English 8 Honors Course Curriculum

Mrs. Schreiber

Course Objective: This course serves as the first honors course offered in the English department and uses a humanities-based approach, asking students to grapple with historical events and topics, while incorporating all needed literacy and language skills. Thematic units focusing on the exploration of the human condition allow for deep analysis of classic and contemporary texts of varying genres. Writing workshops address all grade-level standards, with a focus on non-narrative non-fiction writing. There will be a heavy volume of informational texts throughout the year as we focus on rhetoric and argumentation. A large portion of the course will center on forming and defending arguments from both written and oral means.

Mission Statement: We will use literature to analyze the human condition through a historical lens during politically adverse times in America. This mission statement will guide our units of study throughout the year. We will refer to this statement through essential questions when reading whole-class works. The workshop structure will allow us to maximize our time together and focus on important themes and units of writing during the year.

Required Materials:

• Your charged school computer
• Three subject notebook and/or binder
• A marble notebook - this will serve as your reading/ writing notebook
• Post-its
• Highlighters
• Pens and/or pencils

Grading Policy: eSchool will serve as a live progress report throughout the school year. Please continue to check it on a weekly basis to see your progress and any work you might need to make up.

All quarter grades will be configured as follows:

• Tests – 40%
  • Major assessments such as: papers, projects, presentations, exams, etc.
• Quizzes – 30%
  • Daily vocabulary assessments, reading checks, short-writing pieces, minor assessments of material covered in class, etc.
• Homework – 15%
  • Independent reading and logging, assigned reading and/or writing, postings, etc.
• Class Participation/ work ethic – 15%
  • Class preparedness and readiness, exhibiting an eagerness to work and participate in discussions and seminars, being an engaged learner, etc.

Independent Reading: Scholars agree that the average 8^th grader should read at least 25 books per year. Independent reading is an important feature for any lifelong reader. It is expected that you ALWAYS have an independent reading book.

Extra Help: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:15 AM

Late Policy: Homework is reviewed in class and will not receive credit if it is late. For other assignments, you will be penalized 5 points per day.

Literature: Each quarter we will be exploring works of literature linked by a common theme. As we read our primary text, we will be reading various companion informational texts to better understand the historical context of these primary texts, which will allow us a deeper and more focused analysis.

*Please note that these works are subject to change throughout the year*

Quarter 1: Our focus will be on rhetoric with a deep analysis on famous speeches and advertising and the media.  As we navigate the use of language and imagery, we will be focusing on an essential text, Animal Farm by George Orwell. Within this text, our essential question will be: “How is language power?”

Quarter 2: Our primary text will be Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, which will be an exploration of the Great Depression and marginalized voices of the 1930’s. We will examine the definition of the American Dream and how it has changed over time.

Quarter 3: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee will be an investigation of many symbols of mid-century modern America. We will analyze themes of prejudice and discrimination as well as growing up and loss of innocence.

Quarter 4: Our primary text will be a nonfiction text that was written during the Holocaust – Night by Elie Wiesel. As a class, we will observe the author’s imagery and themes to understand the human condition.

English 9H Course Syllabus and Guidelines

Mrs. Schreiber

Welcome to the 9^th grade! It is an exciting year for you as you truly begin your high school journey. Remember that this year will count toward your potential college admission. You do not have a state assessment in the ninth grade. The Regents Exam is meant to evaluate your literacy and writing skills and is taken by Babylon students in June of the junior year. Everything we do in this course will serve to prepare you for the Regents Exam and then college level work. There will be times when we will explicitly talk about the exam, its components, and specific strategies for success, but even when we are not talking about it specifically, the skills and content you are gaining will be directly applicable to the state exam and beyond. It is an important test for which you will be well prepared.

The following is a breakdown of the curriculum content:

Literature:

       Major Texts

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Antigone by Sophocles

Oedipus the King by Sophocles

The Odyssey by Homer (excerpts)

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Essays, Stories, & Poems:

“Definitions” by Sofie Tapia

“We’re All Different in Our Own Ways” by Josh Yuchasz

“Be Cool to the Pizza Dude” by Sarah Adams

“What I Believe” by Jacqueline Woodson

“Superman and Me” by Sherman Alexie

“Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl

“Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut

“A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury

“Amaryllis” by Carrie Vaugh

"Ithaka” by C. P. Cavafy

Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare

Various Current Editorials & News Pieces

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

Independent Reading:

You are expected to be reading independently throughout the year. You will write about what you read, and you will be introduced to potential books in class as well as discuss books with peers.

Writing Genres:

• Personal essays
• Text-based analysis
• Short      stories
• Editorials
• Group presentations

*In addition to honing your formal writing (essays, responses to texts, etc.), you will also have an opportunity to write creatively throughout the year. Your writing notebook should be with you in class each day.

Vocabulary:

• Vocabulary in context
• Academic vocabulary
• Latin and Greek roots

Grammar:

• Subject-verb agreement
• Punctuation- Commas, Dashes, Hyphens, Apostrophes
• Parallel Structure

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, etc.

• Homework (15%)
  • Informal: expected timely completion, quality of work, legible writing, best effort put forth, etc.

Materials: 

• Three subject notebook and/or binder 
• A writer’s notebook 
• Post-it notes 
• Highlighters 

• Colored markers 
• Pens/pencils 

Extra Help: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:15 AM

English 7 Course Syllabus and Guidelines

Mrs. Schreiber

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, etc.

• Homework (15%)
  • Informal: expected timely completion, quality of work, legible writing, best effort put forth, etc.

Materials: 

• Three subject notebook and/or binder 
• A writer’s notebook 
• Post-it notes 
• Highlighters 

• Colored markers 
• Pens/pencils 

Extra Help: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:15 AM