8th Grade Language and Literature Syllabus
COURSE OVERVIEW
Welcome to 8th Grade Language & Literature! In 8th grade Language & Literature, we focus on reading, writing and communication skills, taking you from where you are now to a higher level of skill. This year, we will read a variety of literature including novels, short stories and poetry. Outside reading continues to be an important part of the 8th grade curriculum. You will be writing for a variety of purposes and audiences. My goal is to help you make as much progress as possible, and I hope that each one of you will have a successful and memorable eighth grade year!
EXPECTATIONS
Students are expected to show up prepared for class every day, participate positively in daily class activities, as well as complete long-term projects/assignments and assessments.
All assignments are due by the assigned due date and time in Google Classroom or in class (if on paper).
You are responsible for keeping track of your assignments so write them down each day in a planner, Google Calendar, etc.
Assignments consist of writing or reading, Constructed Writing Responses (CWRs), unit tests, quizzes, and (group) projects.
REQUIRED RESOURCES AND SUPPLIES
Workbook. This will be used every day.
Pencil or pen (preferably blue or black) and highlighter(s).
Three subject spiral notebook (or binder with loose leaf paper and dividers).
Independent Reading Book- You will select your first book during the first full week of school. You can bring one from home.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton by winter break. All students will read this book. If you would like to purchase a personal copy, please do so.
YEARLY OVERVIEW
Unit 1: Gadgets & Glitches - Informative Writing (Does technology improve or control our lives?)
Unit 2: The Thrill of Horror - Literary Analysis (Why do we sometimes like to feel frightened?)
Unit 3: Places We Call Home + The Outsiders novel (What are the places that shape who you are?)
Unit 4: The Fight for Freedom - Research (What will people risk to be free?)
Unit 5: Finding Your Path - Argumentative Writing (How do the challenges you face today help to shape your future?)
HOMEWORK
Most “homework” will consist of completing work assigned in class. If class time and Advisement are used well, there shouldn’t be a lot of homework, if any. If the classwork is not completed in class, it becomes homework.
Independent Reading:
STUDENTS WILL READ EVERY DAY IN CLASS. YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE A BOOK WITH YOU TO READ. We will read for the first 10 minutes of class every day. The expectation is for students to read a minimum of TWO books per trimester.
Students are allowed to choose their own book to read, with the expectation that they will challenge themselves with books of varying genres. (Please see the letter about outside reading for more details.)
At the start of the year, students will set an individual SMART reading goal and will need to read consistently to meet this goal. Students will be asked to discuss their book both in class and in writing. In addition to the discussions, students will complete a reading reflection each trimester, reflecting on their SMART goal progress.
We have a novel (The Outsiders) that students will be assigned to read after winter break. We will read it together in class, however students are responsible for making up missed chapters on their own.
Audiobooks are acceptable, and in fact encouraged depending on the students skill level and or level of outside-of-school-activities.
GRADES
Grades are broken down by the following:
Summative: Final unit assessments - 65%
Formative: work leading up to the unit assessment (quick writes, exit tickets, daily lessons or activities, quizzes, etc.) - 35%
Work Habits will be a separate grade from content in the gradebook:
Work habits: based on IB Approaches to Learning (ATLs) and/or work completion (missing and late work will factor into this category)
Social skills
Research skills
Critical Thinking skills
Communication skills
Self-management skills
MAKE-UP WORK POLICY - ABSENCE
It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the teacher about make-up work after an absence. Anything after that will be considered late and counted as missing until it is turned in. Students have 2 weeks from the date of their absence to turn in work, then the missing will be a zero (0) and the student will no longer be allowed to turn work in.
LATE WORK POLICY
Students have exactly 2 weeks from the date an assignment is graded to turn in late work. If a missing assignment is not turned in within those 2 weeks, it will be a zero (0) and the student will no longer be allowed to turn work in.
REVISIONS
Any summative assignment can be redone, one time, for up to 100% credit after conferring with the teacher to discuss any changes that need to be made. The original writing piece must show changes made (ie: by using Suggesting in Google Docs).
Revisions (“redos”) of formative assignments will be up to teacher discretion and require the student to clearly communicate about their resubmission. All revisions must be completed within 2 weeks of the date the assignment was originally graded.
ACADEMIC ETHICS AND PLAGIARISM
Students must do their own original work in this course – and must appropriately identify any portions of their work which was done in collaboration with others, borrowed from others, or is their own work from another context. Follow this primary principle: Be up front and honest about what you contribute to your writing and what you borrow from another source.
This includes any and all uses of AI technology. If a teacher suspects plagiarism or AI, they will discuss it with the student and, depending on the situation, follow up with disciplinary action based on the SRMS policy for plagiarism (See Handbook).
Thank you for taking the time to review the course syllabus. I am looking forward to a great year with all of you! If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
**NOTE: All students are required to review the Language & Literature Course Syllabus with their parents and/or guardians and sign the Syllabus Acknowledgement by clicking the link on Google Classroom. If you are unable to view the link for some reason, a written note with signature and a simple acknowledgement statement is accepted. This will be a graded assignment.