Welcome to 10 th grade English Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. --Nelson Mandela

s and Office Hours Write this down laalliance.org I will respond within 24 hours. I promise. Office Hours are Tuesdays after school. IF YOU DON’T HAVE A HOME COMPUTER OR INTERNET PLEASE TELL ME!

Syllabus   Teachers/Staff  Ms. Allison Levine  10 ELA or 10 HONORS  ALL HOMEWORK, LINKS, REFERENCES AND HELPFUL HINTS ARE LOCATED ON MY PAGE ON THE SCHOOL WEBSITE.  READ IT. LEARN IT. LOVE IT. LiVE IT.

Classroom Rules & Expectations What are the differences between Rules and Expectations? Rules: Laws, Regulations, Decrees, Imperatives, Don’t cross me on these Expectations: Hopes, Prospect, Anticipations, Oh- please-oh-please do this!

THE FIVE CENT RULE  Be respectful to others and the classroom.  There is no using profanity or using the phrase “shut up” in my classroom.  Pay within the week or you get detention - To be served on TUESDAYS after school. If you miss detention, you get double detention in the office the following day.

 I DO NOT ACCEPT LATE WORK  NO GUM. NO FOOD. WATER ONLY.  TAKE YOUR BACKPACKS OFF WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE CLASSROOM.  I DO NOT ACCEPT LATE WORK  OWN YOUR MISTAKES, NO EXCUSES  PARTICIPATION COUNTS IN MY CLASSROOM (The positive kind, not the disruptive kind)  PINK UNICORN PASSES – 3 TRIPS TO THE BATHROOM DURING THE SEMESTER. WRITE YOUR NAME ON THE PASSES NOW.  I DO NOT ACCEPT LATE WORK.

Seriously, don’t press me on these…  I don’t tolerate students who disrupt my classroom. Neither should you.  When I raise my hand and count to five (silently) I EXPECT YOU TO QUIET DOWN. If you don’t, you will be assigned EXTRA homework.  If you don’t turn in an essay or project, you will write a “slacker” essay during class and receive a zero for the day.

A few more things…  No Homework = No Grade  Don’t “WHAT IF?” me to death.  Homework is preparation for class assignments (READING!!!)  All extensions must be requested at least one week prior to assignment date and are subject to approval. The request must have a note from your parent or guardian.  ACADEMIC HONESTY – There is a difference between working together and copying off someone.  Extra credit will only be allowed if you have turned in 90% of your homework. 100% for Honors

Mastery of Skills  Citing textual evidence - inferences  Vocabulary comprehension (connotative and denotative meanings)  Vocabulary evolution (Greek and Latin roots)  Literary figurative language analysis  Research techniques and MLA citations  Oral presentations (narrative, expository, responses/analysis, persuasive arguments/debates and descriptive presentations)  Theatrical presentations  Film making  Rhetoric (ethos, logos and pathos)

Achieve 3000 Lexile Levels  Lexile Levels measures vocabulary comprehension  Your Lexile Level does NOT measure intelligence  Reading is a skill that must be PRACTICED  YOU WILL BE GROUPED BASED ON YOUR LEXILE LEVEL  This will be approximately 25% of your semester grade  Every Wednesday!! Your lexile level improves with every two quizzes over 75%. Raffle for cool stuff!!

Common Core Writing Argumentative compositions with counter-claims  Rhetoric (ethos, logos and pathos)  Citing textual evidence  Inferences  Debates Narratives  Original short stories – scifi and personal reflections  Autobiography  Biography Explanatory/Informational compositions  Literary figurative language analysis  Character/Theme analysis  Comparison and contrast essays  Literary Response and Criticism

Projects  Power Point/Prezi Presentations  Pictorial Metaphor Collages  Research techniques and MLA citations  Oral presentations -- A LOT OF PUBLIC SPEAKING!!!  Theatrical presentations  Film Making  Murals  Literature Circles  The World Myth Project  Rhetoric, political campaign analysis  Theatrical presentations  Poetry & song lyric analysis  Decoding figurative language  Film analysis  Vocabulary comprehension (connotative and denotative meanings)  Vocabulary evolution (Greek and Latin roots)

10 ELA-Theme for the Year HEROISM  Do you ask enough questions or do you settle for what you know?  What is Dystopia?  What is the difference between living and existing?  How does science fiction show us important aspects of our own realities?  What is universal truth? How is it symbolized in literature?  Why are short stories important?  What is the difference between a classic hero, an anti-hero and a tragic hero?  What is “The Hero’s Journey”? The Freytag Pyramid? The traditional Story Arch?  Who are your Heroes? Are you a Hero?  What is “mythology” and how does it differ from culture to culture?  What is the difference between Evolution and Creationism?  What is Rhetoric and how are the many ways it may be used? What are ethos, pathos & logos?  What is “Absolute Individualism”?  Is perception reality?  What is the meaning of life? (According to society and according to you)

HONORS You will have extra and supplemental books, poetry, essays and extra projects to create a more rigorous classroom environment. The pace moves much more quickly than the regular classes and is on a different schedule. ***Honors English 10 moves at a more rigorous and accelerated pace than English 10. If you miss three assignments you will be dropped from the class and have to make up anything you missed from your new class.

HEROISM  Do you ask enough questions or do you settle for what you know?  What is Dystopia?  What is the difference between living and existing?  How does science fiction show us important aspects of our own realities?  What is universal truth? How is it symbolized in literature?  Why are short stories important?  What is the difference between a classic hero, an anti-hero and a tragic hero?  What is “The Hero’s Journey”? The Freytag Pyramid? The traditional Story Arch?  Who are your Heroes? Are you a Hero?  What is “mythology” and how does it differ from culture to culture?  What is the difference between Evolution and Creationism?  What is Rhetoric and how are the many ways it may be used? What are ethos, pathos & logos?  What is “Absolute Individualism”?  Is perception reality?  What is the meaning of life? (According to society and according to you)

Other Stuff to Discuss  Classroom tour  Following directions – Checks for understanding  Diagnostic testing  Gmail accounts & Online programs  Tutoring on Tuesdays  Any questions?

How to survive 10 th grade or Back to school in August