“Continuous effort- not strength or intelligence- is the key to unlocking our potential.” – Winston Churchill

WELCOME TO ENGLISH 8 HonoursMr. Elphick

As you have an opportunity to look through the course outline below you will quickly notice that it is going to be a busy, but enjoyable year. Throughout the year we will be working on a wide variety of activities that will appeal to the needs and interests of a different learners. Not only will you have an opportunity to improve intellectually as a student, but you will also have the opportunity to grow as a learner by exploring a variety of different concepts and perspectives as they relate to our course.

The schedule listed is tentative. Additions and omissions may occur.

Evaluation

The focus of your year should be to grow as a writer, speaker, learner, and citizen. As hard as is it may be, I would like you to not worry too much about your mark.

You will be asked to complete a variety of assignments that will be entered in my marks book in the following categories.

Quizzes/Tests/Writing (minor)- These assessments are for your benefit. They show you how you are progressing day to day and week to week. They do not heavily influence your mark. Often, I will give you written feedback on these assignments only. This is like batting practice, soccer practice, or piano practice. These minor assessments are your path to improvement. 5%

Summative Exams (major)- I will give you plenty of warning before a summative exams. Such exams will be weighted more heavily than minor quizzes and tests. They are meant to assess the learning and progress that result from your hard work on minor assignments/quizzes. 25%

Summative Assignments (major). Often major writing or assignments start as minor assignments. For example, you will be writing a short story (major) in October. However, before you hand in your story, you will be doing a lot of minor assignments to develop your story and improve your characterization. 30%

Oral Assignments- These group and individual assignments will allow you to improve your ability to express yourself orally. 25%

In-Class Writing: Time Sensitive- These assignments will be done during class time without the assistance of writing devices and under the pressure of an in-class deadline 15%

Letter grades rather than numerical marks.

For most of your marked assignments, I will be giving you a letter grade rather than a numerical mark or percentage. One of the main reasons for this is that English is not a course that converts into percentages seamlessly. I can tell, for example, that an essay deserves a “B” but I cannot personally distinguish between a 74% and a 77% B. At report card time, I will convert your series of letter grades into an appropriate percentage, based on the scale below.

93-100 / A+
86-92 / A
79-85 / B+
73-78 / B
67-72 / C+
60-66 / C
50-59 / C-
0- 50 / D

At the end of each term I will sit down with you to evaluate your progress.

No marks at all??????????

Don’t be surprised if all that you get back on many of your assignments is written comments with no letter grade at all. Writing and speaking well require constant feedback so that you have the opportunity to improve. I keep track of the comments I give in class and this helps me to determine your strengths and weaknesses.

Grade 8English 2012/2013 Year at A Glance- Mr. Elphick

This is a rough calendar of events for this school year. The calendar and its contents are subject to change.

September / Introduction to English 8
Summer Book Review
Character, Setting, and Plot- Part 1 of writing and analyzing short stories.
Writing fundamentals- ideas
Major Assignment: oral introduction of short story.
Minor Assignment: quiz on first three elements of a short story.
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk / Theme:
Identity -Who am I? How is the concept of identity explored in short stories, poetry, novels, popular music and movies? Can identity change? What clues do other people use to classify me? Is “who I am on the inside” all that really matters? This unit ties in nicely with the grade eight social studies focus on Canadian Identity.
October / Mood, Theme, Symbol, and Point of View- Part 2 of writing and analyzing short stories.
Writing fundamentals- organization
Major Assignment: writing a short story- you’re the author.
Major Assignment: test on elements of short story
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk / Conflict -Conflict is the basis of all story telling. Can conflict be good? Are there different types of conflict? How can conflict be resolved?
November / Let’s get dramatic- Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Major Assignment- Reciting lines of play in front of class.
Writing fundamentals- voice
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk / Relationships- We will examine the complex relationships that make life so rich and challenging. Do parents have too much or too little control over the lives of their children? What defines a true friend? Were the relationships described by Shakespeare in MSND so different from our own?
December / Literature circles- novel study
Writing fundamentals- word choice
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk / Theme TBA based on novel selections
January / Non-Fiction in focus
Reading and writing non-fiction.
Writing fundamentals: sentences
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk / Reality (What a Concept) – Who is telling the truth? Everyday we are inundated with images, sound bites, and information that is supposed to be truthful. Is it possible that we are being lied to? How has propaganda influenced people in our past? In this unit we will figure out ways to get to the truth – OR – at least ways to tell when we are being manipulated.
February / Oral Presentations- non-fiction
Writing fundamentals: paragraphs
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk / Morals- What is right and wrong and how do we decide? We will examine how writers and orators use strategies to convince you to see things from their points of view.
March / Poetry- analyzing and creating
Written assignment: poetry collection
Oral Assignment: poetry slam
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk / Expressing ideas: How do people express their opinions, identity, their feelings andculture. What is your favouriteform of expression? We will look closely at poetry and music as forms of expression.
April / Poetry terms exam
Library Novel Study
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk / Nature – Spring is in the air, in our hearts, and in our minds. At this time of year we focus on the renewed world around us. What does nature mean to you? How is nature viewed in other cultures? We will explore the world around us, and using new technology we’ll tell the world what we think.
May / Mythology Unit
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk / Myth making - A look at modern/urban myths. What is a myth? How do they start? Why do they exist? Are they harmful? Let’s do some MYTH BUSTING.
June / Final Assignment-TBA
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

  1. Attendance – Notes from parents/guardians are not required for absences, unless they follow a long absence. However, I will be watching closely for attendance patterns. If you are consistently late or absent, I am obliged to inform your parents and the administration. However, I would rather treat you like an adult. If you must be absent due to a field trip or at the request of another teacher, please speak to me first. It is your responsibility to ensure that all work missed is completed. Make sure that you have a classmate who will collect your work if you miss a class.
  1. Punctuality – Students are expected to arrive on time. Those who arrive late must sign the clipboard by the door and quietly take their seat. (Please do not disrupt the class.) Excessive lateness will negatively affect your mark and will be taken as a sign of disrespect to your classmates and to me. If you are late too often I will ask you to make up time.

Assignments – According to the Oxford dictionary a deadline is “the latest time or date by which something must be completed.” I, as the teacher, set the deadlines. You do not. Pay close attention to deadlines, for there are specific assignments that have very firm deadlines, after which I will not accept your work.

Be aware that I may ask you to re-do an assignment if I feel it is doesn’t meet my expectations. (e.g. if it is illegible or careless.)

Always do your best so that you can learn from your successes and failures. Remember that if you choose to hand in something that isn’t representative of your abilities, then you are wasting your own time and my time too.

Plagiarism – Plagiarism is passing off another’s ideas as your own. It is a serious offense that will result in the failure of the assignment and a referral to administration.

“Good work habits help develop an internal toughness and a self-confident attitude that will sustain you through every adversity and temporary discouragement.” Paul J. Fleyer