Course Syllabus

Syllabus English 10A

Mizzou Academy

Welcome

We are pleased that you selected this course to fulfill your unique educational needs. You are now a member of the Mizzou  Academy's global student body.  

 

Course Description

Welcome to English 10A! 

This 10th grade English course will introduce you to core literature and writing skills, preparing you for college and career. This course is designed to build skills with each lesson, offering rich instruction, practice opportunities, and feedback along the way to help you develop mastery. 

The course is anchored in the readings, which range from short stories and poetry to informational articles and essays. You will be guided through these readings with activities that allow you to check what you know and learn from mistakes. This work will help prepare you for assignments, quizzes, exams, and projects. 

Our hope is that you find the work enjoyable and easy to manage; that you feel supported; and that you are able to learn and grow! 

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. identify the features of short fiction genres: suspense, science fiction, humor, fantasy, and adventure.
  2. analyze core short story elements: characterization, conflict, setting, plot, and theme.
  3. interpret plot and theme in selected short stories.
  4. use literary terms to identify narrative devices, styles, and strategies in selected readings.
  5. express with confidence and clarity your original thoughts about and reactions to selected readings.
  6. demonstrate critical reading skills on multiple-choice quizzes and exams.
  7. write a complete, original short story that demonstrates your understanding of genre, short story elements, literary devices, and narrative strategy.
  8. write complete and effective paragraphs (containing a topic sentence, several body sentences with supporting details, and a concluding sentence) for different writing situations, including the appropriate formality, audience, tone, style, and purpose.
  9. write two complete, original letters for two distinct audiences that demonstrate intentional writing strategies for different writing situations.
  10. cite research sources responsibly and properly.

Pacing

This course can be completed in as few as six weeks or take up to 6 months (180 calendar days). The six weeks are counted from the date of the first lesson submission and not the date of enrollment.

Required Materials

All reading materials are contained within the course.  To view some materials, you may be required to create a free student account with CommonLit.org using the class code that is available in the Resources module.

Technical Requirements

The most up-to-date requirements can be found here: 

Additional requirements for the course are below: 

  • audio and video recording capabilities (e.g. smartphone, camera)

Accessibility

If you anticipate barriers related to the format or requirements of this course, please let Mizzou Academy know as soon as possible. If disability-related accommodations are necessary (for example, a scribe, reader, extended time on exams, captioning), please contact Mizzou Academy.

Exams

Exams are an important opportunity for you to demonstrate what you have learned and that you can communicate and analyze essential concepts. You will have two types of exams in the courses you take. Your course may use only one of these exam types or a combination.

  • Performance-based exams: These exams give you an opportunity to showcase what you have learned and apply it in authentic ways (e.g. giving a speech, writing an essay, or creating a presentation).

  • Objective-based exams: These exams give you the opportunity to showcase what you have learned and demonstrate it through multiple choice and matching questions.

  • Both types of exams require thoughtful preparation. The best preparation for an exam is to be an active participant, ask questions, take good notes, interact closely with the course content, complete all assignments, review quizzes, and apply assignment feedback.

  • See the "About Exams" in the policies section for additional information on exams at Mizzou Academy, including proctoring instructions.

Grades

Your final grade will be based on the number of points you earn on assignments and exams.

Points Distribution
Source Available Points
Assignments 300 (29%)
Quizzes 150 (14%)
Midterm and Final Exams 600 (57%)
Total 1050

You will be able to see your exam percentage in the "Exams" column in your gradebook.

 

Grading Scale
Grade Percentage
A 90–100
B 80–89
C 70–79
D 60–69
F 0–59

After completing the course, unofficial transcripts will be available in the Tiger Portal. See this page for information on requesting official transcripts. 

Canvas and Technical Support

Canvas will be used as the primary platform for accessing course materials and assignments for this class.