ENGLISH 10 – WORLD CULTURES
CURRICULUM
COURSE DESCRIPTION
World Cultures 10 is an integrated class of two class periods for two trimesters where the students earn
credits for both English/Language Arts 10 and World History. By combining the study the students
are able to ascertain the themes of literature from a historical perspective. Students are expected to
practice skills and processes of historical thinking and inquiry that involve chronological thinking,
comprehension, analysis and interpretation, research, issues-analysis, and decision-making. Also,
students will practice daily reading, comprehension, and vocabulary study.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Through a combined emphasis of literary and historical perspective, the class will emphasize events
and developments from the past that greatly affected large numbers of people across broad areas of the
earth. The main focus will be on key events that pertain primarily to transcultural interactions and
exchanges between various peoples and places in different parts of the world. Finally, students are
expected to apply content knowledge to the practice of thinking and inquiry skills and processes
through the teaching and learning of history and literature.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
World Cultures will focus on these three overriding themes:
 What constitutes a culture of people?
 How did modern day society arrive from the influences of historical civilizations?
 How does the literature reflect the historical era it represents?
INDIANA STATE STANDARDS
Standard 1
READING: Word Recognition, Fluency, and Vocabulary Development
Students apply their knowledge of word origins (words from other languages or from history or
literature) to determine the meaning of new words encountered in reading and use those words
accurately.
Standard 2
READING: Comprehension and Analysis of Nonfiction and Informational Text
Students read and understand grade-level-appropriate material. The selections in the Indiana
Reading List (www.doe.state.in.us/standards/readinglist.html) illustrate the quality and complexity of
the materials to be read by students. At Grade 10, in addition to regular classroom reading, students
read a wide variety of nonfiction, such as biographies, autobiographies, books in many different
subject areas, essays, speeches, magazines, newspapers, reference materials, technical documents, and
online information.
Standard 3
READING: Comprehension and Analysis of Literary Text
Students read and respond to grade-level-appropriate historically or culturally significant works of
literature, such as the selections in the Indiana Reading List
(www.doe.state.in.us/standards/readinglist.html) illustrate the quality and complexity of the materials
to be read by students. At Grade 10, students read a wide variety of literature, such as classic and
contemporary literature, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, folklore, mythology, poetry, short
stories, dramas, and other genres.
Standard 4
WRITING: Processes and Features
Students discuss ideas for writing with other writers. They write coherent and focused essays that show
a well-defined point of view and tightly reasoned argument. Students progress through the stages of
the writing process (prewriting, writing, editing, and revising).
Standard 5
WRITING: Applications
At Grade 10, students combine the rhetorical strategies of narration, exposition, persuasion, and
description in texts (research reports of 1,000 to 1,500 words or more). Students compose business
letters. Student writing demonstrates a command of Standard English and the research,
organizational, and drafting strategies outlined in Standard 4 — Writing Processes and Features.
Writing demonstrates an awareness of the audience (intended reader) and purpose for writing.
Standard 6
WRITING: English Language Conventions
Students write using Standard English conventions.
Standard 7
LISTENING AND SPEAKING: Skills, Strategies, and Applications
Students formulate thoughtful judgments about oral communication. They deliver focused and coherent
presentations of their own that convey clear and distinct perspectives and solid reasoning. Students
deliver polished formal and extemporaneous presentations that combine the traditional speech
strategies of narration, exposition, persuasion, and description. They use gestures, tone, and
vocabulary appropriate to the audience and purpose. Students use the same Standard English
conventions for oral speech that they use in their writing.
UNITS OF INSTRUCTION (STATE STANDARDS)
Unit 1: Ancient Civilization
Unit 2: Classical Civilization
Unit 3: Dark Ages and Medieval Life
Unit 4: The Renaissance and Reformation
Unit 5: The French Revolution
Unit 6: Imperialism of European Nations
Unit 7: 19th Century Progress
Unit 8: The Industrial Revolution
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Unit 9: Chinese and Japanese Culture
Unit 10: The American West
COURSE ASSESSMENTS
STUDENT PRODUCTS FOR ASSESSMENT
Daily vocabulary
Daily silent reading
Essays
Individual and group projects and presentations
Research/research writing
Reading quizzes
Unit exams
TIMELINE
Trimester A
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Ancient Civilization
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Classical Civilization
Frankenstein
Greek & Roman Mythology
Julius Caesar
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Dark Ages & Medieval Life King Arthur
Indiana Standards
#1 ,2
#2, 3
#4, 5
Renaissance & Reformation
“
Week 12
Trimester B
Week 1
Indiana Standards
#5
French Revolution
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Scientific Revolution
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Nineteenth Century Progress Research Paper
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Chinese & Japanese Culture Lord of the Flies
#6, 7
#8
#2,3,5
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
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American West
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World War I
Week 12
“
#8, 9
Final Exam
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COURSE MATERIALS: MAJOR TEXTS, PRINCIPAL MATERIALS AND FILMS
KEY TEXTS:
FRANKENSTEIN
GREEK MYTHS
JULIUS CAESAR
KING ARTHUR
LORD OF THE FLIES
POCKET WADSWORTH HANDBOOK
SELECTED READING BOOKS
VARIOUS HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
ASSORTED VIDEOS AND FILMS
DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS, SHARING OF MATERIALS, ALTERED SCHEDULES, ETC., SOME SELECTIONS, UNITS,
AND ACTIVITIES MAY BE ALTERED OR OMITTED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTOR.
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