8TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS – SYLLABUS



8TH  GRADE LITERATURE AND ENGLISH-LANGUAGE ARTS SYLLABUS 2010-2011 MRS. MCGILL – mmcgill@

 

CLASS MATERIALS – Success in the classroom begins with being properly prepared. Students are required to have the following materials in class every day. Failure to report to class with these materials will result in an email/phone call home.

1. College-ruled spiral notebook

2. Binder with college-ruled binder paper and dividers

3. Pencil(s) – sharpened before class / hand-held pencil sharpener

4. Red ballpoint pen, for correcting

5. Novel (for SSR)

The 8th grade Literature and English-Language Arts course is a standards-based program.  The primary source of instruction will be from the state-approved, school-adopted language arts program by McDougal Littell: The Language of Literature (LOL), and Language Network.  Materials from other sources will be supplemented as appropriate.

 

LITERATURE OBJECTIVES:

 

Using a thematic approach to literature, “ Traveling Through Time,” students will:

  •  explore various genre of literature by reading short stories, poetry, drama, and novels

     and by participating in class discussions, literature response journals, literature circles,

     and project assignments

  •  demonstrate knowledge of the various elements of literature by analyzing class

      assigned readings, producing book reports, and through tests

  •  develop understanding of content vocabulary related to reading focus

  •  enrich vocabulary through study of non-content related vocabulary

  •  read independently and demonstrate reading comprehension by receiving a passing

      percentage (80% or higher) using the Accelerated Reader (AR) program

 

GRADING POLICY:

 

Students earn credit through accumulation of points from all assignments and tests.  Academic grades are assigned using the following scale:

 

              90 – 100% - A

              80 -   89% -  B

              70 -   79% -  C

              60 -   69% -  D

              59% and below will result in a failing mark.

 

Final academic grades are calculated using the following weighted scale:

 

60% - Literary Response and Analysis – (70% Tests/Projects; 30% Homework)

•        literary elements, novel units, LOL Anthology

25% - Reading Comprehension

•        75% - Independent Reading - Accelerated Reader

•        25% - Wordly Wise Part E

 

15% - Word Analysis, fluency, and systematic vocabulary development

•        Wordly Wise vocabulary program – Multiple Choice Tests, Cloze Tests

 

LITERARY RESPONSE AND ANALYSIS

 

Students will understand and analyze the differences among various categories (novels, short stories, poetry) and genres of literature in terms of their structure and purpose. 

 

During exploration of each piece of written work we will focus on elements of literature to include:  setting and mood, irony, plot structure and conflict, foreshadowing and flashback, characterization, point of view, inference, and theme.  Students will be expected to define the various literary elements and identify the elements used in literature in assigned exercises, projects, and tests.  

 

READING COMPREHENSION

 

Independent Reading (AR)

 

Students are required to read, independently, selections from the Accelerated Reader (AR) list.  Silent reading time is scheduled in class every day; however, students are expected to read nightly at home. 

 

Students are required to read a minimum of 600 pages in the first trimester, and 800 pages in the second and third trimesters.  To receive credit, students must pass the AR test with a score of at least 80%.  The A/R test consists of knowledge (recall) and basic comprehension level questions only; therefore, an 80% or higher score indicates that adequate comprehension of the novel was achieved.

 

Wordly Wise, Part E

 

Students will work on vocabulary development and enrichment from the Wordly Wise program.  Part E consists of a non-fiction passage in which the Wordly Wise vocabulary words are used.  Students are required to read the passage and answer 15 questions related to the passage.

 

WORD ANALYSIS, FLUENCY, AND SYSTEMATIC VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

 

Within the Wordly Wise program, students will be expected to apply the vocabulary words in meaningful activities.  These may include sentence combining, word association activities and exploring relationships between words.  Students will demonstrate knowledge of the definitions and application of words through tests.

 ENGLISH

 

The English component of this class consists of three main California Writing Standards:  Writing Strategies, Writing Applications, and Written and Oral English Language Conventions.

 

GRADING POLICY:

 

Students earn credit through accumulation of points from all assignments and tests.  Academic grades are assigned using the following scale:

 

              90 – 100% - A

              80 -   89% -  B

              70 -   79% -  C

              60 -   69% -  D

              59% and below will result in a failing mark.

 

Final academic grades are calculated using the following weighted scale:

 

70% - Writing Strategies / Writing Applications

             

30% - Written and Oral English Language Conventions –

Grammar and Spelling (70% - Tests; 30% Homework)

             

WRITING STRATEGIES / WRITING APPLICATIONS

 

As students advance in school they need to express their ideas in a more formal written format.  Students will progress through the stages of the writing process with the various writing styles to include:  technical writing and narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive essays.  Each trimester a formal writing assignment will be assigned.  Students will be expected to turn in a final copy that has gone through the writing process and demonstrates a command of standard English writing conventions including correct sentence structure, use of grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.

 

WRITTEN AND ORAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS

 

Grammar:

Language Network by McDougal Littell will be the primary book for grammar instruction. 

 

Spelling:

McDougal Littell: Vocabulary and Spelling Book will be used for spelling instruction.

 

WRITING REQUIREMENTS

 

All assignments must have the following in the upper-right hand corner:  first and last name, section, date, and assignment title. All computer-generated/typed assignments must be:  double-spaced or 1 ½ spaced, font type Times New Roman, and font size 12.  Assignments not following these requirements will not be accepted.

 

LITERATURE/ENGLISH-LANGUAGE ARTS HOMEWORK POLICY:

Homework must be turned in on the day it is due.  NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY REASON (except for excused absences.)

 

If a student is absent, it is the student’s responsibility to ask for missed assignments on the day of return to class.  The student has three days to turn in the missed assignment(s) for credit.  If a test is missed, the student will take the test on the day the student returns to class.

Class Website and Technology

Website:

Assignments: The class websites can be viewed on the San Pasqual Schoolwires website, which can be accessed from any computer with internet capabilities. Websites may include state standards, daily and weekly agendas, homework assignments and due dates, project instructions, informative websites, test/quiz review games, online quizzes, lesson tutorials, etc. The websites will be updated every Monday and as needed throughout the week.

Grades: Parents and students may view grades for every class on Genesis, which can be accessed from any computer with internet capabilities. (Instructions, logins, and passwords will be provided by the office staff near the beginning of the school year.)

Students and parents are expected to view class websites and log in to Genesis frequently to monitor progress!

COMMUNICATION

The most efficient way to contact your teacher is via email. Teacher email addresses are located on the school website and on individual class websites. Teachers will reply to student and parent emails within 24 hours. Teachers will contact parents via email when grade books have been updated. *Please make sure the office staff has your current email address.* Parents and students are expected to check grades regularly and one week prior to the end of reporting periods in order to ensure grades are entered properly. Students are expected to turn in any missing assignments and make up any tests/quizzes due to absences one week before the end of a grading period or progress reporting period for the grade to be counted.

If you do not have internet access, please contact your teacher by phone or note, and a progress report will be sent home with your student at any time.

Please return this page by Friday, August 27, 2010.

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I have read the 8th Grade Literature and English-Language Arts syllabus and understand my responsibilities for this class.

 

 

_______________________________                            ____________________________

Student Name                                                                                    Student Signature

 

 

I have read the 8th Grade Literature and English-Language Arts syllabus and have discussed it with my child.

 

 

_______________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature

 

  

 I do not have internet access and will contact my student’s teachers when I would

like a progress report sent home.

 

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