CBSE Class 10 English: Syllabus and Exam Structure

• CBSE is the Central Board of Secondary Education.
• Class 10 is a significant year in the CBSE system, marking the end of secondary school.
• English is compulsory for Class 10 CBSE students.
• The English syllabus includes language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) and literature.
• The course aims to enhance communicative competence in English.

Sections of the English Exam

• The CBSE Class 10 English exam assesses various skills through different sections.
• Reading tests comprehension and interpretation of unseen passages.
• Writing assesses the ability to write accurately and creatively through formats such as letters, articles, and stories.
• Grammar focuses on the correct usage of grammatical concepts in context.
• Literature evaluates understanding and appreciation of prescribed literary texts through questions on themes, characters, and literary devices.

Reading Comprehension

• Unseen passages are used to test reading skills.
• Passages can be factual, descriptive, or narrative.
• Questions test vocabulary, inference, analysis, and understanding of the main idea.

Writing Skills

• Formal Letter Writing includes letters to the editor, complaint letters, and inquiry letters; format, tone, and content relevance are crucial.
• Article Writing requires a clear understanding of the topic, logical organization, and persuasive language.
• Story Writing assesses creativity, narrative skills, and the ability to develop a plot with characters and setting.

Grammar

• Tenses: Correct usage of past, present, and future tenses is important.
• Modals: Modal verbs express ability, permission, advice, and obligation.
• Subject-Verb Agreement: The verb must match the subject in number and person.
• Reported Speech: Direct speech is converted into indirect speech.
• Determiners: Articles, quantifiers, and demonstratives should be understood and used correctly.
• Active and Passive Voice: Sentences can be converted from active to passive voice and vice versa.

Literature

• First Flight includes both prose and poetry.
• Footprints Without Feet is supplementary reading material with stories.
• Emphasis is given to themes, characters, settings, and literary devices used by authors.

First Flight (Prose)

• "A Letter to God" by G.L. Fuentes tells the story of a farmer’s unwavering faith in God.
• "Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" is an excerpt from Mandela’s autobiography, highlighting his struggle against apartheid.
• "Two Stories About Flying" includes "His First Flight" by Liam O’Flaherty and "Black Aeroplane" by Frederick Forsyth.
• "From the Diary of Anne Frank" contains excerpts portraying her experiences during the Holocaust.
• "The Hundred Dresses – I & II" by El Bsor Estes tells the story of Wanda Petronski, a Polish immigrant girl.
• "Glimpses of India" consists of "A Baker from Goa" by Lucia Rodrigues, "Coorg" by Lokesh Abrol, and "Tea from Assam" by Arup Kumar Datta.
• "Madam Rides the Bus" by Vallikkannan is about a young girl’s bus journey into town.
• "The Sermon at Benares" recounts Gautama Buddha’s first sermon.
• "The Proposal" by Anton Chekhov is a one-act play about a humorous marriage proposal.

First Flight (Poetry)

• "Dust of Snow" by Robert Frost shows the significance of small things in changing one’s mood.
• "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost provides a symbolic representation of destructive human emotions.
• "A Tiger in the Zoo" by Leslie Norris contrasts the life of a tiger in a zoo versus its natural habitat.
• "How to Tell Wild Animals" by Carolyn Wells is a humorous poem about identifying wild animals.
• "The Ball Poem" by John Berryman explores a boy’s experience of loss and learning to cope.
• "Amanda!" by Robin Klein portrays a child’s desire for freedom and escape from constant nagging.
• "Animals" by Walt Whitman praises animals for their simplicity and contentment.
• "The Trees" by Adrienne Rich symbolizes nature’s attempt to break free from human confinement.
• "Fog" by Carl Sandburg offers a metaphorical description of the arrival of fog.
• "The Tale of Custard the Dragon" by Ogden Nash is a humorous ballad about a cowardly dragon.
• "For Anne Gregory" by William Butler Yeats discusses inner beauty versus physical appearance.

Footprints Without Feet

• "A Triumph of Surgery" by James Herriot is the story of a dog’s recovery through proper care.
• "The Thief’s Story" by Ruskin Bond recounts a young thief’s encounter with a kind-hearted man.
• "The Midnight Visitor" by Robert Arthur is a suspenseful story about a secret agent.
• "A Question of Trust" by Victor Canning tells the story of a clever thief who gets outsmarted.
• "Footprints without Feet" by H.G. Wells is about a scientist who discovers invisibility.
• "The Making of a Scientist" by Robert W. Peterson tells about Richard Ebright's journey to becoming a scientist.
• "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant tells of a woman’s pursuit of materialistic dreams and its consequences.
• "Bholi" by K.A. Abbas tells the story of a girl’s transformation through education.
• "The Book That Saved the Earth" by Claire Boiko is a play about how a book saved Earth from Martian invasion.

Literary Devices

• Simile compares using "like" or "as."
• Metaphor is a direct comparison without using "like" or "as."
• Personification gives human qualities to non-human things.
• Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
• Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within words.
• Irony is a contrast between what is said and what is actually meant.
• Imagery utilizes vivid language to create mental images.
• Symbolism uses objects or ideas to represent something else.
• Rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes at the end of lines in a poem.

Exam Strategies

• Time Management: Allocate time for each section during the exam effectively.
• Neat Presentation: Write clearly and neatly for better readability.
• Word Limit: Stick to the specified word limits for each answer.
• Revision: Revise answers to correct errors and improve clarity.

Tips for Preparation

• Regular Reading: Read newspapers, magazines, and books to improve comprehension and vocabulary.
• Practice Writing: Practice writing letters, articles, and stories to improve writing skills.
• Grammar Exercises: Solve grammar exercises regularly to reinforce concepts.
• Refer to Sample Papers: Solve previous years’ question papers and sample papers for practice.
• Group Study: Engage in group discussions to clarify doubts and enhance understanding.

Overview of the CBSE Class 10 English syllabus, including reading, writing, grammar, and literature sections. Focuses on enhancing communicative competence and assessing comprehension, creative writing, and understanding of literary texts.