United States · Common Core State Standards
10th Grade English Language Arts
This course challenges students to analyze complex literary and informational texts through the lenses of rhetoric, cultural identity, and social justice. Students develop advanced skills in argumentative writing and evidence-based synthesis to prepare for college-level communication.
The Art of Persuasion
Students analyze foundational US documents and modern speeches to understand how authors use rhetoric to shape public opinion and policy.
An introduction to ethos, pathos, and logos within historically significant speeches.
Examining how the physical arrangement of claims and counterclaims influences the effectiveness of a text.
Students practice the delivery of original arguments focusing on vocal variety and presence.
The Hero and the Anti-Hero
An exploration of character archetypes in classic and contemporary literature, focusing on the internal and external conflicts that define heroism.
Tracing the development of the hero from epic poetry to modern tragedy.
Analyzing how authors use internal monologues and unreliable narrators to create complex characters.
Investigating how physical objects and settings represent the psychological state of characters.
The Power of Narrative
Students study the craft of narrative writing, focusing on how structure and voice create immersive experiences for the reader.
Exploring how the choice of narrator influences the scope and reliability of a story.
Developing skills in manipulating time and suspense within a narrative sequence.
Utilizing descriptive language to evoke specific moods and settings.
Justice and the Individual
A study of drama and legal texts that explore the conflict between personal morality and societal laws.
Analyzing how dramatic works portray the consequences of defying social or legal norms.
Learning to combine information from multiple sources to form a cohesive argument on a social issue.
Examining the precision and impact of legal definitions and judicial opinions.
Media, Culture, and Truth
Students evaluate the role of media in shaping cultural narratives and learn to identify bias and misinformation.
Deconstructing the visual and auditory techniques used in modern advertisements to influence consumer behavior.
Developing rigorous methods for verifying information and identifying bias in journalism.
Analyzing how filmmakers use cinematic techniques to construct a narrative of 'truth'.
The Poetic Voice
An intensive study of poetry and lyrics, focusing on how compressed language and form create meaning.
Analyzing how structured forms like sonnets or villanelles impact the delivery of a theme.
Exploring how poets use figurative language to describe complex human experiences.
Investigating the auditory qualities of language, including meter, alliteration, and assonance.