Stanford Academy
Eighth Grade
Language Arts
Mrs. Bean
Phone - Spring View (916-624-3381) ext. 4002
E-mail - or
Calendar - See Spring View’s Website
&
Grades
Extra help is available most days (unless I have a before/after school duty or a meeting). **************************************************************************************
Course Information
Grading: Grading: 60% for tests, major writing assignments and projects (ESC’s); 40% for
class/homework and all other non-ESC tests, quizzes and writing assignments
Late work is accepted, but points will be deducted for unexcused absences. Late work must be turned in with a “Late Slip” signed by a parent to receive credit.
Texts and Novels: Prentice Hall: Literature; Writing and Grammar
The following novels will be read:
Of Mice and Men
Nothing But the Truth
Chains
Expository Text: Students will read various articles and primary source documents throughout the year.
Curriculum:
Writing Applications: Bill of Rights research essay, response to literature essays/paragraphs– both process and timed-write; compare and contrast essay, and an argumentative essay
Literary Response and Analysis: structural and narrative analysis; literary criticism, and elements of literature/poetry
through novels, short stories and poetry
Vocabulary Development: figurative language, analogies, roots,
affixes, definitions, synonyms, antonyms
contextual meaning, related words, SAT words,
and academic vocabulary
Conventions/Mechanics: varied sentence structures, grammar rules, and
application to speaking and writing
Oral Language: informal presentations/informal discussions, debates, court case presentation; Socratic Seminars and a formal end-of-the-year speech
Organization: daily planner, binder, portfolio
Expository Reading
Strategies: reading and analyzing various expository
materials/Close reading techniques
Study Skills: Cornell Note taking, summarizing and flash cards
Spelling: rules, spelling lists, editing skills
Research Skills: use of primary and secondary sources,
synthesizing information, MLA format,
out-lining and parenthetical citations
Materials:
It would be helpful to have the following items to ensure a successful year:
· One inch, three ring binder for all classes (It will mostly be used in Language Arts.)
· Subject Dividers
· Binder Paper
· Pencils and pens (blue or black for writing), red, green, et cetera (for correcting and editing)
· Highlighters
· Post-It Notes
· Small, manual pencil sharpener
· Glue sticks
· Index Cards (4 x 6, white or colored)
· Binder hole punch
Place this in the language arts section of your binder - it should be the very first page.