Course Texts

-        Easy Grammar Systems: 180 Daily Lessons Grade 8 (teacher edition)

-        Vocabulary Workshop Level C

-        Godless by Pete Hautman

-        The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

-        The Oxford Book of American Short Stories ed. Oates

-        Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

-        Night by Elie Weisel

-      Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose

-        To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

-        101 Great American Poems (Dover Thrift)

-        Selections from a variety of short stories, novels, essays, poetry, letters, etc.

Materials Required in Class

-- One section of a 3-ring binder for Language Arts class handouts and notes

-- Pens and pencils

-- Composition book (marbled or other type with sheets that do not tear out)

-- Laptop, if you have one

Assessment

Each student’s grade will be based on the following:

1. Portfolio Work: With each unit, you will complete essays and projects for your portfolio, often ones that connect the material with another discipline or a real-world situation.  Projects will be graded using rubrics.  Point value is usually between 50-200 points for portfolio work and will be announced at the same time as the project, and rubrics will reflect this.

2. Tests: There will be about two tests per trimester, each worth 100 points.  You will be given approximately a week’s notice before all tests.  If you miss a test due to an unexcused absence, you should be prepared to take the test upon your return to school.  If you miss a test due to an excused absence, you have two days to schedule a make-up time.

3. Quizzes: There will be several quizzes per trimester, both announced and unannounced.  Quizzes are usually worth 10-50 points each.  Quizzes follow the same rules for make-up as tests.

4. Journal: You will keep a journal in which daily writing assignments, notes, and homework activities will be recorded.  Your journal should be with you at all times.  Ideas from the journals will be a major source of classroom discussion.  I will periodically collect journals to read and assess.  The journal will be worth 100 points at the end of each trimester.  You are responsible for making up any journal entries following an absence.

5.  Participation:  Participation is crucial in English class.  You will be rewarded for making valuable contributions or asking questions in class, for being a respectful member of our community, and for going above and beyond expectations.  Disruptive behavior, failure to contribute consistently, and/or repeated unpreparedness will negatively impact your overall grade.

You will also have homework assignments, some checked (e.g., quizzes or journal entries) and some unchecked.  When checked, these will generally be worth between 10-50 points each. 

Your grade can be determined by adding all the points earned and dividing by the total points possible.  You will keep track of your own progress on your grade record sheet.  Thus, you should be able to calculate your own grade at any time throughout the trimester.  This sheet should be kept in the your notebook.  Periodically throughout each trimester you will get parent signatures on grade record sheets.

Class Expectations

You should arrive in class prepared not only with homework and materials, but also with a willingness to engage in discussion and to consider all perspectives.  That said, no one has to love everything we read for this class, nor do we all have to agree on every viewpoint raised by a piece of writing or by a classmate or even by the instructor.  However, disrespect toward each other’s ideas, opinions, questions, and interpretations will not be tolerated.