Robert E. Lee High School
English 10 Honors
Course Syllabus – Tripp Ennis
E-mail tennis@staunton.k12.va.us
Course Description: The emphasis of this honors course is a thematic approach to world literature, including
multicultural literature. In addition to reading various representative novels, students will study drama, poetry, and
short stories. Analytical and creative responses to the literature will be stressed in composition and
discussion. Rigorous outside reading is a requirement of the course.
Materials Needed:
One Subject Notebook
1 Three-Ring Binder
Pens and Pencils
Novels To Purchase:
Life of Pi
Brave New World
Homework Expectations: Students will not be required to do homework on a daily basis; however, some projects
and assignments will require work to be completed outside of class. In addition, it is suggested that students spend a
minimum of thirty minutes reading outside of school.
Grading System:
15% Daily Work – Covering all learning Targets
15% Reading Learning Target 1 – Vocabulary
20% Reading Learning Target 2 – Fiction Comprehension and Analysis
10% Reading Learning Target 3 – Non-fiction Comprehension and Analysis
25% Writing Learning Target 1 – Essay Composition
15% Writing Learning Target 2 – Grammar
Grading Scale
A+ = 98-100
B+ = 90-92
C+ = 82-84
D+ = 75-76
F = 69 and
below
A = 95-97
B = 87-89
C = 79-81
D = 72-74
A- =
B- =
C- =
D- =
93-94
85-86
77-78
70-71
Student Conduct Rubric
A Respectful, cooperative, responsible
B Occasional lapses in good behavior
C Inappropriate behavior
D Defiant
F Repeated Defiance
Course Objectives:
The tenth-grade student will become a skilled communicator in small-group learning activities. The
student will read and critique literary works from a variety of eras and cultures. Attention will be given to
the analysis of consumer information, such as labels, owners. manuals, warranties, and contracts. The
student will critique the writing of peers and professionals, using analysis to improve writing skills. The
student will continue to build research skills by crediting sources and presenting information in a format
appropriate for content. Grammar knowledge will be expanded as the student presents, writes, and edits
materials, applying the conventions of language (Tenth Grade English SOLs).
English 10 SOLs
Communication: Speaking, Listening, Media Literacy
Writing
10.1 The student will participate in, collaborate in, and
report on small-group learning activities.
10.6 The student will develop a variety of writing to
persuade, interpret, analyze, and evaluate with an emphasis
on exposition and analysis.
10.2 The student will analyze, produce, and examine
similarities and differences between visual and verbal
media messages.
10.7 The student will self- and peer-edit writing for correct
grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, sentence
structure, and paragraphing.
Reading
10.3 The student will apply knowledge of word origins,
derivations, and figurative language to extend
vocabulary development in authentic texts.
10.4 The student will read, comprehend, and analyze
literary texts of different cultures and eras.
10.5 The student will read, interpret, analyze, and
evaluate nonfiction texts.
Research
10.8 The student will collect, evaluate, organize, and
present information to create a research product.
First Nine Weeks
Second Nine Weeks
Unit 1
Literature: Ancient World Literature
Novel: Life of Pi; Siddhartha
Poetry: Bhagavad Gita
Misc: Vedas
Tanakh
Gospels
Qur’an
Unit 3
Literature: Colonial and Post Colonialist Literature
Novel: Things Fall Apart
Play: The Tempest
Poetry: “Sonnet: 18” by William Shakespeare
“Sonnet: 138” by William Shakespeare
“White Man’s Burden” by Rudyard Kipling
“Black Man’s Burden” by Hubert Harrison
“The Second Coming” by William Butler Yeats
Grammar: Passive and Active Voice; Types of Sentences
Grammar: Types of Phrases
Unit 2
Literature: Modern World Literature
Novel: The Stranger by Albert Camus
Essay: “The Myth of Sisyphus” by Albert Camus
Short Story: Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Poetry: “The Skulls” by Ivan Turgenev
“Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
“Kafka’s Watch” by Raymond Carver
Unit 4
Literature: Utopian and Dystopian Literature
Novel: Brave New World by Aldus Huxley
Poetry: “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelly
“Song: To the Men of England”
by Percy Bysshe Shelly
“Sonnet: The Ladies Home Journal”
by Sandra Gilbert
“America” by Allen Ginsberg
“The Diameter of a Bomb” by Yehuda Amichai
Grammar: Types of Sentences, Types of Phrases
Assessments:
2 – Take Home Essays
5 – In Class Essays
2 – Unit Tests
8 – Vocab. & Grammar Quizzes
8 – Weekly Class work/Homework Grades
Grammar: Syntax Analysis
Assessments:
2 – Take Home Essays
5 – In Class Essays
2 – Unit Tests
8 – Vocab. & Grammar Quizzes
8 – Weekly Class work/Homework Grades