1 Middle School English Language Arts PLEASE HAVE PARENT SIGN AND RETURN. Instructor: Mrs. Catherine Dozier email: [email protected] Meetings: by appointment through email The focus of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the English language and its significance to the art of communication. Students will learn to use language effectively through literature, speech, and writing. The goal is to provide the framework students need in order to effectively communicate their intellect, thoughts, and emotions along with information and academic content. Furthermore, students will be exposed to the classic literature necessary to build a foundation appropriate for AP Literature and Language. Strands: explain, inform, narrate, quote accurately, analyze, compare and contrast, grammar, mechanics, syntax, punctuation, vocabulary Hints and Advice for this Course 1. TAKE NOTES! (buy index cards) 2. You can keep track of your points, percentile, and grade in this course easily. If you have questions about your grades, see me. 3. I recommend that you find a partner or group with whom you can study the material in this course. Talk about the information, read each other's work, study together, share notes, etc. on a regular basis so that you can keep up with the syllabus and assignments. 2 4. I expect all students to abide by the honor code. Plagiarism and cheating will not be accepted and all suspected cases will be taken to the headmaster. If confirmed, you will receive an F for this course 5. This Syllabus is subject to change. Please keep it for the entire year in your binder. We may mark key changes on the syllabus in class. Grades: 90100% = A; 8089% = B; 7079%= C; 6069% = D; and below 59% = F. The Midterm is worth 25% each The Final is worth 30% Quizzes: There will be a quiz at the end of each chapter worth a total of 10%. Anyone going into the final exam with a score of 95% or higher in the class, they may exempt the final. My quizzes will usually be on a Thursday. Keep all quizzes. The Midterm and Final exams come straight from the quizzes. Papers: Papers are worth 20%. There will be four assigned papers in this course. Rubrics and due dates will be provided six weeks prior to due dates. There will be writing workshops in class in order to insure understanding of the assignment. Classwork: 15%, Your classwork grade will include your ability to take notes and participate in classroom discussion. Homework: Homeworks is very important to this class. Homework will be your opportunity for feedback. If you do not complete homework assignments, it will show up in your quizzes, your classwork, and your papers. You will not pass this class without homework. I do not assign homework needlessly. In addition, any student who turns in all homework assignments will receive the opportunity to gain up to five points on his/her final grade. This could be the difference between a 75 and an 80 or an 85 and a 90. DO NOT TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY LIGHTLY!!!!!!!! Required Reading: Students must read 15 books or a minimum of 3,000 pages. Each of these books will be documented through a one page (minimum of three paragraphs) report which will include information about the book, (Author, title, number of pages, year written…), a plot summary, and the students opinion of the book (from an analytical viewpoint). The books for this requirement are student’s choice. Class Novels: There will be a minimum of three class novels. These novels will be included as homework class work, and quiz material. The goal of class novels is to teach students how to analyze what they read using literary terms. Because I want to foster a sense of love for literature, we will choose novels as a class from an appropriate and challenging reading list. Please expect an email or letter concerning which novels we choose. 3 Date August 15 August 1519 First Day of School: Syllabus Review and Course Description Unit 1: The Power of Storytelling fiction, short stories, poetry August 2226 The most Dangerous Game By Richard Connell I Like a look of Agony By Emily Dickinson Concepts: Comparing Literature The Perfect Storm vs. The Wreck of the Hesperus August Writing Lab 29September 2 Narrative Writing: Recalling a Personal Experience September 2 TEACHER WORKDAY, NO SCHOOL September 5 Labor Day, NO SCHOOL September 59 The use of Suspense and Surprise in Poetry Oh What is that sounds By W.H Auden September 9 SCIENCE FAIR DUE WITH 5 SOURCES September Author Study: Edgar Allen Poe 1216 Annabel Lee, The Bells, Letter to Maria Clemm, The Cask of Amontillado September 16 Parent/Teacher Conferences EARLY DISMISSAL 11:30 September Writing Lab: Persuasions and Opinion practicing revising and editing skills) 1923 Concepts: Writing an opinion, using literary evidence Reflection on Themes: How conflicts, resolutions, style and voice tell us about Literary themes. 4 September 2630 Memoir v. Biography Class Project: Author study Concepts: How to do research, How to make a slide show September 30 BETA CLUB INDUCTION October 37 Unit 1 Review Completion of all writing assignments and Author study Unit 1 Quiz October 5 *****Science Fair Rough Draft Due****** October 7 TEACHER WORKDAY, NO SCHOOL October 10 Columbus Day October 1014 FALL BREAK October 19 Progress Reports October 1721 Unit 2: Passages Nonfiction Life without GoGo boots By Barbara Kingsolver Angela’s Ashes By Frank Mccourt A Christmas Memory By Truman Capote October 2428 Writing Lab: Personal and Reflective Writing Concepts: Strong Verbs and Verb Tenses October 28 Halloween Party October Concepts: Character Development and Making Inferences 31November 4 The Beginning of Something By Sue Ellen Bridgers Oranges By Gary Soto The Seven Ages of Man William Shakespeare November 9 ******FINAL SCIENCE FAIR POSTER AND PAPERS DUE****** November 711 Comparing Literature:Rites of Passage Across Cultures Brothers are the Same v. Through the Tunnel Writing Lab: Compare and analyze each story's depiction of the rite into Manhood. Cite evidence from the texts. November 11 DINOFF SCIENCE FAIR November 17 Thanksgiving Feast November Unit 2 Review and Assignment Completion 1418 All assignments from Unit 2 must be turned in or the become a 0. *** Unit 2 Quiz*** November 18 TEACHER WORKDAY, NO SCHOOL November THANKSGIVING BREAK 2125 5 November 24 November 28December 2 December 2 December 59 December 1216 December 16 December 1923 December 2630 January 26 January 6 January 913 January 16 January 1620 January 2327 January 30February 3 February 610 February 7 February 1317 THANKSGIVING MIDTERM PREP Units 1 and 2 WINTER MUSICAL PROGRAM MIDTERM PREP *********MIDTERM EXAMS******************** HOLIDAY PARTY HOLIDAY BREAK NO SCHOOL Unit 3: Voices of Experience Concepts: Literature as Performance, Drama, Speeches, and Poetry, Inflection, Audience, Voice, Style REPORT CARDS The Devil and Daniel Webster By Stephen Bennett I Have a Dream By MLK Glory and Hope By Nelson Mandela MLK Day The Poison Tree By William Blake Author Study: Maya Angelou Literature by Maya Angelou Writing Lab: Speaking Out to Persuade Others Concepts: Writing a speech. Voice, Audience, Thinking Critically *Continue writing speeches* Practice Speeches and eye contact with audience Present Speeches!!!! Concepts: Style and Imagery Build a Fire By Jack London The Summit: Next Stop for Those on everest By Jon Kruaker ******** TENTATIVE REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR DATE*********** On, Being Seventeen, Bright and Unable to Read By David Raymond 6 February 9 February 2024 February 27March 3 March 2 March 610 March 1317 March 14 March 17 March 2024 March 22 March 2731 April 37 April 4 April 1014 April 14 April 1721 April 2428 May 15 May 3 May 812 May 1519 May 19 VALENTINES PARTY WINTER BREAK, NO SCHOOL Unit 3 Review Turn in all assignments Unit 3 Quiz Dr. Seuss Day Unit 4: All in the Family Concepts: Theme, Drawing Conclusions, Using active voice, Author’s perspective ITB TESTING PI DAY TEACHER WORKDAY, NO SCHOOL The Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst Woman with Flower By Naomi Long Madgett Linage By Margaret Walker ********PROGRESS REPORT********* Writing Workshop: Personal Response to “Scarlet Ibis” Concept Check Week!! Review of literary terms and knowledge!!!!! KITE DAY From Black Boy By Richard Wright Daughter of Invention By Julia Alvarez GOOD FRIDAY, NO SCHOOL SPRING BREAK, NO SCHOOL Author Study: Sandra Cisneros The author of The House on Mango Street TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY FINAL EXAM REVIEW ********FINAL EXAMS********* LAST DAY OF SCHOOL/AWARD CEREMONY 9AM Student report at 8:30 I have read and understand the above syllabus, the dates for the midterm and final exams, as well as when the paper is due. My quizzes will usually be due on Thursdays. There will be no exceptions or extensions without a doctor’s excuse. 7 PARENT SIGNATURE_________________________________________ STUDENT SIGNATURE________________________________________
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