Course Syllabus

English 10ACP 2024-25 

Mr. Finneron                                                                                                                     finneronj@wellesleyps.org Office Hours: Tuesday 2:35-3:05                                                                                            Office 235, Ext. 4620

*I'm happy to meet with you any time, so please send an email or touch base in person to set up                                          

           Welcome to sophomore English, a course in which we focus on novels, plays, short stories, essays and poems by American writers; we will read this variety of genres from American literature spanning the centuries. I also hope to offer choice in what you read at times during the year. Through it all, we are guided by the goal of becoming better readers, writers, thinkers and speakers.

            As we practice reading texts closely and critically, working to develop the skills required for literary analysis, I hope you will see yourself reflected in some of the American stories we will study. Where you do not see your experience mirrored, I hope you will find a window into the lives of Americans whose stories differ from yours. I hope you will bring your own story into conversation with the stories of authors and the stories of your peers. I hope you will join in dialogue and debate about what America is, what it isn’t, and what you want it to be. Our 10th-grade curriculum is designed to explore and grapple with these Essential Questions:

1. How does American literature reflect and influence one’s identity?
2. To what extent is American literature our cultural voice?
3. What does American literature say to us about race, gender, class, and aspirations?

Academic Expectations

My expectations for this course are simple. Be here on time. Be prepared for class. Be respectful. This means you have completed reading assignments in their entirety and taken reading notes. I expect you to listen and respond to what your classmates and I have to say – this means no side conversations and/or comments while someone is speaking.  I hope you can appreciate that I simply expect you to maintain an atmosphere of respect and cooperation at all times, for one another, for your potential to succeed and for my daily objectives. 

Assignments and Grading

Expect reading quizzes, both announced and unannounced, on assigned readings. You will have vocabulary quizzes throughout the year (See “Daily Words” below).  You will have some combination of major papers, projects, tests, or presentations each term, and you will have a number of shorter assignments as well. I will occasionally ask you to lead a class discussion or present your thoughts to the class. 

Each assignment is worth a set number of points.  A nightly homework assignment, for example, might be worth 5-10 points; quizzes might be worth 15-30 points; and major papers or projects are worth 50–100 points (or more in the case of something like the Sophomore Synthesis Project). Your term grade is determined by how many points you earn out of the total points possible. 

Daily Words

Each day there will be one new vocabulary word introduced at the start of class.  You are required to record the word, the part of speech, and the definition for each word in your notebook.  You will be given a quiz on your daily words every five words – this works out to one quiz per cycle.  The quiz structure goes like this:

• Will begin with 1 word of the day each class
• After the first 5 words, we’ll have our first vocab quiz (a 5-word quiz)
• After our next 5 words (so 10 total), we’ll have our second vocab quiz (on the 10)
• After our next 5 words (so 15 total), we’ll have our third vocab quiz
• This time, another 10-word quiz – BUT with the 5 most recent, and ANY 5 previous
• For the rest of the year we’ll have a quiz every 5 words, following this format of the 5 most recent and any other 5 from the whole year

Membean

While the daily vocabulary words are grade and subject specific, taken from things such as MCAS, the books we're reading, and the skills we're developing, Membean is a language tool that is tailored to each individual. That is, after completing a calibration exercise, each of you will learn and progress through learning that is specific to where you are in your language and vocabulary development. 

• You must complete three, 15-minute Membean sessions each week (each individual session is worth 2 points, for a total of 6 points per week)
• You cannot complete more than one Membean session on a single day
• The "Membean week" runs Monday-Sunday (in other words, you have from Monday morning until Sunday night to complete the three sessions for the week). 

Participation

Your participation in class is vital because you are a citizen in a learning community. Research tells us that we learn more when we are engaged; we help each other to learn when we share ideas, ask questions, challenge assumptions, and debate opinions.