ELA 8
Greer Middle School 2025-26
Erich Sturgill
Phone: (864) 355-5876
Email: esturgil@greenville.k12.sc.us
Course Description:
Students completing my English 8 classes will be able to use personal experience, the printed word and information gained from observations as a basis for constructing meaning. Through the accomplishment of this goal each student will also attain a level of mastery in each of the standards mandated by the state of South Carolina. You can find a copy of these standards on the SC Department of Education website. We will use fiction and informational texts as the basis for our reading instruction. Writing will include personal narratives, informational writing, literary analysis, argument and text-dependent analysis. Students will also participate in individual and group research projects and presentations.
Learning Objectives for the Course:
Over-arching expectations
Read and write for a variety of purposes, including academic and personal, for extended periods.
Acquire, refine, and share knowledge through a variety of multimedia literacies to include written, oral, visual, digital, and interactive texts.
Make inferences to support comprehension.
Collaborate with others and use active listening skills.
Cite evidence to explain and justify reasoning
Create quality work by adhering to an accepted format.
Anchor Standards
ELA.8.AOR.1.1
Analyze how key elements contribute to the meaning of the text as a whole.
ELA.8.AOR.2.1
Analyze how key details contribute to the development of two or more themes within and across literary texts.
ELA.8.AOR.5.2
Analyze how the structure of individual text sections (e.g., a particular sentence, paragraph, chapter, or section) and/or text features convey an author’s purpose in an informational text.
ELA.8.AOR.6.1
Summarize and/or paraphrase content from grade-level text to enhance comprehension.
ELA.8.AOR.7.1
Determine or clarify the meaning of known, unknown, and multiple-meaning words and phrases, choosing from an array of strategies.
ELA.8.R.1.1
Conduct short and more sustained research by generating reseach questions and locating a variety of sources.
ELA.8.C.1.1
Write arguments to support a claim(s) with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
Areas of Focus (all units)
Literary Analysis
Summary
Context (context clues)
Text Structures (Signposts and author's purpose)
Developing writing topics
Writer's process
Persuasion (reasoning and rhetorical)
Reference tools
Research
Etymology
Compare perspectives and themes
Argument (claim, evidence, counter-claim, refute)
Presentation
Verbals
Active and passive voice
Grammatical moods
Course Outline/Pacing/Scope and Sequence:
Students will use literary texts, informational texts, poetry, research and multi-media pieces to move through each of these thematic units.
Unit 1: "Gadgets and Gizmos"
Writing Focus: Argument
Unit 2: "The Thrill of Horror"
Writing Focus: Literary Analysis
Unit 3: ""Places We Call Home"
Writing Focus: Personal Narrative, research
Unit 4: "The Fight for Freedom"
Writing Focus: Research Report
Unit 5: "Finding Your Path"
Writing Focus: Argument
Unit 6: "The Legacy of Anne Frank"
Writing Focus: Narrative
Materials needed:
one section of your three binder for ELA
A Chromebook
Classroom Expectations:
Our best classes are filled with people--no cliques!
Our job is to find your strength--we will work together but only you will discover it.
We are going to write every day.
We are going to read every day.
Grading Policy/Practices:
Minor grades - at least 8 per quarter and minor grades count for 50% of grade.
Major grades - at least 3 per quarter and major grades count for 50% of grade.
Late Work Procedures:
In order to receive full credit for make-up work, all work must be submitted within five days, immediately following the absence. In cases of prolonged illness beyond five days, special consideration will be given. It is the responsibility of the students, not the teachers, to arrange for make-up work. Work assigned before the absence or field trip will be due the day the student returns. Tests assigned before the absence will be taken on the scheduled test date or date arranged with the teacher. If a student misses a test or quiz while absent, on the first day back, arrangements should be made with the teacher to make up the assessment within five days. In general, work is to be made up before or after school in order not to miss more class time. Students are encouraged to check teacher websites, Google Classroom, and Google Calendars for assignments during any absence.
Greer Middle Redo/Retake Policy:
Greer Middle School is implementing a Redo/Retake Plan as a strategy to help ensure the mastery of content for our students and encourage our students to have a growth mindset regarding their academic work. Mastery is considered 80 percent or higher. Our guidelines for a redo/retake plan have been designed with input from teachers, administrators, parents, and students to ensure consistent implementation school-wide.
When are students allowed to redo/retake?
Only assignments that are categorized as major grades in the gradebook are available for redo/retake.
Redo/Retake Information
- The student, parent, and teacher must sign Redo/Retake Request Form
- The student must submit the Redo/Retake Request Form within three (3) school days of the grades being posted in Backpack.
- The higher of the two grades will be recorded in the Gradebook.
- Redo/Retake assessments will cover the same standards, but the format and questions will be determined by the teacher. Alternative assignments may be required at the teacher’s discretion.
Redo/Retake Steps
- The student must complete and submit the Redo/Retake Request Form (found under Student tab on Greer Middle Website) within three (3) school days of the grades being posted in Backpack.
- Students must complete the Relearning Tasks assigned by their teacher on the Redo/Retake Request Form by the deadline given by the teacher.
- If a student will be retaking a test, they must take it at the pre-arranged date/time; if a student will be redoing an assignment that is not a test, they must turn it in by the redo deadline.
- If students miss the deadline and/or pre-arranged date/time, the redo/retake will not be allowed. If there are extenuating circumstances, contact the grade-level administrator.
Retake Request Form:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WryDjDnXxWv9kUwcU06qQwQucMKenvZi/view
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