Welcome to 10 th grade English “The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.” – Albert Einstein

s and Office Hours laalliance.org or I will respond within 24 hours. I promise. Office Hours are Tuesdays after school. If you don’t have a home computer or no internet please tell me!

When ing me (or your other teachers)  Put your name and period number in the subject line.  If I don’t know who you are, I won’t read it.  Don’t just attach something or share something without telling me what it is.  This is a skill you will need for the rest of your life so start practicing it now.

Syllabus  Google Classroom   Teachers/Staff  Ms. Allison Levine  10 ELA or 10 HONORS  ALL DIGITAL AGENDAS, HOMEWORK, LINKS, REFERENCES AND HELPFUL HINTS ARE LOCATEDON BOTH WEBSITES  READ IT. LEARN IT. LOVE IT.

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  This will be approximately 25% of your semester grade  Based on improvement  Lexile Levels  Lexile Levels measures vocabulary comprehension  Your Lexile Level does NOT measure intelligence  Reading is a skill that must be PRACTICED

Common Core Writing Argumentative compositions with counter-claims  Rhetoric (ethos, logos and pathos)  Citing textual evidence  Inferences  Debates Narratives  Original short stories  Parables  Autobiography  Biography  Memoirs & Creative non-fiction Explanatory/Infor mational compositions  Literary figurative language analysis  Character analysis  Comparison and contrast essays  Literary Response and Criticism

CAHSEE WRITING  Business Letter  Response to Literature  Expository (Informational)  Narrative (1 st person and 3 rd person)  Persuasive (Argumentative)

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)  Writing and writing and more writing…

10 ELA-Theme for the Year HEROISM ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS AND BIG IDEAS:  Why are short stories important?  There are several different types of heroes and we will explore each one.  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 is “Absolute Individualism”?  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 and the pace is much quicker than the other classes. You must keep up or you will be dropped. Seriously, If you miss more than 3 assignments during the semester, you will be dropped from the class.

Honors – Theme of the year HEROISM Essential Questions and Big Ideas  Why are short stories important?  There are several different types of heroes and we will explore each one.  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 Dystopia?  How does science fiction show us important aspects of our own realities?  What is Rhetoric and how are the many ways it may be used?  What is “Absolute Individualism”?  What is the meaning of life? (according to society and according to you)

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!

 NO GUM (seriously, if I ruin one more pair of pants because of gum…) NO FOOD (I don’t like bugs) and WATER ONLY.  TAKE YOUR BACKPACKS OFF WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE CLASSROOM.  IF YOU SWEAR OR SAY "SHUT UP" IT WILL COST YOU 5 CENTS (25 CENTS FOR THE REALLY BIG WORDS) AND NO, YOU CAN'T GIVE ME A DOLLAR AND THINK YOU HAVE CREDIT.  I DO NOT ACCEPT LATE WORK  OWN YOUR MISTAKES, NO EXCUSES  SHOW UP ON TIME AND READY TO WORK – A DO NOW ON THE BOARD MEANS DO IT NOW  PARTICIPATION COUNTS IN MY CLASSROOM (BUT NOT THE DISRUPTIVE KIND)  BE SELFISH WITH YOUR EDUCATION - YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR EDUCATIONAL DESTINY

Seriously, don’t press me on these…  Don’t be disruptive and annoy me or others  When I raise my hand and count to five (silently) I EXPECT YOU TO QUIET DOWN. If you don’t, you will be assigned SAT vocabulary homework. Every 5 count = 5 words.  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.  Don’t “WHAT IF?” me to death.  I give 1 warning and then it’s a Teleparent or a phone call home

No Homework = No Grade  I’m stating the obvious here  You will fail my class if you do not do your homework  Homework is preparation for class assignments  Extra credit will only be allowed if you have turned in 90% of your homework. 100% for Honors

TUTORING  If you are failing my class but are doing your homework, you will be “invited” to after school tutoring  If you want to be in my after school tutoring, I will think you are awesome and probably give you a cookie.  If you want my help, just ask. I actually want you to do well in my class.  Please care about your education because I do.

A few more things…  Write in PENCIL, BLUE OR BLACK INK ONLY  Bring highlighters, pencil sharpeners, staplers, rulers, markers, lined paper – ALL THINGS YOU WILL NEED!!  Composition books will be stored in class (please have them by Thursday/Friday)  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

SERIOUSLY… I love being an English teacher (I’m a total nerd) and look forward to sharing my love of literature with you. You will learn a lot and class will be only as much fun as you allow it to be. I am here for questions, comments, concerns and cupcakes. I’m a strict, but fair teacher. Remember that.

Other Stuff to Discuss  Units  Class Jobs  Following directions  Diagnostic testing  Gmail accounts  iPad programs

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