1. The American International School in Cyprus
PO Box 23847 - 11 Kassos Street - 1686 Nicosia, CYPRUS - Phone 357•22316345 - Fax 357•22316549Mr.
Walid Abushakra, Superintendent Ms. Michelle Kleiss, Director
Grade 10 English Syllabus and Course Information
Troy White, Room 114
stepintoourclassroom@gmail.com
Brief course Academic Year 2010-20011 description: Grade 10
language arts for
English helps students integrate their language skills of reading, writing, listening,
speaking and presenting. The course is designed to foster an understanding of
multicultural themes though the encouragement of critical thinking. Students will
analyze themselves as learners in an effort to develop strong learning and study skills.
Units and individual lessons incorporate the standards of the Virginia Department of
Education. Assessment and Evaluation is performance based, centered upon authentic
task that are both practical and relevant to the grade 10 English language student.
Tenth grade language arts promotes interdisciplinary learning. Skills and knowledge
acquired during the course are efficiently transferred to promote success among other
subjects.
Essential Questions
How can I implement language to think and communicate more effectively?
How can I become a strong independent reader?
How can I use a variety of writing styles to express myself in a multitude of scenarios?
What reading tools do successful readers use in order to comprehend a text?
What are the necessary skills and attitudes that will allow for success in the superior
grades and IB A1 English?
Language Arts Standards
Standards are based on the Virginia Department of Education tenth grade
Language Arts Standards.
Oral Language
10.1 The student will participate in and report on small-group learning activities.
10.2 The student will critique oral reports of small-group learning activities.
Reading Analysis
10.3 The student will read, comprehend, and critique literary works.
10.4 The student will read and interpret informational materials.
10.5 The student will read and analyze a variety of poetry.
Writing
10.6 The student will read and critique dramatic selections.
10.7 The student will read and critique dramatic selections.
10.8 The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation,
spelling, sentence structure, and paragraphing
10.9 The student will critique professional and peer writing.
10.10 The student will use writing to interpret, analyze, and evaluate ideas.
Research
10.11 The student will collect, evaluate, organize, and present information.
Overview of Texts
Short Stories
“Murders in the Rue Morgue”, Poe
“Eyes of a Blue Dog”, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
“One of the These Days”, Garcia Marquez
“I’m Your Horse in the Night”, Luisa Valenzuela
“The End of the Party”, Graham Greene
“The Destructors” Graham Greene
“A Telephone Call”, Dorothy Parker
Fully Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Member of the International Baccalaureate Organization – Geneva, Switzerland

2. “The Mark on the Wall”, Virginia Woolf
“The Lady of the House of Love”, Angela Carter
Non-Fiction
Hunter S. Thompson
Ryszard Kapuscinski
Pico Iyer
Drama
“The Merchant of Venice” William Shakespeare
Poetry- selected works from :
Poe
Langston Hughes
Lorca
Neruda
Auden
Browning
Novel Studies
Frankenstein, Shelley
To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee
Cry, the Beloved Country, Paton
The Color Purple, Walker
Grading Policy
10 % Homework
10% Independent Reading
10% Participation
40% Test/Project/MWA see PWL
15% Writing Process
15% Quizzes
Grade Breakdown
Writing
- Personal Response
- Critical Analytical Writing
- Technical Writing
- Research Report
Oral Language
- Presentations
- Poetry Recital
- Dramas
Final Exam: There will be a comprehensive final exam each semester. Exams count for 20%
of the student’s culminating semester grade.
Terms for Assignments: All assignments are due on the due dates specified in class.
When students have an EXCUSABLE absence they will have one school day to submit the
late work without any penalty. Such make-ups will only be initiated at the request of the
student.
Late work: Work submitted after the specified due date will accepted at a reduction of one
grade level per class session.
Expectations:
- Attend each class session

3. - Come prepared to class; bring your required materials
- Demonstrate and embody the AISC learner profile
 Respect the rights of others- Treat everyone fairly and with dignity
 Always act in an honest manner
 Demonstrate and foster a high level of international mindedness
 Challenge yourself daily and employ critical thinking
- Fully participate in class
 Ask clarifying questions
 Respect differences of opinion
 Ensure that all voices are heard
 Never be confrontational- respectfully challenge ideas
 Encourage and support others who might be reluctant to participate- be a good
leader
 Refer back to text to support and clarify points
 Understand that there is never an absolute answer, but a process through which
you will see multiple perspectives. The complexity of possibilities that makes up life is
the subject of literature.
Department Plagiarism Policy:
Plagiarism is knowing, or even unknowingly, using the words or ideas of others. The copying
of another person’s work either in its entirety or in part (other students, internet, other
published works, etcetera) will result in zero marks. No second chances!
Supplies
Please bring to class each day:
o Lined paper with holes
o 1 two ring binder
o Your AISC agenda
o Black or blue ball point pens, colored correcting pen, pencils, highlighters
o Flash/pen drive
o Computer microphone (this may be built into a laptop)
Technology Component
The AISC language arts program supports integrated technology. Students will be required
to demonstrate a number of technological capacities; email correspondence, blog/wiki
writing, forum discussion, digital voice recording, etc.
Class Resources
Grade 10 Schedule – Complete with daily and in-class assignments, homework, and
corresponding due dates.
Grade 10 Wiki – Contains the necessary vocabulary list, supplemental video and audio, the
related poems, etc.
Grade 10 Blog- Contains guidelines and examples for a number of the unit writing
assignments.
Our Scribd Account- You can find all the handouts from class and the RUBRICS.
Our Step Into Our Classroom Twitter Account – we constantly give updates, notifications,
and reminders regarding assignments and activities
Engrade- Our online grade book.