Language Arts 10 th Grade Honors

Required Daily Materials Pencil/Pen Paper Textbook (only when requested) Leisure Reading Book - Honors Book ListHonors Book List Planner Spiral Planners are available in the Shark Shop!!! $2 w/ ASB and $5 w/out

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Semester One: Module 1 Essential Question Objective What are the consequences of being a nonconformist? Is conformity necessary in order to exist in a society? This unit enables classes to explore the themes of conformity, nonconformity, individuality, and equality through a multimedia experience that draws from fictional short stories, non-fiction pieces, and short films. As this is the first unit sophomores will encounter, students will be introduced to the close reading process which will enable them to generate organized, well-thought out connections to the unit’s overarching essential questions. Introduction to basic rhetorical strategies will be implemented within the curriculum in order to assist with the analysis of an author’s argument by tracing their use of ethos, pathos, and logos, and its subsequent effect on the audience. As a culminating assessment, students will be instructed to compose an argumentative essay. They will utilize multiple resources that have been analyzed throughout the unit in order to formulate an argument and provide detailed support for their stance.

Semester One: Module 2 Essential Question Objective How accountable are we to others when in a time of danger and/or crisis? How does an author’s point of view (on friendship) impact the theme of a work? Students will continue to apply the three rhetorical appeals and rhetorical devices. The study of rhetoric will be applied to all assignments including propaganda, advertisements, dramatic speeches, short stories and non-fiction texts. Author’s point of view and character analysis will be studied as well as recurring motifs. Multiple writing opportunities will be assigned throughout the unit and the writing process will be emphasized and practiced. One assessment in particular requires students to write for a specific audience and purpose while identifying rhetorical devices and logical fallacies. They will also participate in a peer review and reflection process.

You MAY wish to purchase: NO FEAR: Julius Caesar By: William Shakespeare

Semester One: Module 3 Essential Question Objective What is the age of responsibility? When should a person be considered an adult? This unit focuses on the topic of adult responsibility with an overall instructional focus on the writing process. Students are engaged throughout the unit in an ongoing investigation into the topic utilizing a close examination of multiple sources, gathered both collectively and independently. The unit develops student practice with close reading and writing from a close analysis of texts. Instruction is scaffolded to culminate in independent application of these strategies. Building on college prep classes, this honors level focus will emphasize the application of rhetorical strategies employed by authors, and how they translate into students’ own writings. One such assignment is a Socratic seminar in which students analyze a common source to defend a claim. They will prepare by closely analyzing multiple sources to expertly apply evidence to a verbal discussion. This seminar will then be used to prepare for a revision of their culminating essay.

Semester Two: Module 1 Essential Question Objective What is the impact of moral reasoning on a justice system? Is moral law more important than legal law? Is everyone entitled to justice? The students will explore issues of morality and justice through research and examination of a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts in an attempt to answer the question, “Can society achieve true “justice for all”? Students will read “Antigone” or another dramatic work that grapples with issues of laws and justice. Through a close investigation of dramatic structure, character motivation, and author’s craft and structure, students will apply their learning to extensive literary analysis. This dramatic work, in addition to other non-fiction texts, will then be examined through the lens of moral development in order to justify their claims in writing and speech. Students will be responsible for working in collaborative groups to write, create, and produce a modernization of a scene from the dramatic work. Students will share their original scene in a live or recorded presentation. Additionally, students will demonstrate extensive knowledge of the unit’s texts through participation in a Socratic seminar guided by the essential question.

Semester Two: Module 2 Essential Question Objective How does the systematic denial of human rights throughout events in history impact one’s faith in humanity? Students will closely examine several historically relevant documents that demonstrate various instances of human intolerance and injustices. Such documents include, but are not limited to memoirs, such as Night by Elie Wiesel, political cartoons, World War II photographs and propaganda, Executive Order 9066, historically relevant videos, and speeches by Japanese Internment camp internees. Through careful reading, annotation and analysis, students will evaluate the credibility, content, rhetoric, and author’s purpose. Students will use textual (or visual) evidence to form inferences and conclusions about why such injustices have repeatedly occurred throughout history. Student responses will be articulated in essay form as well as shared in classroom Socratic seminar discussions. As a culminating activity, students will consider the atrocities of human injustice that continue to exist today. With consideration of the analysis completed of various historical artifacts throughout the unit, students will form a conclusion about how individuals and society can maintain faith in humanity. In their responses, students will use evidence from personal observations, current and historical events, as well as specific facts and statistics.

You MAY wish to purchase: Night By: Elie Weisel

Semester Two: Culminating Project In the course of intensive research on a specific topic related to social justice, which will progress over the course of the final semester, students will become experts on a chosen topic by analyzing causes and solutions to a problem that impacts humanity. Students will take a stand on their topic, use persuasive tactics, and develop a solution to the problem of their issue. They will then inform their audience about the global implications as well as personal connections of their issue in a presentation. Students will be responsible for working collaboratively in completing a presentation that requires them to investigate a relevant, engaging, and complex social issue which encompasses extensive research, writing, reading, listening and speaking skills. Students will showcase their findings for multiple audiences in multiple modalities.