English Language Arts
Grade 8 Course Outline
Teacher: Ms. Sarah Acker
English language arts encompasses the experience, study, and appreciation of language, literature, media, and communication. It involves language processes: speaking, listening, reading, viewing, writing and other ways of representing. Throughout this school year we will be exploring the English language through many different activities that involve all six of these processes. Language is learned most easily when the various processes are integrated, and kept in a meaningful context.
Assignments and homework are a key component to this class. I expect that each student will complete assigned homework each evening. I will be collecting and checking homework several times per week. If during class time you are having difficulty with a concept, ask for help. This will help avoid frustration when doing homework.
Also, due to the nature of the study of English language arts, regular attendance is necessary for success as much of the instruction is verbal and based on the students’ individual experiences. Expectation for attendance is explained more in detail below.
Areas of Study
Specific curriculum outcomes and assessment will be explored through the following units:
§ Novel studies (class and individual)
§ Poetry, short stories, and fairy tales
§ Drama and plays
§ Grammar
§ Oral presentations
Evaluation
For each term, the work in this course will be weighted in the following manner:
10% Class work
10% Tests & Quizzes
10% Oral Presentation
20% Opening Activities (Journal, Reader Response, and Vocabulary)
20% Projects & Assignments
30% Writing Folder
Students are required to pass English to be promoted to grade 9.
Class Materials
Students are asked to bring the following materials to English class every day, unless instructed otherwise:
§ Binder with 3 sections (Classwork, Vocabulary, Reader Responses)
§ Looseleaf
§ Scribbler (journal)
§ Pencil, pen, and highlighter
§ Agenda
Opening Activities
Journal (Days 1, 4, 5 & 7)
§ Every Day 1, 4, 5 & 7 you will spend the first 10 minutes of class writing an entry into your personal journal.
§ You will need a separate scribbler for your journal. It is to have your name and class written on the front.
§ I will give you a topic to write about on three of the days; the other day you are open to write what you want.
§ You are to write on only one side of the paper in your journal. This will leave room on the opposite page for me to write comments and responses.
§ Journals are confidential – only you and I will read the information in your journal unless you choose to share it with others.
§ There is no length requirement for the journal entries, but you are expected to spend the full 10 minutes writing.
§ You are to be silent when writing in your journal.
Each journal entry must have the following heading:
Entry # Entry Topic Date
Example:
Entry #1 What I did this summer Sept.6/06
Assessment of the Journal
§ Your journal will be collected once a cycle for assessment.
§ Your journal will be assessed based on the following criteria:
o Minimum of 3 ideas per entry, relating to the topic or prompt
o Appropriate journal heading
o Organization and flow of ideas
o Spelling, grammar, and punctuation
Vocabulary (Days 2 & 8)
§ Ten new vocabulary words will be assigned on each Day 2.
o If you are absent on Day 2, you are responsible for finding the vocabulary words in the class folder or on the class website.
§ The theme of the words will usually depend on our unit type (poetry, media, novel, etc.)
§ The vocabulary words for each term will be displayed on our class word wall.
§ You must know how to spell vocabulary words properly.
§ Vocabulary words are different from spelling words in two ways:
1. You must know the meaning or definition of the word.
2. You must know how to use the word properly in a sentence.
Assessment of Vocabulary Words
§ Vocabulary words will be assessed in a number of ways throughout the year. Examples include:
o Matching word to definition quizzes
o Matching word to proper sentence quizzes
o Writing sentences using the vocabulary words
§ Assessment will always be on Day 8.
o If you are absent on Day 8, you are responsible for inquiring about making up the quiz or assignment. It is your responsibility to speak to me. If you do not speak to me on your first or second day back, a grade of zero will be given for that cycle’s words.
§ Your best 3 assessments will be used toward your grade each term.
Organization of Vocabulary Materials
§ Vocabulary words and work should be kept in a separate section in your binder labeled “Vocabulary”.
§ There will be a test of all vocabulary words near the end of each term.
§ I will not give extra copies of vocabulary word, definitions and examples. You are responsible for keeping track of your own class materials.
Reader Response (Days 3 & 6)
§ Every Day 3 you will be given a piece to read. It will normally be from a newspaper or magazine.
§ On Day 3 you will spend the time reading the piece, highlighting important points.
§ On Day 6 you will be given a series of 3 – 4 questions relating to the piece. You will spend your time answering the questions.
Summarizing
§ You will always be asked to summarize the main points in the piece.
§ Summarizing means to tell me the main points. It should not recall details of the piece – just the overall topic.
o A summary should be 3 – 5 sentences in length.
Questions – Factual and Opinion-based
§ You will be given between 2 – 4 questions relating to the piece.
o All questions must be answered in complete sentences.
§ Some questions will be factual.
o Ex. How many schools were included in the survey?
§ At least one of the questions will be opinion based.
o When answering opinion based questions you must support your opinion with evidence.
o This evident can come from other studies or pieces of writing, or your own life.
§ Ex. Do you think that playing violent video games makes children aggressive?
o Improper response:
No, I don’t think violent games make people aggressive because I play those types of games.
o Proper response:
No, I don’t think violent video games make children more aggressive because many people play video games and do not act out aggressively or violently. Only a small percentage of people who play violent video games become aggressive or violent, and that could be a result of other causes.
Assessment of Reader Responses
§ Your responses to the reader response questions will be due on Day 7.
§ They will be graded out of 25. Each question may have a different value.
§ Your best 4 reader responses will count toward your report card grade.
Organization of Reader Responses
§ Reader response pieces and questions should be kept in a separate section in your binder labeled “Reader Response”.
§ If you miss a Day 3 or 6, copies of the reader response piece and questions will be placed in the class folder. You are responsible for getting these materials, and answering the questions.