English 7 Course Syllabus and Guidelines                                     

Welcome to the 7th grade! It is an exciting year for you as you get acquainted with and transition to a new school. The seventh grade English curriculum consists of exploring a multitude of texts for analysis and understanding and developing writing through the study of author’s craft and purpose. Vocabulary and grammar are also key components that will be important in developing your literacy and writing skills. It is imperative to establish good work habits and to be organized to make this year a successful one!

The following is a breakdown of the curriculum content:

Literature:

· Independent reading

· A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

· “A Christmas Carol” Adaptation by Israel Horovitz

· Witness by Karen Hesse

· Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen

· The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

*There will also be a variety of short stories, poems, and articles that will be read this year!

Writing Genres:

· TIED paragraphs

· Personal narratives

· Argument essays

· Informative presentations

· Creative writing

· Poetry

· Reader responses (daily)

· Free writes (daily)

*You will be held accountable for seventh grade writing standards. Proper capitalization, punctuation, and spelling are expected on every assignment.

Vocabulary:

· Vocabulary in context

· Biweekly vocabulary units

Grammar:

· Parts of speech

· Verb phrases

· Subject/object pronouns

· Phrases and clauses

· Subjects and predicates

· Sentence structures

Grade Breakdown:

· Tests = 40%

o Formal: essays, multiple-choice exams, finished writing pieces, projects, presentations, etc.

· Quizzes = 30%

 Informal: may or may not be announced; weekly

· Class Work = 15%

 Informal: class preparedness, work habits, participation, completion of daily class assignments, work ethic; daily

· Homework = 15 %

 Informal: timely completion, quality of work, legible writing, best effort put forth, etc.

Materials:

· Three subject notebook and/or binder

· A marble notebook

· Post-it notes

· Highlighters

· Colored markers

· Pens/pencils

Extra Help Policy: Times and day will be posted on the board in class and may be subject to change.

Senior English Course Overview 2024-2025

Welcome to Senior English. This year we will be covering a wide range of literature and a variety of writing genres as year prepare for college and the exploration of career paths. The requirements for the course are a charged and functioning school computer and a notebook designated for English class. Both should be brought to class each day as all assignments and class materials will be distributed through a combination of Microsoft Teams and hard copy handouts. The course will be broken down into units which are listed below:

Unit 1: Narrative Writing:

• The College Essay: The essay is a crucial part of the application process, and we will spend several weeks working on the writing and revision of essay drafts. Below is a list of the process we will use in class.

• Read articles illustrating things to do and things to avoid.
• Focus attention on specific ideas for the purpose of telling a story as opposed to writing a generic essay.
• Evaluate and analyze sample essays to become acquainted with requirements and process.
• Work on the development of elaborate sentence structure, voice, tone, and style.
• Draft and revise several times.

Unit 3: The Short Story:

Exploring the genre from its origins to modern day.

• Origins of the Short Story
• Narrative Poetry
• Aesop’s Fables
• Flash Fiction
• The Romantic Period
• The Gothic Period
• Contemporary Classics

Unit 2a: Gothic Lit. Extension:

• Novel Study: I am Legend by Richard Matheson

Unit 3: Poetry and Original Poetry Portfolios:

• Selected works from both classical and contemporary poets. We will use studied pieces as models to create original poetry portfolios as a culminating project.

Unit 4: Novel Study: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer:

• How does society impact the individual?
• Students will connect the novel with outside readings, both fiction and nonfiction to explore the ways in which society can play a role in shaping the individual.

Unit 5: MLA Research Paper:

• Research skills are essential to the college student. Therefore, we will spend time reviewing the proper MLA format, parenthetical citations, and thorough yet efficient research techniques with a clear and specific focus. We will also review plagiarism (intentional and unintentional) to ensure clarity before the move to higher education.

Unit 6: Fantasy Writing Unit:

• As a creative writing unit, students will develop original fantasy stories including maps, history, character sketches, and all elements of plot structure.

Unit 7: Film Studies/Screenplay Analysis/Original Screenplays/Finding Forrester:

• Cinema has become one of the most important visual mediums. As a storytelling device, historical document, expression of imagination, and artistic object, there is no form more capable of capturing interest and provoking the senses. Using a study of Finding Forrester, we will analyze the ways in which a film version of a novel enhances, or in some instances, detracts from the appreciation of the text. From there, we will read selections from other screenplays to study the art and efficiency of screenwriting. The unit will culminate with the writing of original screenplays which may be filmed and brought to life.

• Classroom Policies and Extra Help

Classroom rules and Grading Policy: The classroom climate must remain one of mutual respect between all. There are absolutely no cell phones allowed during class time. Discipline referrals will be written immediately, and there will be no repeat warnings. Additionally, Air Pods are not permitted during instructional time, and there is no food permitted in the classroom. The grading policy is consistent across the English department: Tests and Essays 40%, Quizzes 30%, Classwork/Participation and Homework 15% each. Points will be deducted on a daily basis for late submitted work.

Extra help will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:30 in room 245. If those days or times are not convenient, alternative days or times can be accommodated as long as there is prior notice.