Contact:
Kellie Adelgren  
kelliea0713@gmail.com

Course Time:
This course is offered on Thursdays.


Course Pre-Requisites:

• None​
   

Course Texts:
 

• Write Source (2009)
  Student Book Grade 8

       ISBN-   0669006459   -affordable used copies available on Amazon

• Unabridged copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond,  by Elizabeth George Speare
  (not needed until 2nd semester)

       ISBN-  0547550294

Course Description:

This course will be a study of the various genres of literature-
short story, poetry, non-fiction, drama, and novel.

It will also cover a through review of grammar and basic writing skills,
with an emphasis on preparing the student for high school English classes.

 

Course Class Time:

• 1/3  going over homework, quizzes and tests

• 1/3  discussion of the pre-read literature assignments and note-taking

• 1/3  reviewing the learned grammar concepts and introduction of new ones
   

Course Homework Requirements:

• Every quarter I will provide the students with a detailed syllabus that includes
  homework assignments.

• Homework will include reading the assigned literature selections and sometimes
  completing a summary activity, usually a graphic organizer or comprehension questions.

• It will also include reading passages in their texts and doing exercises and writing  assignments to accompany it.

• In quarters 2 - 4 they will be assigned a project that will go along with the literature material they are studying.

• Time spent doing English will vary, depending upon how quickly the student reads.

       An average student might expect roughly 1 hour per school day (estimating four days 
       per week) for reading and completing written assignments.
 

Grading:

• 30%  homework

• 30%  essays

• 20%  quizzes

• 20%  projects/quarter tests
  
   

Specific Requirements:

• Internet access is required for this course.

• Most of the literature (short stories, poems, and non-fiction) that the students will be
  reading will be provided as PDFs, so it is required that students have regular access
  to a computer. ​The selections may be printed out as well, but some of the stories are
  several pages long.
  
  
   

Course Supplies:

• textbook

• ​novel for second semester

• 1-1.5” three-ring binder with 4 tabbed dividers  
  -labeled: notes, homework, quizzes/tests, writing

• blue or black pens and pencils

• colored pens and/or pencils (other than blue and black) for peer grading and editing

• loose-leaf, lined paper

• a dictionary and thesaurus are also suggested for home use, but will not be required in class