MELBA SCHOOL DISTRICT #136

MELBA HIGH SCHOOL

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

Subject Area:             English           

Course Title:              Writing and Literature                      

Course Length:          Year

Grade Level:              10       

 

Major Concepts:

The student will be able to write a purpose-driven five paragraph essay in all of the modes of writing.  The student will be able to read, understand, and discuss (orally or written) traditional sophomore literature.

 

Content:

The content shall include but is not limited to the following:


  • Descriptive, narrative, persuasive, and expository writing
  • Eight parts of speech
  • Animal Farm
  • Antigone
  • Julius Caesar
  • Star Wars and King Arthur
  • Short stories
  • Poetry
  • Creative Nonfiction
  • One Self-Chosen Book Per Quarter

 

Intended Outcomes:

After successfully completing this course, the student will be able to:

  • Write descriptive and personal narrative essays
  • Write essays analyzing reading: comparison/contrast, persuasion, theme, and character
  • Demonstrate proper grammar usage by applying such knowledge to real-world writing contexts
  • Identify the eight parts of speech and their positions within a sentence
  • Parse a sentence
  • Know when and how to use the six basic tenses and how to form them
  • Identify the progressive tenses
  • Avoid the passive voice
  • Understand mood of verbs
  • Describe and compare or contrast the tragic hero and the hero of tradition
  • Use evidence from the text to explicate theme
  • Relate literature to real life
  • Read, describe and understand a variety of genres
  • Compare/contrast characters and/or events from reading selections

 

Grading:

Students will be graded on the following criteria:

  • Basic proficiency at writing essays and other purpose-driven writing forms
  • Quizzes and tests measuring knowledge of a skill, concept, or plot
  • Daily journal as a means of developing writing fluency. 
  • Semester writing portfolio accompanied by a reflective essay