English 10 B Self-Paced

Syllabus

Course Essential Questions

  • How does literature from around the world show universal ideas and themes across cultures and regions?
  • How does literature from around the world influence us to make individual choices to promote positive change in society?
  • How do we effectively analyze a variety of complex texts?
  • How do we use language and conventions to write or communicate effectively?

Course Learning Objectives

  • Determine the central idea or theme of a text and analyze its development.
  • Determine the meaning of words and language through tone, context, connotation, and figurative language.
  • Analyze and explain the impact of an author's choices and purpose on the overall text.
  • Evaluate and analyze an author's choices in language, structure, style, or content.
  • Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analyses, ideas, and arguments.
  • Develop clear and coherent writing in a variety of text types.
  • Develop an understanding and control of vocabulary and standard English conventions.

Unit 1: Global Issues Research (Topics 1-3)

Unit Description

Students will learn the skills they need to write an effective research paper and deliver an effective presentation. They will research a specific global conflict that has taken place in more recent years.

Unit Level Essential Questions

  • What can we learn about the world by studying recent conflicts?
  • How do we synthesize information from multiple sources to prove a thesis statement?
  • How do we effectively write about and present our research?

Topic 1 Learning Objectives

  • Determine what elements are needed for a source to be useful and credible in research
  • Evaluate sources for credibility
  • Identify and correctly use commonly misused grammar conventions
  • Determine what information from sources is important

Topic 2 Learning Objectives

  • Write a coherent outline and essay supported by research
  • Develop an understanding of how to use transitions effectively
  • Synthesize the information from your research to support your thesis

Topic 3 Learning Objectives

  • Discuss how understanding the world around us can promote positive change
  • Utilize technology to develop and deliver an effective presentation based on research
  • Write and revise a coherent essay supported by research

Unit 2: Africa (Topics 4-8)

Unit Description

In this unit, students will focus on literature that originated from Africa. They will focus on a memoir about a boy soldier and his life during the Sierra Leone civil war.

Unit Level Essential Questions

  • What can we learn about the culture and humanity as a whole through this memoir?
  • What strategies can we use to effectively read and analyze a nonfiction text?
  • How do literary devices and other elements enhance the meaning of a nonfiction text?

Topic 4 Learning Objectives

  • Understand the cause and effects of the civil war in Sierra Leone
  • Evaluate a writer's reasoning, evidence, and rhetoric
  • Utilize common punctuation marks correctly

Topic 5 Learning Objectives

  • Understand elements of a memoir and how to effectively read a memoir
  • Recognize and trace the development or characters and themes in the memoir
  • Recognize and utilize parallel structure.

Topic 6 Learning Objectives

  • Recognize and trace the development or characters and themes in the memoir
  • Identify and analyze the development of the narrative and its impact on the memoir.
  • Identify patterns or parts of speech that change the meaning of a word

Topic 7 Learning Objectives

  • Analyze what Beah is communicating about his culture and humanity as a whole
  • Analyze the author's style and devices that are used to progress the narrative
  • Analyze the impact of the people Beah encountered.

Topic 8 Learning Objectives

  • Analyze how the themes that reflect culture or humanity are developed throughout the memoir
  • Analyze how Beah utilizes language to develop his story
  • Identify and use different versions of the same word
  • Draw connections between the memoir's themes and messages to our world today.
  • Develop a thesis and provide evidence to support it.
  • Analyze Beah's purpose in writing this memoir

Unit 3: Asia and Americas (Topics 9-10)

Unit Description

Students will go more in-depth in studying poetry using the TPCASTT method. They will study poetry that originates from Asia or the Americas.

Unit Level Essential Questions

  • How do we use TPCASTT to analyze or create poetry?
  • How does a poem's structure enhance its meaning?
  • What does poetry teach us about a region's culture?

Topic 9 Learning Objectives

  • Analyze poetry effectively using the TPCASTT method
  • Analyze how structure and language can enhance the meaning of a poem
  • Determine how to use commonly confused or misspelled words

Topic 10 Learning Objectives

  • Analyze poetry effectively using the TPCASTT method
  • Analyze how structure and language can enhance the meaning of a poem
  • Draw connections between a poem's theme and its country's culture
  • Create original poems that use poetic elements

Unit 4: End-of-Course Assignments (Topic 11)

Unit Description

Students will review the different genres and strategies they have learned about throughout the course.

Unit Level Essential Questions

  • How do we effectively read and analyze texts from around the world?
  • What strategies do we use to read and write about texts?
  • How do we continue to improve my use of vocabulary and English conventions?

Topic 11 Learning Objectives

  • Read and analyze nonfiction texts
  • Read and analyze fiction texts
  • Read and analyze poetry
  • Utilize annotation and writing strategies
  • Utilize reading and writing strategies to understand the deeper meaning of a text
  • Analyze and compare different genres of similar themes or subjects
  • Demonstrate mastery of the English 10 course