Course Description and Information
Eighth Grade Language Arts is an integrated approach to language built around a collection of classic and contemporary literature which includes a mix of genres with a variety of cultural perspectives. Students will interpret the meaning of literary selections through the analysis of such concepts as setting, plot, figurative language, mood, and theme. Additionally, the course will offer multiple opportunities for students to enhance their written and oral communication skills. Writing workshops, Paideia Seminars, grammar and vocabulary instruction, oral communication activities and research skills will be incorporated throughout the school year.
Suggestions for Parents: Please have your student READ, READ, READ! Make reading the newspaper and/or other nonfiction texts a part of your student's daily routine. Students should be able to analyze the author's purpose for writing and use context clues to figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words. They should be able to pick out the main idea of a text and explain how this idea is developed throughout the selection. (What does the author really want you to know? How does he communicate this message?) Students should also examine how elements of an author's style (diction, sentence structure, literary devices, subject matter, mood, and tone) enhance a text. Finally, be sure your student reads for pleasure on a regular basis!
Grammar Help: Grammar is an essential component of the eighth grade language arts curriculum. Throughout the year, students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the parts of speech, word functions, sentence kind and type, capitalization and punctuation, and sentence diagramming.
Eighth Grade Language Arts is an integrated approach to language built around a collection of classic and contemporary literature which includes a mix of genres with a variety of cultural perspectives. Students will interpret the meaning of literary selections through the analysis of such concepts as setting, plot, figurative language, mood, and theme. Additionally, the course will offer multiple opportunities for students to enhance their written and oral communication skills. Writing workshops, Paideia Seminars, grammar and vocabulary instruction, oral communication activities and research skills will be incorporated throughout the school year.
Suggestions for Parents: Please have your student READ, READ, READ! Make reading the newspaper and/or other nonfiction texts a part of your student's daily routine. Students should be able to analyze the author's purpose for writing and use context clues to figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words. They should be able to pick out the main idea of a text and explain how this idea is developed throughout the selection. (What does the author really want you to know? How does he communicate this message?) Students should also examine how elements of an author's style (diction, sentence structure, literary devices, subject matter, mood, and tone) enhance a text. Finally, be sure your student reads for pleasure on a regular basis!
Grammar Help: Grammar is an essential component of the eighth grade language arts curriculum. Throughout the year, students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the parts of speech, word functions, sentence kind and type, capitalization and punctuation, and sentence diagramming.