Class Description

The focus of the course is to give students a wide variety of experiences in English, including writing, literature, vocabulary and grammar. Because students are coming from different school systems, one of the course's purposes is to get all students to have a similiar background in different areas. The course will include material that will help introduce students to study skills that will benefit them in high school.

Class Expectations

Testing Information:

Tests will be given every 3/4 weeks.  Tests will count for 40% of the class.

Daily Work:

Students will receive assignments daily in grammar, literature or writing.  The daily work counts as 10% of the grade.

Major Projects:

Students will have two major writing projects in the second semester.  One writing will be a family project and the other will be a research paper. These writing assignments will count for 30% of the grade.

Final Grade:

Final grades are determined by a combination of test and quiz scores, writing assignments and essays, and class participation.

Class Outline

 

Goals and Objectives

1. The students will learn about the 6 traits of writing and apply them to their writings.
2. The students will work with a variety of writings.
3. The students will work through 4 units of grammar and apply this to their writing.
4. The students will read short stories, poems, fiction, non-fiction, novels and an autobiography.
5. The students will read Grand Opening, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Hiding Place.

Semester 1

Week 1:  Mrs. Schiebout introduces study skills

Weeks 2,3,4,5: 

Grammar: 8 Parts of Speech,

Reading, The Miracle Worker

Writing: 6 traits of writing

Weeks 6,7,8,9: 

Reading: To Kill A Mockingbird

Grammar: Parts of a Sentence

Writing: Elements of Writing,

Weeks 10,11,12:

Reading: Romeo and Juliet

Writing: Playwriting

Weeks 13,14,15,16,17:

Grammar: Phrases

Reading: Grand Opening

Writing: Essay format/outlines

Semester 2

Weeks 1-9:

Holocaust Unit: Reading The Hiding Place, Things We Couldn’t Say

Reading: Unit 3:Relationships: Portraits From Life

Aunt Zurletha, Too Soon a Woman, My Father, A Marriage Proposal, Thank-You Ma’m, A Celebration of Grandfathers, Poems

Writing: The research paper

Weeks 10,11,12,13:

Reading: Unit 2: Obstacles: Facing the Challenge: The Odyssey

 All Things Bright and Beautiful, Everybody Knows Tobie, Giving Blood

Writing: The Family Project

Grammar: Clauses

Weeks 14,15,16,17:

Reading:  Unit 5: Turning Points: Moments to Remember

Three Wise Guys, Red Dress, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Button, Button, The Scarlet Ibis

Writing: Subject Writing