English 10 Honors

Course Overview

English 10 Honors is an advanced, full-year English Language Arts course designed for high-achieving 10th-grade students. This course emphasizes critical thinking, advanced literary analysis, and academic writing. It is fully aligned with Florida B.E.S.T. standards and College Board skills frameworks, preparing students for AP-level coursework and national assessments like the PSAT and SAT.

Students engage in a range of reading, writing, speaking, and research activities with increasing academic rigor. Texts span classical, modern, and multicultural works, encouraging students to explore global perspectives, ethical dilemmas, and the use of language to shape ideas. Structured around thematic units, the course integrates project-based learning and digital fluency for 21st-century readiness.

Learning Outcomes by Quarter

• Quarter 1: Evaluate narrative structure, analyze motifs across texts, and write personal narratives with advanced stylistic techniques.
• Quarter 2: Analyze poetry across cultures, refine argumentative writing, and engage in formal oral presentations on theme and symbolism.
• Quarter 3: Interpret dramatic literature, critique rhetorical strategies, and compose literary analysis essays.
• Quarter 4: Conduct independent research projects, analyze nonfiction rhetoric, and present findings using multimedia tools.

Instructional Methods

Students experience a mix of seminar-style discussions, collaborative projects, peer critique, and independent study. Lessons are differentiated to meet diverse learner needs and include formative assessments, Socratic questioning, scaffolded writing workshops, and curated digital resources.

Assessment and Grading

Category	Weight
Analytical Essays & Research Projects	40%
Exams & Quizzes	20%
Oral Presentations & Discussions	15%
Homework, Journals, Annotations	15%
Participation & Collaboration	10%

Anchor Text Justification

• Macbeth: An exploration of ambition, guilt, and fate. Essential for understanding classical tragedy and rhetorical power in drama.
• Things Fall Apart: Offers insight into colonialism, cultural identity, and shifting worldviews. Supports global and comparative literary analysis.
• Night: A powerful memoir that develops empathy, historical literacy, and ethical reasoning.
• Lord of the Flies: Examines the psychology of leadership, morality, and civilization in crisis.
• Nonfiction units: Articles and essays supporting argument writing and rhetorical analysis from modern sources and speeches.

College Board – SAT Crosswalk

College Board Domain	Integrated Skills in English 10 Honors
Command of Evidence	Textual analysis, synthesis of sources, justification in argument
Words in Context	Advanced academic vocabulary and contextual reading
Expression of Ideas	Logical argumentation, tone, conciseness, and revision strategies
Standard English Conventions	Grammar precision, sentence fluency, and formal writing style

Unit Overview

Quarter	Unit Title	Florida B.E.S.T. Benchmarks	College Board Focus Skills
Q1	Storytelling and Human Nature	ELA.10.R.1.1, ELA.10.R.1.3, ELA.10.C.1.4	Narrative analysis, theme development, character perspective
Q2	Poetry and Voice Across Cultures	ELA.10.R.2.1, ELA.10.C.2.1	Symbolism, interpretation, oral fluency, rhetorical devices
Q3	Dramatic Literature and Persuasion	ELA.10.R.3.1, ELA.10.C.3.1	Argument structure, figurative language, literary critique
Q4	Research and Public Discourse	ELA.10.C.4.1, ELA.10.C.5.1	MLA format, research skills, speaking & multimedia communication

Academic Vocabulary Matrix

Category	Key Terms	Contextual Application
Literary Analysis	Allusion, Archetype, Irony	Used in essay writing and close reading
Rhetorical Tools	Repetition, Parallelism, Tone Shift	Applied in oral presentations and argument construction
Grammar & Syntax	Complex sentences, Diction, Voice	Refined in revision, editing, and final essays
Research & Citation	Credibility, Paraphrase, MLA	Used in formal research projects