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Course Description (including overriding themes, concepts or topics):
The eighth grade Language Arts curriculum emphasizes skills and the study of the following areas:
Thematic approach to literature via novels, short stories, poetry and myths;
- Process writing skills such as prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, publishing;
- Varied writing styles via: narrative, descriptive, persuasive, and expository;
- "Workshop method" incorporating reinforcement of individual student skills, talents and abilities.
Student Expectations (What will the students know and be able to do as a result of successfully completing this course?):
- Produce evidence of written mastery through successful completion of various writing assignments.
- Demonstrate process writing skills: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.
- Create written samples that represent narrative, descriptive, persuasive, and expository writing styles
- Practice critical thinking skills: engaging, connecting, interpreting, and analyzing
- Participate in workshop method activities: literature response journal writing, impromptu speeches,
- S.S.R., cooperative learning activities, creative writing exercises and writing assignments
Multiple Forms of Assessment
- Literature response journal
- Group and individual projects
- Cumulative writing pieces
- Literature Circle response writing
- Writing "workshops"
- Free choice reading projects (book talk and reviews)
- Participation in class activities
- Tests/Quizzes
- Research papers
Learning Activities
- Literature Circles
- Discussions - group work/processing
- Individual and group projects
- Writing pieces
- Free choice reading projects
- Research paper
- SSR (silent sustained reading)
- Field Trips
Resources (Textbooks, equipment, instructional supplies, etc:)
- Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl
- Hamlet
- Izzy, Willy-Nilly
- The Pearl
- Related short stories, poetry, drama, music and non-fiction articles, vocabulary handouts
Standards for Assessment (How grades are determined):
- Homework points - 20%
- Quizzes - 30%/Tests - 50%
- Major writing assignments/projects equivalent to test grades
- Literature Circles/equivalent to homework points
.