Hello!
I’m happy to welcome you to my English 10 class!
English 10 is a required graduation requirement at Indianola High School. It is a literature-based survey course. Throughout the
year, students will complete a variety of reading assignments designed to improve their ability to understand and appreciate
various forms of literature and non-fiction. They will also review basic writing, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary
skills, and from time to time give brief, informal presentations to their classmates.
Course Outline:
Semester 1
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Unit 1 : Communication Skills in the Classroom – A Review of Listening and Speaking Skills
Unit 2: Choices: A Thematic Short Story Unit
Stories Read During This Unit:
 “A Man Who Had No Eyes” by Mackinley Cantor
 “Chicken” by Don James
 “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes
 “The Cold Equations” by Tom Godwin
 “The Bass, The River, and Sheila Mant” by W.D.Wetherell
 “Flower Garden” by Shirley Jackson
 “Just Lather, That’s All” by Shirley Jackson
Poetry and Nonfiction Read With the Above Stories:
 “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
 “The Two Roads” by Whitney Welch
 “Autobiography in Five Short Chapters” by Portia Nelson
 “If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking” by Emily Dickinson
 “Gray” by Constance Ananta Sobsey
 “The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop
 “Incident” by Countee Cullen
 “How Much Does It Cost?” by Margeret Hill
 Student-selected news articles
Unit 3: Writing a Narrative Essay
Unit 4: Novel – A Separate Peace, by John Knowles
Semester 2
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Unit 1: Antigone, by Sophocles
Ancient Greece: Government, Culture, and Religious Beliefs
Ancient Greek Drama
 Purpose
 Parts and their functions in Greek Theater
 Actors
 Sets and stage scenery
 Impact on modern theater
Sophocles and his plays
 The story of Oedipus
 Antigone
Characteristics of Greek Tragedy
Moral Dilemma
Unit 2: Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare
Review of Shakespeare’s Life and Times
Review information on Shakespeare’s plays
Review information about the Globe Theater
Julius Caesar in Real Life
 Ancient Rome: Its People, Government, and Culture
 Caesar’s Rise to Power
 Caesar’s Reign in Rome
 Caesar’s Assassination
Julius Caesar in Shakespeare’s Play: Similarities and Differences to the Real Person
Unit 3: Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
Steinbeck’s Life and Times
 The Great Depression: The Loss of the American Dream
 Migrant Workers
 People’s Attitudes Toward the Mentally Disabled
The Novel
 Themes: Difficult Choices, Friendship, Loneliness, Discrimination, Human Rights
 Focus of Literary Analysis and Discussion: Theme, Characters, Setting, Symbolism
Semesters 1 AND 2
On the first day of each week, there will be a spelling/vocabulary test. Students will receive a spelling list each Monday.
Vocabulary words will be received one day at a time at the beginning of each class day in the form of a “Daily Warm-Up”
activity. ALL spelling and vocabulary words are fair game for subsequent tests, so avoid memorizing the assigned words
for “one time” only. In other words, DO NOT CRAM your spelling and vocabulary words. You will need to remember
them on a long-term basis.
Students must complete two book reports per semester, one each quarter. On Fridays you will need to bring either a non—
fiction book, autobiography, or biography of your choice to read. At the end of each quarter, you will submit a book report
on the book you have read. You will receive 20 points each Friday for reading your chosen book. If you forget your book
and read something else, you will earn only 10 points. If you have no book at all, you will receive 0 points. If you go to the
library during reading time to get a book to read, you will lose a percentage of your points commensurate with the number
of minutes you are absent from the class and not reading.
Required materials that should be brought to class every day:
1. Good quality, loose-leaf lined notebook paper (not spiral notebook paper) for placing in your English 10 binder.
2. One 1 inch (or larger) three ring binder for daily work, note-taking and storing handouts.
3. Pencil/pen (black or blue ink only, please)
4. Selected book for Friday reading days.
5. Disk or flash drive for saving work typed on school computers
Grades
Grades are divided into weighted groups:
 Unit tests, major projects or writing assignments, and quarterly book reports are worth 30% of each quarter’s
grade.
 Quizzes and graded homework assignments are worth 20% of each quarter’s grade.
 Completion point homework assignments are 30% of each quarter’s grade. Points will NOT be awarded for
incomplete work or for work that has not been done according to the instructions for the assignment.
 Participation and class preparation is a teacher observation grade worth 20% of each quarter’s grade Merely
attending class does not count as participation. Participation means answering questions and becoming part
of class and small group or partner discussions. I note who participates and who does not. An average grade
for participation is not given for silence or just sitting back and letting others do the work. I know that some
people are shier than others, but I do encourage you to toss in your two cents' worth on a regular basis.
The following work habits and behaviors are considered when awarding participation and preparation points:
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Student comes to class on time.
Student brings all necessary supplies to class: pen, pencils, books, worksheets, notebooks, assignments.
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Student comes to class having completed assignments required for full class participation.*
Student stays focused on classroom activities and avoids straying off task or preventing others from
participating or completing assigned tasks.
Student listens attentively to teacher and classmates. Good listening behaviors are demonstrated through
asking clarification questions, following directions, volunteering to answer questions and avoiding
inappropriate interruptions.
Student participates equally and cooperatively in a positive, constructive, and respectful manner and avoids use
of putdowns, impolite behavior, or remarks.
Absences do not count against students’ participation points unless the absences are unexcused.
*Students coming to class without an assignment required for participation in a day’s lesson will lose all participation
points for that day.
The grading scale for this class is as follows:
93 - 100 = A
92 - 90 = A87 - 89 = B+
83 - 86 = B
80 - 82 = B77 - 79 = C+
73
70
67
63
60
0
- 76 = C
- 72 = C- 69 = D+
- 66 = D
- 62 = D- 59 = F
Final Exam Information At the end of each semester, Indianola High School conducts final exams. Sometimes these exams are
actual tests covering semester material, and sometimes they consist of a semester project or presentation. “Regular”
English 10 students may earn an exemption from taking the final exam if they have THREE or fewer semester
absences and finish the semester with a solid B (83%) or higher
Cheating and Plagiarism
Plagiarism The American Heritage Dictionary defines “plagiarize” as, “to use and pass off as one’s own the
ideas or writings of another.” Plagiarism is a serious offense, and plagiarized assignments will automatically
receive zeroes with no option for redoing the work or making up the subtracted points. To avoid this consequence,
students should make sure that their work is their own and in their original thoughts and words. Material borrowed
from others must be properly cited. Students not knowing how to correctly do this should see me or another
English department staff member for help.
Cheating Cheating on assignments or tests is an unacceptable way to earn a grade, regardless of a student’s
chosen method. Plagiarizing, using crib sheets or text messages, copying or photocopying another person’s work,
having someone else do your work for you, or giving someone permission to copy your work or use your ideas are
some common examples of cheating. Work completed with the aid of cheating will receive zeroes with no option
for redoing the work or making up the subtracted points.
Assignment Due Dates
Most assignments are due at the Beginning Of a Period (BOP) so that we can use the assigned work for planned class activities. If an
assignment is due at the beginning of class I will expect students to have it finished and ready for use during the class period. I will
record assignments as “late” if they are not completed when the bell rings. Some assignments are due by 3:30 on the day they are
due.
I will indicate on the board when assignments are due. Assignments due at the beginning of the period will be labeled BOP
(beginning of period). Assignments due by 3:30 are to be put in class assignment bins in my room.
Late Assignments
Most work is assigned in sequential (1, 2, 3) order. Each assignment builds on a previous one. Therefore, we need specific rules for
dealing with late assignments.
Late BOP assignments and completion point assignments will be penalized 50% of the allotted points. Not having a BOP assignment
with you, will also result in your losing participation points for that period. Graded assignments or projects will be docked 10% for
each day they are late (ten percent is equal to the grade being lowered one whole grade per day). Thus, it is not wise to turn in
assignments after their due dates.
Students involved in extracurricular activities need to plan ahead for classroom absences and take care of their work ahead
of time. If an assignment will be due on a day they will be gone, they will need to submit their work for evaluation prior to being
absent or, at the very latest, the day they return.
Students who have excused absences from school will follow school policies in the student handbook for making up missed work.
Once the class has finished a new unit and begun a new one, students will not be allowed to complete work for a previous unit unless
their absence from class has prevented them from completing it on time.
Extra Credit
Because I allow students to redo completion point assignments for full credit, and sometimes allow retakes on tests, I do not offer
extra credit.
Tardies
1. Please come to class on time with all of your materials. If you need to leave the room between periods or at the beginning of a
period to get materials you have forgotten, I will count you tardy.
2. If you are not in your seat when the bell rings, you will be counted tardy, unless you have a pass from a staff member or decide to
use one of your Oops! cards.
Oops!
You will each receive an Oops! Card. You may use this card three times. It may be used three different ways.
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To leave the room to get a forgotten assignment or class material without penalty.
To turn in a daily assignment late without penalty.
To turn in a major writing assignment or project one-day late without penalty.