Throughout the centuries, literature has had a major impact on the world. Every region of the world has different cultural values, events, and societal issues that impact its literature. Students will embark on a journey of literature of the world in our English 10 course. We will study literature from several countries throughout the centuries. Students will discover what themes and ideas different cultures have in common through reading complex fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. We will research events that are current and relevant today as well. We will discover what literature says about the world we live in and discover how it can promote change in society. Our English 10 course will teach students how to communicate ideas about the world through writing and speaking.
This full-year course begins by introducing students to reading and writing strategies that will be utilized throughout the year. We will explore short stories that originate from Russia and we will apply the reading and writing strategies to aid in analysis during this unit. We will discover literary devices and short story elements during this first unit.
The second unit will move into English literature with a Shakespearean unit. Students will learn how to dissect difficult language, as well as how to recognize poetic devices in Shakespearean sonnets. Students will learn about the culture during this time period as they read and analyze themes and central ideas in Much Ado About Nothing.
For the final unit of semester 1, we will read literature that originates in or from Germany during World War II. We will focus on the Holocaust by reading nonfiction selections, as well as poems. The primary portion of this unit will focus on reading our first novel, The Book Thief. We will continue to study literary devices, particularly the impact of point of view on this novel.
As we begin the second half of the year, students will learn to apply reading and writing strategies through an engaging research project. Students will research a genocide that took place within the last few decades. They will synthesize information to create an annotated bibliography, essay, and presentation.
Our sixth unit will introduce students to the civil war in Africa, specifically in Sierra Leone. Students will read a memoir account of a boy soldier during the civil war, titled A Long Way Gone. We will discuss elements of a memoir and continue to dissect language and literary elements.
Our seventh unit will focus on contemporary poetry. We will read recent works and continue to apply reading and writing strategies to our analysis of these works. Students will also continue to focus on language and literary devices, as well as structure and poetic or sound devices. Students will have an opportunity to show their own creativity through Slam poetry.
The final unit will take students through a review of the topics and concepts throughout the year. Students will read a variety of genres from various regions and time periods to practice their reading and writing strategies. In addition, students will learn relevant test taking strategies for the final exam.
Our English 10 course is aligned with the Massachusetts English Language Arts Common Core standards for grades 9-10.
Throughout the year, students will engage in stimulating discussions at the beginning of each week. Students will read a variety of texts and genres from around the world and across decades. Students will focus on active reading and annotating, as well as responding to questions thoroughly using the ACE strategy. Students will also participate in grammar and vocabulary lessons.
Most of the resources will be available within the course; however, students may need to secure a copy of A Book Thief and A Long Way Gone.
In this standard-level course, students are expected to invest approximately 6 hours per week on their coursework.
About the Self-Paced Course Model
Self-Paced courses are comprehensive and designed for students who need or desire more flexibility in their academic schedule. VHS Learning teachers will regularly interact with students in asynchronous discussions, will host weekly office hours, and will invite students to monthly 1-on-1 progress meetings. Teachers will support students, answer questions, and provide feedback on work. Students will work independently on course activities; the course does not include class discussion assignments or other collaborative work.
Students may start this course on any Monday from September through the first Monday in February. Students must maintain enrollment for a minimum of 20 weeks and have until mid-June to complete all assignments in the course. It is expected that students will work for approximately 200 hours to complete this course, though the amount of time may vary depending on a student’s work habits and comfort with the material.
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.
- The Book Thief (Fall)
- A Long Way Gone (Spring)
- Post-it Notes
Optional: Much Ado About Nothing