”Be a hard worker.”
English Language Arts (ELA) Grade 8
Code E241 Full Year
Mrs. King
[email protected]
Prerequisite:
None
Wappingers Junior High School
“Language shapes the way we think, and
determines what we can think about.” - Benjamin
Lee Whorf
“English is a funny language; that explains why we park
our car on the driveway and drive our car on the
parkway.” -Anonymous
“Grade 8 ELA builds along the developmental
continuum on skills and strategies previously studied.
More complex materials as well as more sophisticated
writing skills are required.” The online text book can
be found on my.hrw.com
Areas of Study Include:
o Short stories
o Poetry / Sonnets
o Non Fiction/ Essays
o Drama
o Course literature may include: 8 Plus One
(H),Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, The Diary
of Anne Frank, Anne (H), The Merchant of
Venice or A Midsummer Nights Dream (H),
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The Giver,
Flowers for Algernon. The Hunger Games,
The Martian Chronicles,12 Angry Men
***INDEPENDENT READING ASSIGNMENTS
WILL BE GIVEN EACH QUARTER.
Literary Terms and Devices
- Characterization
- Point of View
- Conflict
- Imagery
- Irony
- Figurative language
- Setting
- Plot
- Theme
- Symbolism
- Flashback
- Dialogue
- Idiom
- Moral
- Dynamic characters
- Static characters

Research and Study Skills

Reading Skills and Strategies
- Predicting
- Making inferences
- Cause and effect
- Compare and contrast
- Sequencing
- Drawing conclusions
- Using contest clues
- Discovering the main idea
- Making generalizations
- Making connections
- Foreshadowing
- Summarizing
- Paraphrasing
- Author’s purpose
Critical Thinking Skills
o
o
o
o
o
Making judgments
Analyzing
Speculating
Expressing opinions
Interpreting
Writing
o
o
o
o
o
Essay Writing
Responding to literature
Personal Narratives
Expository/Descriptive
Argumentative Writing/Research
 Listening, Speaking and Viewing
 Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling
per day late. After three days, no credit
will be given.
”Don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
o
Assessment: In Grade 8, all students take the
New York State ELA 8 Exam. A district-wide
departmental final exam is administered at the
end of the school year and counts as 20% of the
student’s overall grade.
o
o
For additional information on the New York State
ELA Learning Standards and Common Core
Curriculum, please see,
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/ela/elacore.doc
http://www.engageny.org/english-language-arts
Class Work and Reading Assignments:

Student Expectations:
o Students are to be on time and prepared for
class with all necessary texts, completed
assignments, writing tools and papers.
o It is expected that students maintain an
organized notebook and planner
o Students’ journals and folders must be up to date
and missed entries should be made up promptly
o Students must participate in all classroom
activities and in-class assignments
o Students will show respect for instruction,
themselves and their fellow students.
Classroom assignments, homework, notes
given, as well as assigned reading will be
posted on the teacher web page. In the event
of absence, students should check the web
page in order to avoid falling behind.

Students will be keeping in-class work
folders which will allow students to keep
their writing projects organized.

Any student who is in the building but
misses class due to music lessons, health
office visits, field trips, etc., is still
responsible for completing the missing work
and acquiring any information and/or
notes/assignments missed.
NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES UNLESS PERMITTED
BY THE TEACHER!!! Students will be asked to
place cell phones in a secure place at the beginning
of class each day and returned at the end of each
class.
o
Classroom rules as well as school rules shall
be adhered to at all times.
Students shall bring the following to class,
daily:
o
o
o
o
Plenty of pens, pencils and loose-leaf paper
or single subject notebook which will be
checked on a regular basis.
Student Daily Journal (marble notebook or
spiral bound. I find spiral bound notebooks
that can be kept in the student’s ELA binder
work best)
Any texts currently being utilized in the
classroom (such texts will be announced as
necessary before-hand)
An outside reading book of the student’s
choice utilized when given independent
reading time which will be weekly.
Student work folders, provided by the
teacher, will remain in the classroom.
Homework:
 Students will receive credit for homework
turned in on the day it is due.
Assignments will be penalized 10 points
Assignments are due on the assigned date
and in the case of absence are to be turned
in when the student returns to school.
It is imperative that students complete all
reading assignments and homework related
to this course as they will be the foundation
for success.
Students should check my teacher web
page daily as homework.

Grading:
Grades will be compiled based upon the
satisfactory completion of the following:
o
o
o
TESTS & PROJECTS - 50%
CLASSWORK/HOMEWORK
& QUIZZES - 40%
CLASS PARTICPATION - 10%
”Be mindful of others.”
NOTE: Please sign below to verify
understanding of your commitment
to the course outline and requirements.
Class Requirement Commitment
CLASS PERIOD: ______
Student Name: Please print
_______________________________________
Student Identification Number:
_________________________________________
Student Signature:
___________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature:
__________________________________