7th grade Language Arts Syllabus 2010-2011
Katie Christner
270-586-4401
Prerequisite
Student must have completed 6th grade and student has been promoted to 7th grade.
First Nine Weeks
Literary elements
Characteristics of short stories, novels, poetry, plays
Main Idea
Characters: analyze, compare, and contrast (flat, round, dynamic, foil and static characters)
Character Traits
Setting (time, place mood or tone), Plot (conflict, climax, & resolution) , theme
Point of view (first and third person)
Predictions, conclusions, generalizations, inferences, fact vs. opinion, summarization
Connect information
Importance of details
Etymology…125 common root words (base words) as well as prefixes and suffixes…use of dictionary
Multiple meaning, context clues
Composition Writing-paraphrasing, summarizing, and reflecting
8 Part of Speech: nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, pronouns, interjections and conjunctions (application of each of these)
SentenceBuilding (simples, compound, complex)
Use of reference materials-dictionary, thesaurus, newspaper
Accelerated Reader—student must independently read a minimum of 3 books at or above their reading level. Books may be fiction within any literary genre.
Second Nine Weeks
Capitalization, punctuation, and usage
Figurative Language vs. Literal Language..similes, metaphors, personification, idioms, hyperboles, alliteration, oxymorons, imagery/sensory details, allusion, assonance, consonance, paradoxes, denotation vs. connotation, synecdoche, rhetorical questions
Concrete and abstract terminology
Synonym, antonym, homonym
Informative Text
Persuasive Text
Fact and Opinion
Text Features: subheadings, bullets, fonts, white space, layout, charts, diagrams, labels, pictures and captions
Organizational Patterns: cause and effects, comparison, contrast, sequencing, foreshadowing and flashbacks
Author’s purpose, word choice, style, content
Paragraphing: topic sentence, supporting details, & reflective
Accelerated Reader—student must independently read a minimum of 3 books at or above their reading level. Books should be fiction within any literary genre.
Daily practice of grammar, usage and mechanics through bell ringers and portfolio pieces
Writing Portfolio Piece- Literary Writing- poem or short story…technology
Use of analytical scoring guide: audience/purpose, idea development, organization, sentence structure, effective language and correctness…use as a guide for writing process and revision
Third Nine Weeks
Persuasive techniques: expert opinion, emotional appeal, logical appeal, repetition
Propaganda techniques: testimonial, bandwagon
Synonyms/antonyms/homonyms
Analogies
Prefixes, suffixes, root words
Literal vs. Non-literal meanings
Skimming and scanning to find key information and general meanings
Effectiveness of organization
Fulfilling the purpose of a passage
Accelerated Reader—student must independently read a minimum of 3 books at or above their reading level. Books may be fiction or non-fiction and any literary genre.
Daily practice of grammar, usage and mechanics through portfolio pieces
Portfolio Writing Pieces-
Personal Writing- (memoir or personal narrative)…technology
Reflective Writing- (reflective essay)..technology
Transactive Writing-(Assist in the development and real-worold connections of RESEARCH for feature articles, reviews, editorials, and brochures)..technology
Use of analytical scoring guide: audience/purpose, idea development, organization, sentence structure, effective language and correctness…use as a guide for writing process and revision
Fourth Nine Weeks
Trade Books for Literary Circles
Diagramming Sentences
Continued content from first, second and third nine weeks
Accelerated Reader—student must independently read a minimum of 3 books at or above their reading level. Books may be fiction or non-fiction and any literary genre.
Daily practice of grammar, usage and mechanics through portfolio pieces
**Open response strategies will be incorporated into each unit throughout the school year.
Resources
Elements of Language and Elements of Literature ( HOLT)
Kentucky CCT Coach book will aid in addressing core content for the reading curriculum.
Thoughtful Classroom Strategies/ Toolbook
Dictionary, thesaurus, newspaper, magazines
Accelerated reader books
Trade books The Tent, Tuck Everlasting,Christmas Spurs, Nightjohn, etc.
Newbery Award books and Classics
The Write Source
Planned Testing Points
Homework: 20%
Accelerated Reader: 20%
Assessments: 30%
Writing Pieces: 30%
Extra Credit will be given on occasion. However, any student may read an additional Accelerated Reader book to replace poor AR Test scores for the given quarter and to replace zeros on homework grades (must be approved by the teacher beforehand).
Late Workwill be accepted until the end of a unit with a 25 point deduction.
Performance Standards and Expectations
Students are to follow the classroom and school rules. Some key rules are to be prepared, to be on time, to be respectful to themselves and others and to raise their hands.
Students must use content learned continuously throughout the school year both in oral as well as written grammar.
Portfolio Expectations
All seventh grade students must develop an acceptable writing portfolio by the completion deadline. Failure to comply with this requirement shall result in the student being retained in the seventh grade for the following year. Acceptable is defined as being a complete collection of students’ work that reflects their true ability as determined by their writing teachers and the principal. (Copied from page 3 of student handbook)