10th Grade English Language Arts

An introduction to ethos, pathos, and logos within historically significant speeches.

Students identify and analyze various rhetorical devices (e.g., anaphora, allusion, parallelism) in persuasive texts.

Examining how the physical arrangement of claims and counterclaims influences the effectiveness of a text.

Students learn to identify, analyze, and construct effective counterclaims and rebuttals in argumentative writing.

Students analyze the rhetorical strategies in key US historical documents (e.g., Declaration of Independence, Constitution).

Students analyze contemporary speeches for rhetorical effectiveness and impact on public opinion.

Students practice the delivery of original arguments focusing on vocal variety and presence.

Students analyze and practice the impact of body language, gestures, and eye contact in persuasive speaking.

Tracing the development of the hero from epic poetry to modern tragedy.

Students analyze characters who defy traditional heroic traits but still serve a protagonist's role.

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.

Students analyze how contrasting characters (foils) highlight specific traits and themes within a narrative.

Exploring common archetypal settings (e.g., wilderness, city, underworld) and their symbolic significance in literature.

Students identify and analyze universal themes conveyed through character actions and conflicts.

Exploring how the choice of narrator influences the scope and reliability of a story.

Students analyze different narrative structures (e.g., chronological, non-linear) and plot devices (e.g., foreshadowing, flashback).

Developing skills in manipulating time and suspense within a narrative sequence.

Utilizing descriptive language to evoke specific moods and settings.

Students learn to write realistic and purposeful dialogue that reveals character and advances plot.

Focusing on techniques to convey information and emotion through action, description, and dialogue rather than direct statement.

Students explore methods for creating multi-dimensional characters with believable motivations and flaws.

Students engage in a workshop setting to draft, revise, and edit their own narrative essays.

Analyzing how dramatic works portray the consequences of defying social or legal norms.

Examining the precision and impact of legal definitions and judicial opinions.

Students analyze the structure and rhetorical strategies used in legal arguments and court proceedings.

Learning to combine information from multiple sources to form a cohesive argument on a social issue.

Developing rigorous methods for verifying information and identifying bias in research sources.

Students learn to effectively integrate textual evidence into their writing and correctly cite sources.

Students draft, revise, and edit argumentative essays, focusing on thesis development, evidence, and counterarguments.

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.

Students analyze various forms of propaganda and their techniques for influencing public opinion.

Analyzing how filmmakers use cinematic techniques to construct a narrative of 'truth'.

Exploring how social media platforms influence communication, identity, and the spread of information.

Students design and create their own media messages (e.g., public service announcement, short video) to convey a specific message.

Understanding intellectual property, fair use, and ethical considerations in the digital age.

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.

Students identify and analyze complex themes and messages conveyed through poetic language and structure.

A deeper dive into various poetic devices (e.g., personification, hyperbole, paradox) and their impact on imagery.

Students compare and contrast different interpretations of complex poems, supporting their analyses with textual evidence.

Students engage in creative writing exercises to compose their own poems, experimenting with form, imagery, and sound.

Students explore the concept of world literature and its significance in understanding diverse human experiences.

Analyzing how historical, social, and political contexts shape the meaning and reception of literary works.

Students analyze literature from postcolonial regions, focusing on themes of identity, resistance, and cultural hybridity.

Exploring the characteristics of magical realism and its use in conveying social or political commentary in global literature.

Students consider the challenges and nuances of translating literature across languages and cultures.

Students compare and contrast themes, characters, and literary techniques across texts from different cultural backgrounds.

Students learn to develop focused, arguable, and researchable questions for their independent projects.

Deepening skills in critically evaluating the credibility, bias, and relevance of complex academic and journalistic sources.

Learning to integrate information from multiple, potentially conflicting, sources to build a nuanced argument.

Students refine their research questions into strong thesis statements and create detailed outlines for their projects.

Focusing on formal style, objective tone, and precise language appropriate for academic research papers.

Students engage in peer review and self-revision to improve the clarity, coherence, and logical progression of their arguments.

Students prepare and deliver oral presentations of their research projects, focusing on clear communication and engaging delivery.