Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Course Description: Tenth grade English offers students the opportunity to study World Literature in an effort
to foster a new understanding and appreciation of others.
Major Works to be Covered:
Edith Hamilton’s Mythology The Iliad Oedipus Rex
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Things Fall Apart The Kite Runner
Major Themes to be Explored:
Unconditional love The “haves” and the “have nots” Culture shock
Women vs. men Redemption Forgiveness
Prejudice Shame Guilt
Fate Bullies Betrayal
Essential Questions to be Explored:
How are people transformed through their relationships with others?
How might it feel to live through a conflict that disrupts your way of life?
What creates prejudice and what can an individual do to overcome it?
How do we define who we are?
What can you learn about yourself by studying the lives of others?
What does it mean to be an insider or an outsider?
What is the relevance of studying multicultural texts?
Are there certain truths that can be considered universal or absolute?
How does an individual’s point of view affect the way they deal with conflict?
Do we have choices concerning fairness and justice?
How does literature reveal the values of a given culture or time period?
Do you believe that things are fated no matter what, or do you believe that your actions can change the
course of your life?
The following is a part of the course:
ACT preparation, response papers / literary analysis, speeches, research papers and projects, reading quizzes (both
announced and unannounced), exams, journals, Word within the Word vocabulary, grammar, a study of fiction
and non-fiction selections, small and large group discussions, daily preparation, daily participation, anything
additional from the Instructor
These components will be taught in such a way as to align with both District and State goals.
Course Objectives: “Tenth-grade students will use knowledge of cultural context and common myths, themes
and allusions to make connections between different cultures and literatures, and use
sophisticated and varied clauses to provide elaboration in their writing.”
Classroom Expectations: Students are expected to adhere to all District 300 guidelines. Please refer to
your student handbook for these guidelines.
Behavior Expectations
Be Positive Be Responsible Be Respectful
Homework / Grade Expectations
Part of the learning process involved with high school is figuring out how to manage your time and how to
advocate for yourself. Both of these skills are important for your future. Therefore, it is up to you to see me in a
timely manner in regard to concerns about class work, absent work, what we are reading, your grade, etc. Timely
means that you see me with questions about homework before the assignment is due or immediately after
returning from an absence. Please be aware that I generally will not discuss grades during class time. I do care
very much about your success but am not able to halt what we are doing in class to discuss grades, late
assignments, etc.
Policy on Tardies
You are considered late to class if you are not in the room and ready to learn by the time the bell has rung. If you
arrive late to class without a pass from a teacher or administrator you will be marked tardy—regardless of your
reason for being late. If you arrive in class without your materials, you will be sent back to your locker and will
either lose a hallway pass or will receive a tardy.
If you are tardy (with or without a pass):
Enter class quietly! If you have a pass, hand it to me before taking your seat. Approach me before, after,
or outside of class if you foresee a problem with or see the need to explain a tardy or attendance
issue.
Tutoring Center:
*You are encouraged to use the tutoring center to aid in your learning and to recoup some lost class credit by
making up missed assignments. Work MUST BE COMPLETED AT THE TUTORING CENTER with the help
of peer tutors during CUP or after school. That is, you may not bring in already completed work and attempt to
get a signature on it. You are responsible for having the work signed off by the tutor and then for turning the
work in to me. You may receive HALF CREDIT for LATE WORK completed at the tutoring center. (For
example: an assignment that was originally worth 20 points would be worth 10 points if completed late at the
tutoring center.) Any late work completed at the tutoring center for partial credit needs to be turned in before the
end of the term in which the work was assigned.
Class WIKI
Our class WIKI is located at http://dchsenglishmarconi.wikispaces.com. Here you will find copies of
assignments, a class calendar, supplements for your learning, links to resources, and the like. I EXPECT you
to make use of this web site and to take advantage of the opportunities it will offer you.
A Work completed is above and beyond what was expected. Student demonstrates a mastery of the assessed skill.
B Work completed is of great quality. Student demonstrates a high proficiency of the assessed skill.
C Work completed is of good quality. Student demonstrates proficiency of the assessed skill.
D Work completed is of okay quality. Student is working toward meeting the requirements of the assessed skill.
F Work completed is of poor quality. Student needs to begin working toward meeting the requirements of the
assessed skill.
o I view grades as being fluid. They are never fixed and students always have the chance to improve upon them.
o Students who do not earn the grade they wished to have on assignments are encouraged to retry the work for
mastery of the skill.
o All redone work must be in by the end of a unit of instruction for additional credit.
o Any questions about a grade should be addressed to me so you can have a full understanding of where you are
in any given skill set.
√+ Work receiving this mark will exhibit higher levels of thinking, analysis, and synthesis. It will push an issue
further and will show meaningful connections to other work.
√ Work receiving this mark will exhibit attempts at higher level thinking, analysis, and synthesis. Issues will be
nudged forward and some connections will be obvious.
√- Work receiving this mark will not really display higher levels of thinking, analysis, and synthesis. The reply is very
literal and non-challenging.
This course will be challenging and will push you to become a more insightful reader and writer. We will read some
complex material and will rigorously analyze it. We will work on your skills of persuasion in your writing. While the
expectations are high, I am also very well aware that this may be your first “honors” course experience and it is your first
straight-block experience with a high school English course. I am here to help you and to push you. I expect a lot but
will help you find success. All I ask is that you have an open mind, stay positive, and seek help as needed.
So….fasten your seatbelts! This course moves fast and will be one of the most meaningful English courses you will take
as we really explore the idea of “The Human Experience”. You are about to visit ancient Greece, Elizabethan England,
Pre and Post Colonial Nigeria, and Afghanistan in a literary and cultural adventure that will open your eyes more fully to
the world around you. The final destination of our adventure will be to the realization that “People are People”.
Ms. Marconi
PLEASE SEPARATE THIS SHEET AND RETURN TO MS. MARCONI BY THE END OF THE WEEK
Phone number where parents may be reached during the school day: _________________________________________
I give my son / daughter permission to join the WIKI for the purposes of class discussion and posting.
I DO NOT give my son / daughter permission to post on the class WIKI. I understand that he / she will
still be responsible and required to check out the website weekly in order to continue his / her
learning at home.
Student Signature:___________________________________________________________________________
Parent Signature:____________________________________________________________________________