Old Rochester Regional High School Program of Studies 2020 2021

GRADE 10
Essential Question
that guides reading,
writing, and course
discussion:
What is the purpose of
storytelling?
121
ENGLISH 10
LEVEL 3 | 5 CREDITS | FULL YEAR
GRADE 10
What is the purpose of storytelling? In English 10,
you will navigate a variety of fiction and nonfiction
from various time periods and perspectives to
explore this question. You will reflect on the stories
we tell and the power they have to shape society.
You will read such titles as Arthur Miller’s The
Crucible, Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, and F.
Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, or similar works,
as well as selections of poetry and literary
nonfiction. Utilizing the process approach to
writing, students will compose in a variety of
genres with a special emphasis on the
argumentative essay. Through the study of these
forms of writing and the critical reading of the
literature, you will build a solid foundation for
success on the MCAS test and in future education.
In the college prep course, you will have required
reading and writing outside of class.
ENGLISH
120
HONORS ENGLISH 10
LEVEL 4 | 5 CREDITS | FULL YEAR
GRADE 10
How does society impact the individual? In English
10 Honors, you will navigate a variety of fiction and
nonfiction from various time periods and
perspectives to explore this question. In this course
you will examine the ever-evolving concept of self,
and the impact that culture and society have on
identity formation. You will be expected to read
independently at an accelerated pace, and will
study such titles as Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The
Scarlet Letter, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible; Mark
Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Ernest
Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s
The Great Gatsby, and Chinua Achebe's Things Fall
Apart, as well as selections of poetry and literary
nonfiction. Utilizing the process approach to
writing, you will compose in a variety of genres with
a special emphasis on the argumentative essay.
Through the study of these forms of writing and
critical reading of the literature, students will build
a solid foundation for your success on the MCAS
test and in future education. In the honors level,
you will be required to do more independent
reading and writing, as well as work at an
accelerated pace.
21
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation
119
GRADE 10 ELA SKILLS
PASS/FAIL | 2.5 CREDITS | FULL YEAR
GRADE 10
Would you like to work on your reading and writing skills and increase your score on the English MCAS
exam? This course builds on Grade 9 ELA Skills to help you develop reading, writing, and organizational
strategies that will help you both in class and on the MCAS exam. You will read The Metamorphosis by Franz
Kafka, as well as various poems and short stories to help you understand literary devices and terms. We
will use these pieces to develop a variety of note taking strategies. As for writing, you will also continue to
develop organized open responses as well as structure five-paragraph essays. If you complete this course
successfully, you should feel confident in your high school classes and on the MCAS exam. This is a pass/fail
course.