8th Grade Language Arts Syllabus

2017-2018

Instructor:Mrs. Stokes

E-mail:

Website: (click on Valisha Stokes under School Staff)

Phone: 334-285-2100 x3217 (PLANNING@ 12:58-2:00)

Textbooks:Holt McDougal Literature, grade 8

Glencoe Writer’s ChoiceGrammar and Composition, grade 8

Welcome to 8th Grade Language Arts class!

Students in this course will:

  • Read, analyze, and interpret informational text, short stories, and drama.
  • Plan, write, revise, and edit several pieces of writing including personal narratives, descriptive and informative essays, persuasive essays, poetry, and other creative pieces with a sharp, distinct focus experimenting with sentence length, language and voice.
  • Understand, appreciate, and use a variety of literary devices and conventions.
  • Expand their vocabulary skills through vocabulary study and development of word usage skills.
  • Use language correctly, identify parts of speech, and demonstrate knowledge of capitalization and punctuation.

All daily assignments will be posted in the classroom and weekly assignments will be on Mrs. Stokes’ web page— (click on Valisha Stokes under School Staff)

Class Supplies—Bring them every day!

1” 3-ring binder/ dividers

1 package of notebook paper

Pencils (sharpened before class begins), black/blue pens

Composition tablet

Pencil sharpener

Dictionary/thesaurus

***Once school begins, make sure to bring these things to class as well:

  • Book or magazine to read
  • All required assignments

Tentative Course Outline

QUARTERS 1-4:

I. Reading (weekly, monthly comprehension tests)

A. Inferences, drawing conclusions, paraphrasing, textual evidence

B. Central (Main) idea, summarizing (objective)

C. Point of view, author’s point of view, purpose

D. Compare/Contrast (modern vs. old) authors, texts

E. Plot, setting, character, conflict, suspense, foreshadowing

F. Text structure- chronological order, cause/effect

G. Vocabulary- meanings of phrases/words, word choice

H. Poetry- rhythm, repetition, form, etc.)

I. Irony-situational, verbal, and dramatic

II. English

A. Grammar (quarterly grammar tests)

1. Nouns, pronouns- antecedents, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions

2. Voice/ Shifts- active, passive, conditional, subjunctive mood

3. Sentences- types, kinds, structure,

4. Verbs- subject/verb agreement, tenses

5. Punctuation- commas, dash, ellipsis, colons, semicolons)

6. Prepositions- phrases

7. Appositives

8. Verbals- gerunds, infinitives, participles

B. Writing (weekly, monthly, quarterly prompts)

1. Research Project

2. Narrative Essay

3. Argumentative Essay

4. Informative/Explanatory Essay

5. Journal writings

6. Creative Writing

Helpful Hints for a Successful Year:

  • Write ALLassignments in your agenda (or other organizer you use) at the beginning of the period.
  • Consult your agenda at home and complete assigned work.
  • Do your very best work each and every day!!!!!
  • If you have any questions or find you are struggling with a concept and/or assignment, please contact Mrs. Stokes for support.