English 7 Course Syllabus and Guidelines

2025-2026

Mrs. Borruso

sborruso@babylonufsd.com

Welcome to the 7^th 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%
  • 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.

English 11R Course Syllabus and Expectations

2025-2026

Mrs. Borruso

sborruso@babylonufsd.com

Welcome to English 11R. Below you will find a tentative breakdown of what will be covered over the course of the school year. Additionally, you will find a brief overview of classroom rules and required materials.

The workload this year will be quite rigorous, as this is the year we must prepare for the Common Core Regents Examination. The test itself is intensive and demanding; therefore, so must our preparation be. It is essential that you come to class prepared and ready to work. Extra help times will be posted on the board, and it will be available each week.

Literature:

• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• The Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
• The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
• The Crucible by Arthur Miller
• Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Additionally, we will be reading several pieces of literature, such as short fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and informational texts from classroom texts and other sources.

Grammar & Vocabulary:

Grammar study will focus on style and creating more elaborate sentence structure as well as in words commonly seen on college entrance exams.

Vocabulary study will be rooted in terms found in the works of literature as well as those commonly seen on the SAT and AP exams.

Writing:

Extensive preparation for the Common Core Regents Exam includes a focus on rhetoric, argumentative writing, and forming evidence-based claims.

• Article analysis
• Expression/Reflection pieces
• MLA research paper
• Creative fiction
• Original poetry
• 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. 

Necessary Materials:

• Marble notebook (Writer’s Notebook)
• Three subject notebook or binder
• Pens
• Highlighters
• Charged computers

Grade Breakdown:

• Tests = 40%
  • Formal: essays, multiple-choice exams, Regent’s prep tests, 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.

Classroom Rules & Expectations:

           The classroom climate must always remain one of MUTUAL respect. There is a no tolerance policy! It is my expectation that you will conduct yourselves as engaging and respectful students.