Our Curriculum › Writing & Grammar › 10th Grade
English 10: Composition & Grammar
A full-year course in composition and grammar that returns to each major form from English 9 with more depth: argument, research, narrative, literary analysis, speeches, problem-solution essays and presentations. Late in the year it is mostly craft practice and review.
180 lessons
One a day for a school year
10 units
Each opens to its lessons
Research paper & short story
Plus a presentation and portfolio
Standards
Common Core Grade 10 writing & language
What's taught, unit by unit
Deeper arguments & grammarDays 1–20
Sharper claims and counterclaims, comparing strengths and limits, formal style, parallel structure, varied syntax, and a multi-paragraph argument on a nuanced topic. Grammar: verb mood, gerunds, participles, infinitives and agreement.
- 1 · Deepening Precise Claims
- 2 · Deepening Claim/Counterclaim Development
- 3 · Deepening Strengths/Limitations Analysis
- 4 · Deepening Formal Style: Semicolons and Colons for Complex Sentences
- 6 · Deepening Parallel Structure
- 7 · Deepening Varied Syntax for Style
- 8 · Writing a Multi-Paragraph Argument on a Nuanced Topic
- 9 · Peer Reviewing for Argument Sophistication
- 11 · Deepening Organized Argument Structure
- 12 · Deepening Varied Transitions
- 13 · Deepening Formal Style and Objective Tone
- 14 · Deepening Concluding Statements That Follow From the Argument
- 16 · Deepening Verb Mood Precision
- 17 · Deepening Verbal Usage (Gerunds, Participles, Infinitives)
- 18 · Deepening Subject-Verb Agreement: Correlative Conjunctions and Embedded Clauses
- 19 · Writing a Multi-Paragraph Essay With Sophisticated Grammar
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Research paper & short storyDays 21–40
A full research paper with a focused question, source credibility, synthesis, careful citation, subtopics and academic vocabulary, then narrative craft (point of view, hooks, pacing, dialogue, flashback) ending in a complete short story.
- 21 · Deepening Research Question Development
- 22 · Deepening Source Credibility Evaluation
- 23 · Deepening Source Synthesis
- 24 · Deepening Citation and Plagiarism Avoidance
- 26 · Deepening Introduction Significance
- 27 · Deepening Subtopic Organization
- 28 · Deepening Academic Vocabulary Precision
- 29 · Writing a Full Research Paper Draft
- 31 · Deepening Narrative Point of View
- 32 · Deepening Narrative Hooks
- 33 · Deepening Pacing Control
- 34 · Deepening Sensory Detail
- 36 · Deepening Character-Revealing Dialogue
- 37 · Deepening Flashback and Time Manipulation
- 38 · Deepening Earned Narrative Resolutions
- 39 · Writing a Complete Sophisticated Short Story
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Literary analysis & comparisonDays 41–55
Literary analysis introductions, evidence and commentary, comparing three texts, comparative transitions, a reflective essay and a full literary analysis essay. Also concise writing, layered titles, precise verbs and active voice.
- 41 · Deepening Literary Analysis Introductions
- 42 · Deepening Evidence Integration
- 43 · Deepening Analytical Commentary
- 44 · Deepening Compare-Contrast Structure: Three Texts
- 46 · Deepening Comparative Transitions
- 47 · Deepening Reflective Essay Writing
- 48 · Deepening Revision for Conciseness
- 49 · Writing a Full Sophisticated Literary Analysis Essay
- 51 · Deepening Compelling Titles
- 52 · Deepening Precise Verb Choice
- 53 · Deepening Active Voice Usage
- 54 · Deepening Compare-Contrast Conclusions
Plus 3 review days, not listed.
Speeches, historical essay & publishingDays 56–70
Persuasive speech openings, appeals and delivery for a specific audience, a historical analysis essay with a sharp thesis and complexity, an argumentative essay, peer and argument revision, editing and publishing.
- 56 · Deepening Persuasive Speech Openings
- 57 · Deepening Rhetorical Appeals
- 58 · Deepening Audience Awareness
- 59 · Delivering a Sophisticated Persuasive Speech
- 61 · Deepening Historical Analysis Essay Writing
- 62 · Deepening Historical Evidence Usage
- 63 · Deepening Acknowledging Historical Complexity
- 64 · Drafting a Sophisticated Multi-Paragraph Argumentative Essay
- 66 · Deepening Peer Revision Techniques
- 67 · Deepening Argument-Strength Revision
- 68 · Deepening Grammar and Mechanics Editing
- 69 · Deepening Publishing and Sharing
Plus 3 review days, not listed.
Satire, cause-effect, problem-solution & personal statementDays 71–90
Layered satire, analogies, cause-and-effect and problem-solution essays with several objections and feasibility checks, a personal statement, a synthesis essay, timed writing and a self-assessment.
- 71 · Deepening Satirical Writing
- 72 · Deepening Analogy Usage
- 73 · Deepening Cause-and-Effect Essay Writing
- 74 · Deepening Cause-and-Effect Transitions
- 76 · Deepening Problem-Solution Essay Writing
- 77 · Deepening Anticipating Objections
- 78 · Deepening Feasibility Analysis
- 79 · Writing a Complete Deepened Problem-Solution Essay
- 81 · Deepening Personal Statement Writing
- 82 · Deepening Showing Growth
- 83 · Deepening Authentic Voice
- 84 · Deepening Forward-Looking Conclusions
- 86 · Deepening Central-Question Response Writing
- 87 · Deepening Synthesis Essay Writing
- 88 · Deepening Timed Writing Practice
- 89 · Deepening Self-Assessment of Writing Growth
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Comparative essay, creative craft & scene writingDays 91–110
A comparative literary essay with balanced coverage, ambiguity, sentence rhythm, direct address, and scenes about identity, foreshadowing, resilience, belonging and parallel storylines, plus a final independent essay.
- 91 · Deepening Comparative Literary Analysis Essay Writing
- 92 · Deepening Balanced Coverage
- 93 · Deepening Cross-Text Transitions
- 94 · Deepening Comparative Conclusions
- 96 · Deepening Writing With Deliberate Ambiguity
- 97 · Deepening Sentence Rhythm Manipulation
- 98 · Deepening Direct Address in Creative Writing
- 99 · Combining This Year's Deepened Craft Techniques
- 101 · Deepening Identity Scene Writing: The Self/Perception Gap
- 102 · Deepening Dramatic Structure: Multi-Beat Rising Action
- 103 · Deepening Foreshadowing Dialogue: The Double Reading
- 104 · Deepening Resilience Scenes: Resilience at a Cost
- 106 · Deepening Belonging Scenes: What Belonging Costs
- 107 · Deepening Parallel Storylines: Thematic Resonance, Not Coincidence
- 108 · Final Independent Essay: Building a Precise, Arguable Thesis and Outline
- 109 · Final Independent Essay: Drafting, Revising, and Finalizing
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
More scene craft, review & portfolioDays 111–130
Scenes with silence, moral choices, withheld information and symbols, a first cumulative review and look ahead, then identity, structure and resilience scenes again and a portfolio with a growth reflection. Several topics repeat days 101-107.
- 111 · Deepening Meaningful Silence Writing
- 112 · Deepening Morally Complex Choice Writing
- 113 · Deepening Withholding Information for Suspense
- 114 · Deepening Symbolic Object Writing
- 116 · Cumulative Review: A Year of English 10 Writing (Part 1)
- 117 · Cumulative Review: A Year of English 10 Writing (Part 2)
- 118 · Reflecting on a Year of Deepened Writing
- 119 · Looking Ahead: English 11 Composition Next Year
- 121 · Deepening Identity-Scene Writing
- 122 · Deepening Structural Subversion
- 123 · Deepening Double-Meaning Dialogue
- 124 · Deepening Costly Resilience Scenes
- 126 · Deepening Conditional Belonging Scenes
- 127 · Deepening Thematically Resonant Parallel Storylines
- 128 · Reflecting on My Writing Growth: Technique, Turning Point, Evidence
- 129 · Compiling a Deepened Writing Portfolio
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Presentations, sacrifice & loss writing, timed practiceDays 131–150
A multimedia presentation with slides and question answering, narratives about sacrifice and withheld judgment, cumulative review, scenes about multiple timelines, loss, ambition and elegy, and timed argument and analysis practice.
- 131 · Preparing a Deepened Multimedia Presentation
- 132 · Deepening Effective Presentation Slides
- 133 · Delivering a Deepened Analytical Presentation
- 134 · Deepening Q&A Response Skills
- 136 · Deepening Sacrifice Narrative Writing
- 137 · Deepening Withheld-Judgment Writing
- 138 · Cumulative Writing Review: All 3 Major Genres, Deepened
- 139 · Reflecting on a Full Year of Deepened Writing Development
- 141 · Deepening Multiple-Timeline Writing
- 142 · Deepening Accumulated Loss Writing
- 143 · Deepening Double-Edged Ambition Writing
- 144 · Deepening Elegiac Writing
- 146 · Deepening Ambiguous Final Image Writing
- 147 · Timed Writing Practice: A Sophisticated Argumentative Prompt
- 148 · Timed Writing Practice: A Sophisticated Literary Analysis Prompt
- 149 · Reviewing Feedback and Setting Final Writing Goals
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
More character craft & cumulative reviewDays 151–170
Scenes about conflicting duty, layered setting symbolism, pride, withheld backstory, quiet endurance, loyalty, cyclical structure and resentment, then a three-part cumulative review, timed practice and a growth reflection.
- 151 · Deepening Conflicting Duty Writing
- 152 · Deepening Layered Setting Symbolism Writing
- 153 · Deepening Double-Edged Pride Writing
- 154 · Deepening Withheld Backstory Writing
- 156 · Deepening Quiet Endurance Writing
- 157 · Deepening Structural Frame Writing
- 158 · Timed Writing Practice: A Sophisticated Narrative Prompt
- 159 · Reviewing Common Errors in Sophisticated Sentence Structure
- 161 · Deepening Costly Loyalty Writing
- 162 · Deepening Cyclical Structure Writing
- 163 · Deepening Slow-Building Resentment Writing
- 164 · Full-Year English 10 Composition Cumulative Review, Part 1: Narrative and Argumentative Craft
- 166 · Full-Year English 10 Composition Cumulative Review, Part 2: Grammar, Sentence Sophistication, and Revision
- 167 · Full-Year English 10 Composition Cumulative Review, Part 3: The Year's Most Sophisticated Techniques
- 168 · Timed Writing Practice: The Comprehensive Final Prompt
- 169 · Full-Year Writing Growth Reflection
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Final review, presentation & celebrationDays 171–180
Final reviews of argument, narrative and grammar, a year-end writing presentation, celebration days including a favorite line challenge, and a preview of English 11.
- 171 · Final Review: Argumentative and Narrative Craft
- 172 · Final Review: Grammar and Sentence Sophistication
- 173 · Preparing Your Year-End Writing Presentation
- 174 · Delivering Your Year-End Writing Presentation
- 175 · Celebration Day: Reflecting on a Year of English 10 Composition!
- 176 · Celebration Day: A Favorite Line Challenge
- 177 · Celebration Day: Writing All Around You
- 178 · Looking Ahead Again: Audience Awareness and Irony in English 11 Composition
- 179 · Final Reflection: My Year in English 10 Composition
- 180 · Congratulations! You Completed English 10 Composition & Grammar!
By the end of the year, your child can
- Write an argument that develops a claim and a counterclaim and compares their strengths
- Write a research paper with credible sources, synthesis and correct citations
- Write a literary analysis that compares two or three texts
- Write a short story with earned resolution, strong dialogue and controlled pacing
- Use verb mood, verbals and agreement correctly in complex sentences
- Plan and give a presentation with slides and answer questions
Other 10th Grade subjects: Geometry · English 10: Literature · Chemistry · US History