• GRADE 10

     

    The Penn-Delco School District’s Secondary Language Arts Curriculum is based on the Pennsylvania Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.

     

    A.   Students in Grade 10 who meet the  reading standards are able to:

    • Locate texts for papers, projects and debates.
    • Read and analyze non-fiction texts and respond in writing.
    • Expand reading vocabulary through the use of context clues, relating new vocabulary to other words; apply new vocabulary in writing and speaking.
    • Demonstrate after reading understanding through the use of response journals, writing assignments, research papers and debates.
    • Make personal and cross-curricular connections.
    • Demonstrate fluency and comprehension through reading checklists (pre/post reading), comprehension checks, discussion, key concepts, journals, written response and reading aloud.
    • Read and understand essential content of informational texts in all academic areas.
    • Recognize propaganda, relevance and bias.
    • Paraphrase reading through discussion and written response.
    • Recognize audience, purpose and tone.
    • Read and analyze works of literature.
    • Analyze the relationships, uses and effectiveness of literary elements by one or more authors in similar genres, including characterization, plot, setting, theme, point of view, style and tone.
    • Analyze literary devices and their effect:  rhyme, rhythm, meter, alliteration, personification, simile, metaphor, irony, satire, foreshadowing, flashbacks, progressive and digressive time, diction, understatement, overstatement and paradox.
    • Analyze how the use of words creates tone and mood and advances the theme or purpose of the work.
    • Read and analyze poetry and drama.

      

    B.   Students in Grade 10 who meet the writing standards are able to:

    • Write short stories, poems, scene, skits or plays.
    • Write informational pieces like research papers, analyses, evaluations and essays.
    • Use primary and secondary sources.
    • Write persuasive pieces with a clearly stated position, convincing arguments, counter argument and strong conclusion.
    • Write a personal resume.
    • Write on demand to a prompt.
    • Write with a sharp, distinct focus.
    • Write using well-developed content appropriate to the topic.
    • Sustain a logical order within and between paragraphs using meaningful transitions.
    • Establish tone and voice through the use of precise language and varied sentence structure.
    • Revise writing to improve style, content, word choice and sentence variety.
    • Edit writing using the correct conventions of language: spelling, punctuation, capitalization, parts of speech, and properly constructed sentences.
    • Present written work for publication when appropriate.

     

    C.   Students in Grade 10 who meet the speaking and listening standards are able to:

    • Listen to others, ask clarifying questions, synthesize information and take notes.
    • Listen to selections of fiction and non-fiction and related what is heard to previous knowledge, make predictions, summarize what is heard, identify new words and concepts and relate to other selections read or heard.
    • Speak using skills appropriate to formal speech situations.
    • Pace the presentation to audience and purpose.
    • Adjust stress, volume and inflection.
    • Use standard English.
    • Contribute to discussions, ask clarifying questions and respond with relevant information.
    • Paraphrase and summarize as needed.
    • Participate in small and large group discussions and presentations.
    • Select and present an oral reading on an assigned topic.
    • Participate in an interview.
    • Participate in a debate.
    • Use various forms of media to make a presentation.
    • Evaluate the role of media in focusing attention and forming opinions. 

    D.   Students in Grade 10 who meet the characteristics and function of the English language standard are able to:

    • Analyze effects of historical events in world literature content on the English language.
    • Evaluate language and its effects on various societal groups.
    • Explain and evaluate the role and influence of the English language within and across countries.

     

    E.   Students in Grade 10 who meet the research standard are able to:

    • Determine valid resources for researching a topic, including primary and secondary sources.
    • Understand the steps necessary to complete a research paper or project.
    • Develop a thesis statement.
    • Take relevant notes from a variety of sources.
    • Organize, summarize and present the research.
    • Give precise, formal credit for others’ ideas, images or information.
    • Use a standard method of documentation.