Syllabus: English 10 Honors –World Literature
1st Semester Syllabus
Instructor: Ms. Ellis
Classroom: 221
Phone: (740) 393-5900 ext. 5642
Email:pellis@mvcsd.us
Website: Please use the Moodle 2 website for homework and class information - Please click on the link
for 10 Honors
Course Objectives:
In tenth grade students will study literature from around the world. We will closely study literary
works, considering each piece’s historical and cultural context. The units will not only focus on
geographical regions , but also on themes and literary forms that pertain to them. Thus students will
come to grasp the relationship between local concerns and universal questions. Throughout the year
students will take part in seminars, write essays, and deliver speeches. Having read literature from a
variety of cultures, they will be ready for further studies. Grammar and structural writing skills will be a
crucial part of the tenth grade curriculum.
Note: While every effort will be made to address all aspects of the syllabus, time constraints, student
absences, and unforeseen circumstances may require revisions to the syllabus as the school year
unfolds. The learning goals of each unit should be addressed; however, some pieces may be removed
or revised. Please check the website for an updated schedule.
Materials: loose-leaf binder, notebook paper, dividers, blue or black pens
English Honors Policies:
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Homework is due at the beginning of the period. English honors courses will follow the school
policy for an excused absence. A student whose absence was not excused or due to suspension
must hand in the work on the day of his/her return for any credit.
Late Policy – all major assignments (Research papers, presentations, first/second semester
project, etc.) are due on the day they are originally scheduled regardless of an absence. Please
make arrangements if you are going to be absent.
o Papers/Major Assignments – each day a major assignment is late it will be deducted a
letter sign for each day. Example: B+ to a B.
o Homework assignments turned in late will be deducted 50% of the earned grade.
o When school is not in session (example: winter break) assignments will still be counted
late for each weekday missed. Explanation will be given in class – please see student.
All final drafts of major written assignments are to be typed or word-processed (12 point font,
double spaced, Times New Roman) and must adhere to the essay format (MLA) unless
otherwise specified.
All written assignments will be submitted via turnitin.com only.
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Students are not allowed to bring food and drinks (except water) into the classroom. According
to the school policy, cell phones are not permitted within the classroom.
English Honors classes will use the standard grading scale which is located within the agenda.
All students will remain in their seats until the bell rings.
The MVHS conduct code will be enforced. There is a Zero Tolerance Policy concerning cruelty,
harassment, excessive teasing, discrimination, violence, and intimidation. Foul language,
derogatory remarks, and disrespect toward classmates, teachers and school staff will not be
tolerated.
Cheating and plagiarism on any schoolwork will result in a zero on the assignment and an
administrative referral.
If extra credit is available during the quarter, it will be accepted only if all assignments have
been completed. In addition, total points possible for extra credit will amount to no more than
5% of the total grade.
Classroom Policies on Processed Writing Assignments:
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Each essay composed outside of class must include a self-evaluation addressing the following
questions:
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Did you stick with your original topic or did you change it along the way? Why?
What problems did you encounter during the process of creating the essay?
List two of the most important changes you made. Why did you make them?
What part of the essay are you most proud of? Why?
Rough drafts of essays composed outside of class are subject to in-class peer review.
Students earning a C or less on a major assignment will be required to rewrite the assignment after a
one-on-one conference with the teacher. Students must resubmit the original graded piece with teacher
comments, rubric, and the new assignment. Assignments will be due one week after conference. If not
submitted within one week, the assignment grade will be entered as a zero. A student still earning a C
or lower on his/her third essay will be eligible for removal from class.
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All headings must adhere to the following format which is in MLA style. Heading will be on the
left-hand side of the paper and on the front page only. Additional spacing should be removed,
so it is single-spaced.
Winnie Whippoorwill
Mrs. Pamplemousse
English 11 Honors/Period 1
12 September 2011
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Whippoorwill 1
In addition, there will be a running header located on each page – last name and page number
I have read and understand the first semester syllabus as outlined above.
Student Signature___________________________________________
Parent Signature____________________________________________
Unit 1:Summer Read, United Kingdom and Comparative Studies
Summer: A Separate Peace
Learning Goals:
Students will learn:
RL 9-10.1 : close reading and annotation, how to read critically;
RL. 9-10.6how historical and cultural context relates to purpose and style;
RL 9-10.4 style as created through diction, syntax, figurative language and imagery;
RL 9-10.9 how to distinguish primary sources;
RL 9-10.4 &5 how to respond to writing prompts;
RL 9-10.5the writing process (write to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately
through effective selection, organization, and analysis of content
RL 9-10.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text,
including providing an objective summary of the text/
RL 9-10.5- Analyze how and author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g. parallel plots) and
manipulate time(e.g. pacing or flashbacks)
Literature and Concepts:
Summer Read: A Separate Peace-John Knowles
Novel: Lord of the Flies- William Golding
Short Story : “A Good Man is Hard to Find”- Flannery O’Conner
Drama: “Twelve Angry Men”-Reginald Rose
Non-fiction- Cultural Studies Articles
Various Art responses
Vocabulary and Grammar
Writing: Research Paper ,Narrative Essay
Unit 2: African and Middle Eastern Literature
Learning Goals:
Students will learn:
RL. 9-10.1- Cite and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn
from the text. ( i.e. sandwiches)
RL. 9-10.4- Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative
meanings. Analyze the affect of these meanings on tone.
RL 9-10.6 Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in the works.
RL 9-10.5- Analyze in detail how the author’s claims or ideas are developed and refined by particular sentences, paragraphs or
larger portions for the text.
RL 9-10.8- Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reason is valid and the
evidence is relevant or sufficient, identify false statements and fallacious reasoning.
RL 9-10.5- Writing process
RL 9-10.6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks demonstrating command of formal English
RL9-10.6-Aquire grade appropriate vocabulary knowledge
Literature and Concepts:
Informational Texts: “Long Walk to Freedom: Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
Speech: Nobel Prize acceptance Speech, 1993 (Nelson Mandela)
Novels: Cry the Beloved Country- Alan Paton
Things Fall Apart- Chinua Achebe
Poem: The Epic of Gilgamesh
Short Story: “One Thousand and One Nights or Arabian Nights”
“We Killed Mangy-Dog” – Luis Bernardo Honwana
Drama: “Master Harold and the Boys”- Athol Fugard
Art: Earth, Air, Fire, Water- Yinka Shonibare
Writing: Persuasion, Argument/ critiques and responses to art
Speech: Argumentative
Vocabulary and Grammar
1st Semester Final Project: will be explained in detail at a later date
Unit 3: Asian Literature
Learning Goals:
Students will understand:
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how the romantics perceived individualism
how the focus on individualism related to other themes in American Literature
Unit 4: Russian Literature
1st Semester Final Project: will be explained in detail at a later date