English 8, taught by Susan Podgorski

The goal of this course is to continue to explore the language arts by providing varied speaking, listening, reading, and writing experiences. Whenever possible, interdisciplinary links are made to make lessons relevant and enjoyable. Students are encouraged to participate in class daily. Speaking and listening skills are enhanced by the formal and informal opportunities given to students. In addition, students will read many genres including the short story, novel, drama, poetry, and nonfiction throughout the year. In February, students will begin a research paper. This introductory unit fosters essential research writing skills. Finally, the eighth grade English class prepares students for the rigors of the high school program by establishing strong study and organizational skills.

Textbooks:

• Explorations in Literature - - Scott, Foresman & Company

• Warriner’s Elements of Writing Second Course

• Daily Vocabulary, Level 8 – McDougal, Littell & Company

Classroom Expectations:

Students are required to have a three-ring binder for English. The binder should be divided into the following sections: Spelling, Vocabulary, Literature, Writing, and Research. All hand-outs, quizzes and tests are labeled and should be filed in the appropriate section. Class notes should be kept here as well. Binders will be checked for completeness and neatness periodically. Parents are invited to review materials in their child’s binder.

Students should write all homework assignments in their Agenda books. Parents are encouraged to check the Agenda book often. In it all work assigned each day will be written. An organized student will check off finished assignments. A parent who needs to closely monitor homework assigned can match the assignments written in the Agenda book to the heading on a finished paper. This method of homework checking has worked successfully with seventh and eighth grade students. Please feel free to write notes in this assignment pad whenever the need arises.

Grading

Because homework is given on a daily basis, it will count as twenty-five (25) percent of the quarter grade. The criteria below will be used to determine the credit given.

HOMEWORK POINT VALUE
4 – neat, complete, on time
3 – lacking neatness, completion, or turned in immediately after class
2 – late, turned in the same day
1 – one day late
0 – not done

The remainder of the student’s grade, seventy-five (75) percent, will be based on quizzes, unit tests, book reports, projects, and compositions. (Once a set of papers has been returned to the class, a sixty-five (65) or lower will have been earned.)

A research paper will be written in April. This required research project will count as twenty-five (25) percent in the fourth quarter. Thus, work listed above will count as fifty percent of the fourth quarter grade.

Mrs. Podgorski is usually available after school Tuesdays through Thursdays. Students are encouraged to seek the available extra help.

Curriculum

September
Literature – novel, Breaker, selected poems, selected essays
Compositions – description, exposition, and/or a poem
Speech – informative (an autobiographical travel bag)
Grammar – subject/predicate
Vocabulary – units 1-4
Spelling – units 1-2

October
Literature – short stories, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (play version), poems including “The
Highwayman” and “The Bat”
Compositions – a poem, exposition – technical writing (an English/science link)
Grammar – simple sentences, transitions
Vocabulary - units 5-7
Spelling – units 3-6

November
Literature – novel, contemporary themes (English/social studies/science link)
Compositions – a book report outline, a poem
Grammar – complex sentences
Vocabulary – units 8-10
Spelling – units 7-10

December
Composition – a poetry unit – master artists (English/technology/art link)
Speech – an oral book report
Grammar – irregular verbs
Vocabulary – words often confused

January
Literature – novel, The Call of the Wild
Compositions – literature essay
Vocabulary – units 14-15
Spelling – units 11-13

February
Literature – Choice biography/autobiography
Grammar – paragraph development, possessive case of nouns
Vocabulary – units 16-18

March
Literature – nonfiction articles from magazines, current biography articles, approved Internet sources
Composition – exposition, a research paper
Grammar – editing
Vocabulary – units 19-21
Spelling - units 14-15

April
Literature – articles and short stores related to the Great Depression and Out Of The Dust (English/social studies/math link)
Composition – creative writing, and or project
Speech – informative
Vocabulary – units 22-24

May
Literature – The Diary of Anne Frank, a full-length play and a novel from a student – selected
decade (English/social studies link)
Composition – narration, a literature essay, ELA state writing test preparation
Grammar – peer editing
Vocabulary – unit 25

June
Literature – mythology
Composition – creative writing
Grammar – review
Vocabulary – review

To contact teacher:

Call 765-3314, ext. 344 (Calls are returned as soon as possible on school days)