Syllabus English 8

Goals for the Year

Welcome to your language arts class!!  God has blessed me with this opportunity to be your teacher this year.  I consider it a joy and privilege to work with you, and I will do my best to help you be successful.  I expect your best effort and cooperation, and together we will accomplish our goals.

You will learn the rules and applications of grammar, and you will use what you learn in writing paragraphs, essays, and a research paper.  You will write poetry as we spend a quarter studying famous poets from both America and Great Britain.  Vocabulary lessons will enhance your speaking and writing abilities.  Each month throughout the year you will memorize a poem.

Course Description

The 8th grade English course consists of vocabulary, literature, and grammar studies which are designed to help students enhance their reading, writing, and speaking skills.  Students increase their vocabulary through specialized instruction in understanding word origin, context clues, and other vocabulary skills.   In the area of literature, students continue to develop vocabulary, comprehension, and interpretive skills as they study various works of literature.  These will include short stories, poetry, non-fiction, novels, and drama.  Particular emphasis is given to interpreting an author’s message and intent according to a Biblical worldview.  Students also develop speaking skills through oral presentations and poetry recitations.  

Special emphasis is placed on grammar and writing skills in the 8th grade English in order to prepare students for the increased writing requirements of the high school classes.  Students will continue to study parts of speech, sentence patterns, and mechanics rules as they refine their writing skills in order to become better communicators of God’s truth. These skills are refined as students learn to write various paragraphs, essays, and a short research project.

Teacher Expectations (Classroom rules!)

There are certain things which I expect from you which I want you to keep in mind all year.

1.  Be on time to class.  Be prepared for class with all textbooks, homework, materials, and supplies.  You will not be allowed to go to your locker after the bell rings. Stay in your seat unless given permission to move.

2.  Late work will not be accepted on long-term assignments such as poetry memorization and essays unless prior permission is granted; and this will be at the teacher's discretion.  Make-up work will be governed by the policies set up in the school handbook.  It is always the student's responsibility to complete all necessary assignments in the allotted time.

3.  Be attentive to your teacher at all times.  What I have to say about the lesson is what I consider important, and it will appear again in one form or another sooner or later, i.e. quiz or test.  Student will NOT lay his or her head on desk or sleep during class.

4.  Be focused on my classroom work.  Any work done on other subjects in my class will be taken up and tossed in the trash can.

5.  No gum, food or drinks are allowed in the classroom

6.  Be respectful to all, teachers and students, in behavior and speech.

7.  Be positive in your attitude.  Our time together can be enjoyable, even fun, when we all are doing our work cheerfully as well as diligently.

Materials Needed

Bible

Three-ring binder with  loose-leaf paper, either college-rule or wide-rule for classwork and homework; no spiral notebooks will be used.  No assignments will be accepted on spiral notebook paper.

Additional three-ring for poetry project.  This could be as small as one-inch.  You will need five dividers with tabs to separate the categories for our poetry study.

Pencils and pen--no pen will be used for class work.  Blue or black pen many be used for writing assignments and essays.  Do not use red, pink, purple, etc. pens.  You will write in cursive or word process all assignments.  

v     Textbooks

Writing and Grammar 8, BJU Press
Introducing Literature,  Scribner
Vocabulary Workshop, Level C, Sadlier-Oxford

Additional Reading Books for 8th Grade:

Anne of Green Gables

The Bronze Bow

The Merchant of Venice

Grading Policies and Procedures

v     Homework                                                                                10%        

v     Daily Participation Grade                                                          5%            

v     Quizzes                                                                                     15% 

v     Vocabulary Tests, Poem memorization, Essays                          25%

v     Unit Tests, Poetry project, Term paper                                        45%
(Students will not be allowed to retake tests for a higher grade.)

UNEXCUSED LATE WORK POLICY:  There will be an automatic 25% deduction in points for work which is not done at class time on the due date.  Late work turned in the following DAY (not the next meeting of that block) will receive this 25% deduction.  Work turned in on the next meeting of that block will receive an automatic 50% deduction in points.  Late work will not be accepted after the second day.

WHEN ABSENT, students are expected to check the web page for missed work and turn it in to the teacher in a timely manner.  It is the student's responsibility to meet with the teacher upon returning to school and to complete all assignments and tests which were missed.

IF AN UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY hinders the student from competing the assignment, the parent should email, phone, or send a note to the teacher as soon as possible.  In this case, extra time to complete the assignment will be granted.

 

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as unto the Lord rather than men."
                                                                                                                                    Colossians 3:23