8th Grade English

8th Grade English Syllabus and Other Information

Reading List

English Textbook - Prentice Hall Literature

* This textbook is a collection of stories and short stories that we will be working with. 

Novels

*Heroes, Gods And Monsters of the Greek Myths by Bernard Evslin

*The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

*The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank

Independent Reading

*Students will be required to select their own independent reads.

*Students will be required to complete journal entries analyzing and reflecting on their independent reads.

Minnesota State Standards/Benchmarks Assessed

*Determine multiple themes or central ideas of a single text.

*Analyze the interactions or dialogue between complex characters and events to build plot or reveal aspects of a character in a literary text.

*Cite textual evidence that most strongly supports conclusions of what a text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text; objectively summarize the text.

*Choose and read texts that address the purpose (e.g., personal interest, enjoyment, academic tasks)

*Analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on themes, patterns of events or character types from myths and traditional stories, poems and historical novels; describe how the material is rendered new.

*Exchange ideas through storytelling, discussion and collaboration, expressing ideas, intentionally considering the perspectives of Dakota and Anishinaabe people as well as other perspectives.

Writing and Grammar

The students will be writing;

*Myths

*Personal Narratives/Narratives

*Persuasive Arguments

*Regular Journal Entries

Minnesota State Writing Standards/Benchmarks Assessed

*Consistently write and edit work for correct punctuation, spelling, capitalization and grammar.

*Write routinely for a range of tasks (e.g., personal interest, enjoyment, academic tasks), purposes and audiences)

*Plan and draft multiple pieces; self-select pieces to take through the writing process and methods for revision, editing and publishing.

*Write to argue, clarifying the relationship among claims and evidence in both argument and counter-argument, building on skills from previous years.

*Write to respond to a literary text, demonstrating understanding of style, mood and tone (e.g., writing personal reactions, analysis, and interpretation of text).

*Craft dialogue to match character or narrator perspective and context, and use structure appropriate to chosen style and tone, in written narratives, poetry or other creative text.

Grading Policy

Students will have periodic assessments on the stories and novels that we read. This will consist of 40% of their total quarter grade.  Writing and grammar assessments will be 40% of their total grade.  Reading and/or writing assignments/journals will be worth 20% of the total quarter grade.  

Late Work and Assessment Re-takes.

Assignments are allowed to be turned in late with full credit.  However, assignments will not be accepted after the completion of a unit.  Assessments are allowed to be retaken, provided the student has completed extra practice to prepare for the re-take assessment. 

A 93-100 A- 90-92 B+ 87-89         B 83-86     B- 80-82 C+ 77-79

C 73-76       C- 70-72         D+ 67-69         D 63-66     D- 60-62 NC (no credit) 59-0