUE
Journal Entry #5
TKM Test
Week Ten
I Am The Cheese Week One
Individual Vocabulary Lists
Writing an Analysis
ICE #5
Quiz
Week Eleven
I am the Cheese Week Two
Individual Vocabulary Lists
Journal Entry #6
Grammar Quiz #4
Final Project discussion
Week Twelve
IATC Week Three
IVL due
ICE #6
IATC Test
FINAL PROJECTS DUE
Finals Week
Course Expectations: Students are expected to follow the Madison High School policies in
regards to classroom conduct and attendance. Please refer to the MHS student handbook for
policies.
Grading: While I do not grade by weight and percentages, the following percentages show the weight of
each assignment on the final grade (out of 1500 points). The grade scale for this class is A 95-100, A- 9094, B+ 88-89, B 83-87, B- 80-82, C+ 78-79, C 73-77, C-70-72, etc.
ASSIGNMENT LIST, POINTS, and PERCENTAGE
Total Points Possible:1500
I.C.E.’s (6 total) 25 points each 2% each
Journal Entries with Peer review ( 6 total)- 20 points each 1% each or 13% of your total grade
TKM Character Journal- 70 points-5%
TKM Map- 50 points-3%
Essays (3 total) 100 points each 7% or 20% of your total grade
Weekly Quizzes (10 total) 7% of your total grade
Multiple Choice Tests (3 total, one in each unit) 50 points each 10% of your total grade
Grammar Quizzes (4 total, 25 points each) 7% of your total grade
Vocabulary Packets (50 points each, 3 total) 10% of your total grade
Weekly Participation (10 points each) 7% of your total grade
Projects (3 total, 30 points each) 6% of your total grade