Course Overview

Language, by its very nature, is fluid and vibrant and complex. It is through language that we express emotions, make requests, garner information. It is through language that we form connections or isolate ourselves. It is through language that we express our humanity. English 8 will focus on making connections.  Within the context of our school theme for the year,      “learning and living with honor,” we will work to recognize that everything is connected.  English is connected to every other subject, is, in fact, an element of everything else we do as students, teachers, indeed, members of an organized society.  Making connections is the guiding premise of everything we do this year in English 8.

The language arts component of the course includes a comprehensive study of grammar and writing skills. In particular, students will work on their essay writing skills. Emphasis is placed on learning about writing persuasive, expository, descriptive and narrative prose. Clear organization, correct grammar and lucid expression are stressed. Students will also learn the fundamentals of research writing and using MLA documentation.  

The literature and reading component of this course focuses on teaching students how to look for underlying themes in literature and how to write persuasive essays concerning such themes. Much emphasis is placed on writing clearly organized multiple page analyses of novels read in class. There is a focus on terminology, application, and analysis of different literary genres including novels, short stories, poetry, and drama.

Texts:

    Vocabulary:

        Worldly Wise 3000  Book 8

    Language Arts/Writing:

        Write Source 2009  Student Handbook

        Write Source Skillsbook 9

    Literature:

        To Kill A Mocking Bird-------Lee

        Witness---------------------------Hesse

        The Odyssey--------------------Homer

        Romeo & Juliet-----------------Shakespeare

        Selected Short Stories

        Selected Poetry 

        Animal Farm-------------------Orwell

        The Giver------------------------Lowry

 

                                                                Fall Term:    Honor isn’t easy...

September/October

Reading:         To Kill a Mocking Bird

                         Witness

Writing:           Reviewing the process; parts of the 5 paragraph essay

**Grammar and Vocabulary will be done sequentially all year using the texts specified above. Assignments will generally be listed on a weekly basis and can be found on the assignment page.

We will have roughly 1 vocabulary lesson per week, ending with a quiz on Fridays.  (This will be the case including any week with 4 or more days. (Any week with only 3 school days scheduled we will not have a vocabulary lesson.)

November/December

Reading:         Selected Short Stories

                         Selected Poetry

Writing:        Literary Research Project

                                        ---Time-line, expectations, and specific guidelines will be given at the beginning

                                            of the project.

                                                            Winter Term:   Honor and Romance...

January/February

Reading:            The Odyssey

                            Romeo & Juliet

Writing:             Grammar, mechanics and punctuation---putting the lessons into practice.

March   

Reading:          TBA (may be used as needed to finish up winter term readings)

Writing:           How to edit my own work 101.   

                                                    Spring Term:  How are power and honor connected?

April/May

Reading:          Animal Farm

                          The Giver                   

Writing:          Strengthening our writing--developing editing skills to improve overall structure, logic, flow, thesis         

                        statements...(higher order skills).

   

                     If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at ktompkins@swain.org