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COURSE CONTENT - Grade 8



Writing

A. Analytical essays (1 per semester)

  1. Introduction
  2. Proof of thesis
  3. Conclusion

B. Literature-based timed writings (3 per semester)

  1. Two discussion type
    • Study an excerpt from literature at home
    • Class discussion of the excerpt's meaning as well as possibleprompts and strategies for responding
    • In-class forty-five minute timed writing using the analytical thesis format
  2. One "cold" timed writing (no pre-writing preparation) for portfolio submission

C. Commonplace book

  1. Several done during the school year
  2. Introduces and/or reviews writing strategies

D. Monthly bibliographic activity for II.B.




Literature

A. Core novels

  1. Anne Frank
  2. The Giver
  3. To Kill a Mockingbird/Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

B. Self-selected monthly genre novels with bibliographic activity
C. Literary elements

  1. Theme
  2. Character
  3. Symbolism
  4. Thematic parallelism
  5. Poetic techniques


Projects

A. Poetry anthology
B. Subject (simple/compound) and verb agreementH. Spelling


Conventions

A. Writing complete sentences
  1. Fragments
  2. Run-on sentences

B. Pronouns

  1. Agreement of subject and personal/indefinite pronouns
  2. Pronoun antecedents
    • Pronoun and antecedent agreement
    • b. Indefinite pronouns as antecedents
  3. Who and Whom

C. Modifiers: good and well
D. Commonly confused verbs

  1. Lie and lay
  2. Ask and tell

E. Capitalization

  1. Names and personal titles
  2. Languages, nationalities, religious terms
  3. School subjects
  4. Organizations, institutions
  5. Geographical names, events, time periods

F. Punctuation

  1. Commas/semicolons in compound sentences
  2. Elements set off in a sentence
    • Introductory words
    • Nouns of address
    • Appositives
    • Interrupters
  3. Items in a series
  4. Dates, addresses, letters
  5. Quotations
    • Direct quotations
    • End punctuation
    • Divided quotations
    • Quotation citation in analytical essays

G. Spelling (McDougal-Littell lists: one per week emphasizing a particular spelling rule)


Reading Comprehension

A. Reading log
B. Dialectic journal
C. Quotes and notes
D. Annotated bibliographic card
E. Vocabulary (self-selected from SSR novel, newspaper, magazine)
F. Creative book responses