Okanogan High School
Instructor:
Dennis P. O'Connor
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7:30-8:00 AM, 3:00PM-4:00PM, Tues. and Thurs. 12:45-1:45.
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 cohesion and development.
Students will move beyond basic self-expression toward eloquence and complexity 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, Smarter Balanced test preparation , 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, Introduction to Reading Non-Fiction
and Poetry Analytically, Introduction to Using Evidence from Text to Support
Analysis.
(Six Days)
A.
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)
B.
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.
C.
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
(seven weeks)
D.
Poetry Out Loud - Poetry Out Loud – Literary Analysis.
1.
Decoding, Word Order, Tone.
2.
Close reading, connotation versus denotation, memorization techniques, recitation, emotional maturity.
(three 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 – Research and Documentation, Literature, Smarter Balanced argumentation and selected response preparation. Project, Taming of the Shrew,
Vocabulary Study.
E.
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)
F.
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)
G.
Smarter Balanced Test Preparation; on-demand research and writing for argumentation, connecting current writing skills to testing, responding to prompts, brainstorming, organizing, conventions, style; reading multiple choice questions, factual vs. inference questions, reading text, charts, tables.
(two weeks)
Quarter 3 Vocabulary Final - Spell and define a selection of words from previous second quarter spelling quizzes. Greek Etymology. Portfolio Assessment.
Smarter Balanced Argumentation Writing, Selected Response Reading tests.

H.
Journalism – Biographical Profile for Memorial Day.
1.
Interviewing.
2.
Writing an article form interview notes.
3.
Publication and cash reward for contest winners.
(three weeks)
I.
Much Ado About Nothing - 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.
(five 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 - 2015/2016