English 10 Honors English 10 Honors focuses on developing students

ability to critically read, think, discuss, and write

about literature. To help them strive toward this
2017-2018 end, students should expect an extensive amount of
challenging reading, thinking, speaking, writing, and
Smithtown High School West cooperative group activities over the course of
the school year. One of the overarching goals of
Room E206 this course is to stretch and
challenge learners to reach their individual
Mrs. Britton-Nix potential as students. It is hoped that students
will move on to AP Language or Literature or AP
Email: jbritton-nix@smithtown.k12.ny.us Capstone Seminar after a year of preparation for
Website/Blogs: http://britton-nixcentral.weebly.com/ the rigors of this next step in English studies.

See Class Blog for Google Classroom Code.

*ELA 10 Honors Course Outline
Quarter Units of Study *Subject to change due to text availability and scheduling
Extra- 1st Summer Reading Unit: A Dolls House Henrik Ibsen (play) &Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe
Curricular: 9/7- (novel)
11/9 Close Reading Unit: Selection of informational texts, poetry, and short stories
Writing Workshop: The Writing Process
The Bulls Eye
Expressive Writing: Writers Notebook (*See note below.) & Anthem or Creed
High School Wests
Informative Writing: Expository
student newspaper Grammar & Usage: Subject & Predicate, Parts of Speech, Independent & Dependent Clauses, and
Be a journalist, Punctuation Rules
an editor and a AIR: Anthem Ayn Rand (novella)
2nd Extended Literature Unit: Lord of the Flies William Golding (novel)
photographer. 11/13- Writing Workshop: The Writing Process
1/26 Expressive Writing: Writers Notebook
Penumbra Informative Writing: Expository
Student Persuasive Writing: Argument
literary/art/music Grammar & Usage: Sentence Structures, Run-Ons, Fragments, and Punctuation Rules
magazine AIR: A Long Way Gone Ishmael Beah (memoir)
3rd Extended Literature Unit: Antigone Sophocles (play) & Macbeth William Shakespeare (play)
Publish short 1/29- Writing Workshop: The Writing Process
fiction, poetry 3/29 Expressive Writing: Writers Notebook
and artwork. Informative Writing: Expository
Grammar & Usage: Reinforcement of Skills
4th Extended Literature Unit: A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens (novel)
Thespians 4/9- Writing Workshop: The Writing Process
Smithtown High 6/20 Expressive Writing: Writers Notebook
Schools drama club Informative Writing: Expository
Act, sing and Grammar & Usage: Reinforcement of Skills
*The Writers Notebook serves as a vehicle for all types of writing: Reflection, Response, Creative, Narrative, Analysis, etc.
do set design
for dramatic Expectations & Extra Help: Required Course Materials:
and Students will be interacting with one Loose-leaf binder & Loose-leaf paper
musical another through class discussions, (1 inch or 1.5-inch loose-leaf binder with folder
group work, and performance pockets)
productions. Divider sheets:
activities; therefore, it is important
that students understand the Note-Taking
necessity of listening to and respecting one anothers responses Writing & Grammar
Vocabulary
and opinions. Students are expected to advocate for
themselves and ask for help when they need it. Extra help will
Marble College-Ruled Composition Notebook (9.75 x
7.5)
be available during school hours and after school by
Blue/black pens and #2 pencils
appointment. There will be a weekly sign-up sheet for extra
Post-It Notes and Highlighter
help posted at the front of the classroom.
 Homework: Skill mastery often requires struggle and practice. In this
What if I am Absent? class, we reinforce a growth mindset as opposed to a fixed mindset.
The districts attendance policy and discipline procedures can be found in the
current agenda.
Assignments: It is better to demonstrate
effort than to arrive unprepared, so whenever
possible, try to do your best, whatever your
best may be at that time. Late assignments
are generally not accepted, but if the missed
assignment is the result of an extenuating
circumstance, please be sure to communicate
that to the teacher before class begins via
email. This way, you may be granted
extended time and/or an alternate assignment
in lieu of the one you missed. *All assignments
are posted on the class blog. In the event that you
cannot access the class blog, contact the teacher or
someone from class (the same class period) to Because students have busy lives outside of school, homework is not
obtain the assignment and any other work you
arbitrarily assigned; it is often connected to a larger project or directly
may have missed.
utilized for an assessment. For many students, the completion of
Assessments: In general, assessments must
homework directly affects their ability to participate in class discussions
be made up upon return as they are and do well on assessments. Homework assignments will be announced
announced in advance and posted on the at the end of the class period and posted on the class website (under the
class blog. Students can see if they missed an corresponding class blog) on a daily basis. Students usually have several
assessment by checking the class website, days to complete assignments.
emailing the teacher, or contacting one of
their classmates. Please be sure to either see
Grading Policy: Grades are utilized to assess skill mastery. Students
the teacher on the day you return or to email
the teacher during your absence in order to
will be assessed on a frequent basis and grades will be posted to
schedule an appropriate time to make-up the PowerSchool. Quarterly grades will be based on formal assessments of
missed work. reading comprehension and writing skills as well as the completion of
class assignments. Active class participation is necessary in order for a
Field Trips, Lessons, Vacations, etc.: It is the student to maximize the learning experience. Active participation
students responsibility to request missed includes preparedness, answering and posing text-based questions,
work several days in advance of being absent participating in discussions and activities, attendance/promptness, ability
for any pre-scheduled activity. Absences due
to stay on task, and overall classroom behavior.
to field trips, lessons, vacations, etc. do not
Students are to keep ALL graded work in their binder at all
exempt students from assignment due dates
and scheduled assessments.
times unless the teacher directs students to move the unit to a
new location. No work is to be discarded during the course of
the year.
Students are responsible for sharing their grades regularly with their parent(s)/guardian(s).
Parents, please be sure to also check PowerSchool regularly and to email the teacher with any
questions/concerns you have about your childs progress.

Statement of Integrity: The English Department of the Smithtown Central School District expects the highest conduct
from its students. We encourage all of our students to work hard and to do their own research and writing for homework,
special assignments, or projects. Any evidence of plagiarism may result in no credit for the assignment. Unless explicitly
designated as a collaborative activity, all assignments are considered to be reflections of an individuals work. This includes
homework. Students caught using material they did not create themselves (such as reading notes taken from an Internet
Resource or copied from a friend) may not get credit for that assignment. Exams and other assessments should be
considered opportunities for a student to show what he or she has learned over the course of the unit, semester or year.
During any assessment, if the student is caught using any kind of electronic device (including but not limited to cell phones)
or has an electronic device out, the student may automatically fail the exam. Therefore, cell phones and other electronic
devices should be left at home or in the students locker during exams. In addition, attempting to give or receive assistance
in any form during an assessment may result in a failing grade for all parties involved.

Please store this sheet at the front of the binder you use for this class.