Grade 10 English Language Curriculum Summary (U.S.)

Grade 10 students engage with a wide range of nonfiction, focusing on evaluating rhetoric, argumentation, and bias.

Objectives:

• Analyze how an author develops and refines a central idea

• Evaluate the effectiveness of an argument’s reasoning and evidence

• Identify bias, fallacies, and rhetorical strategies (ethos, pathos, logos)

• Compare different authors' approaches to the same topic

• Interpret structure, tone, and point of view in informational texts

Example Texts:

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Speech at the United Nations – Malala Yousafzai

• The Danger of a Single Story – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (TED Talk)

• Articles from The Atlantic, The New York Times, National Geographic

• Editorials and opinion pieces from reputable sources

Students craft sophisticated, purpose-driven writing with greater fluency, structure, and integration of evidence.

Types of Writing:

1. Argumentative Writing

   • State claims, address counterclaims, and support with clear logic and citations

   • Maintain objective tone and formal style

   • Example: “Should governments restrict facial recognition technology?”

2. Literary Analysis

   • Analyze how theme, character, or literary devices are developed in a text

   • Use textual evidence and organized essay structure

   • Example: “How does Shakespeare use rhetoric to develop power in Julius Caesar?”

3. Research/Informative Writing

   • Conduct short research using multiple sources

   • Integrate quotes and paraphrasing with citations

   • Example: “How do authoritarian governments control information?”

4. Narrative Writing

   • Write reflective narratives with vivid detail, pacing, and literary elements

   • Example: “The Turning Point” – a memoir or fictional story

Writing Features Taught:

• Strong thesis and topic sentences

• Logical organization and transitions

• Varying sentence structures and vocabulary

• MLA format for citation and Works Cited page

Students refine oral communication skills for academic, persuasive, and collaborative purposes.

Objectives:

• Engage in academic discourse with textual support and critical responses

• Deliver well-structured presentations using evidence and multimedia

• Evaluate speakers for bias, clarity, and logical reasoning

• Participate in structured group discussions and debates

• Practice tone, articulation, pacing, and body language

Common Activities:

• Socratic seminars and panel discussions

• Formal debates on current issues

• Oral analysis of texts or themes

• Multimedia projects and TED-style speeches

Grade 10 grammar instruction supports formal writing and speech, while vocabulary focuses on academic precision and interpretation.

Grammar & Usage:

• Parallel structure

• Pronoun-antecedent agreement

• Verb tense consistency and shifts

• Advanced punctuation: colons, semicolons, ellipses

• Sentence variety and avoidance of run-ons/fragments

Vocabulary Development:

• Context-based vocabulary

• Greek/Latin roots and affixes (e.g., voc, ject, cred, struct)

• Literary vocabulary (e.g., motif, symbolism, allegory)

• Argumentative vocabulary (e.g., validity, counterclaim, bias)

• Use of dictionaries, thesauruses, and digital tools for clarity and tone