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CORE Syllabus: Eighth Grade Language Arts
WRITING TOPICS/GENRES:
Persuasive Letters/Essays:
· Understand the structure and elements of a persuasive piece of writing
· Create a persuasive piece of writing by establishing support for their viewpoint with facts, personal opinion and research
· Explore a variety of persuasive texts and recognize differing viewpoints
Topic Report:
· Understand the structure of a topic report and demonstrate their knowledge through a final written product
· Use a variety of resources (books, periodicals, articles, websites) to gather data on a specific topic
· Demonstrate an ability to compile and organize topic report related data
· Appropriately cite sources using APA format
Journaling:
· Understand that journaling can be used by students as a means of getting their thoughts on paper and to express themselves
Poetry:
· Explore different literary devices through poetry
· Understand that poetry presents multiple interpretations based upon reader experiences and knowledge
· Identify a variety of poetic structures including: Haiku, Cinquain, Free verse…etc.
WRITING SKILLS:
Writing Components:
· Verbally identify the traits to be used when creating a written artifact
· Identify writing as a process not just a product
· Incorporate the writing traits in a variety of writing artifacts
Standard/Formal Written Language:
· Determining when it’s appropriate to use formal and informal written language
· Understanding the difference between written and oral language
GRAMMAR/SPELLING
Grammar:
· Use appropriate grammar in both oral and written expression
· Through embedded instruction, understand and correctly apply the basic components of grammar to include: parts of speech, sentence composition, common usage errors and paragraph composition.
Spelling:
· Understand and apply common spelling patterns and rules in written work
· Through embedded instruction, understand and apply word knowledge of prefixes, suffixes and root words, as it relates to spelling.
Grammar and spelling will be imbedded in the context of the reading.
LISTENING/SPEAKING
Listening:
- Demonstrate appropriate listening skills during class lectures, student presentations and whole and small group discussions.
Speaking
- Incorporate the necessary components for giving an effecting persuasive speech
- Utilize appropriate speech conventions: eye contact, intonation, volume, rate and expression, while presenting persuasive speeches
- Utilize Reader’s Theater to apply and reinforce the good characteristics of speech and dramatic performance
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