Contact information:
Ms. Carmella Argento
Wyoming Area Secondary Center
20 Memorial St
Exeter, PA 18643
cargento@wyomingarea.org
570.655.2836 ext. 2182
Homework hotline – 2182
Room # 182
English 10 – Traditional Syllabus
Course Description:
This course includes the study of major types of literature: short story, non-fiction, poetry, drama, the epic, and the novel. Composition and the writing process are integrated into each lesson. Students will be given the opportunity to work with their peers and alone to demonstrate growth in and mastery of the objectives.
Sources Used:
Text – Prentice Hall Literature, The American Experience
Supplemental – 12 Angry Men by Reginald Rose and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and the Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Video Resources – 12 Angry Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, the Tragedy of Julius Caesar, and
A&E Biography
PSSA Reading Coach Grade 10 (two different workbooks)
Vocabulary Worksheets
Summer Reading – The Hound of Baskervilles, Doyle; 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Verne; Murder on the Orient Express, Christie
Your grade will be calculated on a total point system (from the following items):
Tests and Quizzes
Projects, Reports, Presentations
Homework, Class Participation, and Attendance
Testing:
Tests missed due to an absence must be made up by the student during a study hall, not during class time, and as soon as possible. If a test is not made up in two weeks from the original test date, the student will receive a zero and will not be allowed to make up the points. Students are aware of tests/quizzes in advance and there is no reason for lack of preparation. In the event of an illness of three days or longer, or a family crisis causing an absence of three or more days, I retain the option of allowing the student additional time to prepare. This is an option, not a right of the student, and it will be decided on a case-to-case basis. Ninety percent of the tests/quizzes are open text to allow for practice for the PSSA’s. If a student is caught cheating during a test/quiz, the test/quiz will be discarded and a zero will be given. CHEATING is not tolerated! Neither is PLAGIARISM!!
Homework:
To receive full credit for homework it must be turned in on the due date. Approximately ten homework assignments will be checked over the course of each marking period for a major grade (100 points). Most of the times, I will let students know when I am going to check the homework but not always.
Essays
Each student is responsible for 18 pieces of writing throughout the course of the year. The PSSA format (3.5 format – three main ideas, five paragraphs) will be used for each of the 18 pieces. Each student will be responsible for completing the following three steps and turning them in on the specified due date: district made outline, a hand written rough draft and a hand written final copy. Essays will be graded on the following domains: focus, content, organization, style and conventions.
Grading Scale:
A 100-95 C 79-75
A- 94-90 C- 74-70
B 89-85 D 69-65
B- 84-80 F 64-0
**There will be opportunities for extra credit each marking period. All students are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities when they arise. Grades will NOT be rounded up. Whatever grade you receive after all of your grades have been totaled will be the grade that goes on your report card. (ex: a 94.5 is not a 95 and will be an A- not an A)
Selections Read:
Finney – Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket
Jacobs – The Monkey’s Paw
Pushkin – The Bridegroom
Poe – The Masque of the Red Death
Greek Myth – Damon and Pythias
Kelley – A Visit to Grandmother
Lessing – Through the Tunnel
Thurber – The Dog that Bit People
O. Henry – Hearts and Hands
Desai – Games at Twilight
Woolf – The Widow and the Parrot
Brooks – The Bean Eaters
H. H. Munro – The Open Window
Stephenson – Leiningen Versus the Ants
Benet – By the Waters of Babylon
Twain – Luck
Bradbury – There Will Come Soft Rains
Keats – La Belle Dame Sans Merci
Basho – Haiku
Issa – Haiku
Shakespeare – Sonnet 18
*Some selections may be added or substituted for another.
*Students are also responsible for a minimum of 18 pieces of writing. The 3.5 essay format will be taught and used for each of the essays completed.
Classroom Rules:
Set #1
- Arrive on time (three times tardy = one day in ISS, five times tardy = one day OSS).
- Bring materials and have them ready (you will not be allowed to go to your locker).
- Raise your hand before speaking.
- Listen to others and participate in class discussions.
- Use the pencil sharpener during non-instructional time.
- Stay on task.
- Do your assignments.
- Listen to directions.
- Cooperate with your group.
- Pick up after yourself (any material left in class will be sent down to lost and found in front office).
- Leave other people's materials alone.
- Do not interrupt other students' learning.
- Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.
- Keep your hands clean and take care of personal hygiene.
- No vandalism. Don't write or carve on your desk or school property.
- Treat computers with care.
Class Rules Set #2
- One person at a time leaves the room with the hall pass (only at beginning or end of period, not in middle, or for emergency purposes only).
- Clean your work station appropriately.
- Absolutely no food, drink, gum, or candy permitted (My room in not a cafeteria!).
- Do not come to class late without a hall pass.
- Be organized and prepared for class.
Class Rules Set #3
- Come to class prepared to learn. (Pencils sharpened, pen, paper, and notebooks)
- Respect all property. (School property, personal property, and other's property)
- Respect all ideas given in class and do not criticize anybody's ideas or thoughts.
- Do your very best!
- Ask questions when you don’t understand something. Never be afraid of a question being stupid.
Summer Reading – English 10 Traditional
Argento
Due Date: ________________
Murder on the Orient Express
Hercule Poirot solves a difficult case when he comes face to face with murder aboard the Orient Express. Plot, character and setting are elements which make up a good story. How does Christie excel using these elements? Use multiple examples in your essay from the story.
The Hound of Baskervilles
Sherlock Holmes is very logical in his thinking and in solving a mystery. Explain how three supernatural explanations were dispelled with a logical explanation.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Captain Nemo was an explorer who used his submarine craft, the Nautilus, to navigate through an amazing underwater world. He abandoned his life on land to explore the deep sea. Describe the first encounter between Captain Nemo and the three men, from Nemo’s perspective. Make sure to include any fears he might have about the men escaping with his secrets.
Select one of the above prompts and answer in detail. Turn in a typed 3.5 essay on the above due date. No papers will be accepted after the due date!
In your essay make sure to include:
Introductory paragraph – motivator, thesis, idea one, idea two, idea three, transition sentence
Body of your paper – (three or more paragraphs)
- Idea one
- Idea two
- Idea three etc.
Closing paragraph – Restate your thesis, idea one, idea two, idea three…, close with a clincher statement.
Setup:
Name, Due Date, Period in upper right hand corner (single spaced)
Skip one Line
Type the title of book you chose (Remember titles are underlined or italicized).
Skip a line
Tab once – start typing your essay.
Use font size 12 and Times New Roman style. Also your margins should be one inch all around.
Your grade will be determined on content, focus, style, organization, and conventions.
If you have any questions please see me as soon as possible. Do not procrastinate!!