Course Outline
Grade level: eighth Course number: EN08
Course Name: General English
Course Description: This course includes the study of composition (writing), literature, spelling, grammar, and study skills.
Course objectives:
- Students will use the writing process in order to draft, compose, revise, and edit multiple forms of writing.
- Students will identify and evaluate various sources used in research.
- Students will know how to acquire and use new vocabulary in relevant contexts.
- Students should know, and be able to, identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of the structure and elements of literature.
- Students should know and be able to explain basic elements of argument in text and their relationship to the author’s purpose and use of persuasive strategies.
Course Content:
Reading: Writing: AIMS Test Prep
AIMS test prep Daily Oral Language
Drama, The Diary of Anne Frank Vocabulary & Spelling
Epic: World Myths and Folk Tales Grammar
Literary Elements Paragraph writing
Non-fiction, Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” Literary Analysis
Non-fiction, Harriet Tubman Personal Narrative
Non-fiction, Rosa Parks Expository writing
Novel, The Fighting Ground Persuasive writing
Novel, The Red Badge of Courage Literary Response
Novel, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas Research Paper
Novel, The Hobbit Poetry
Novel, The Light in the Forest Six Traits of Writing
Novel, Tangerine
Novel, The House of Dies Drear
Novel, Treasure Island
Poetry
Short Story
Author Study, Edgar Allan Poe
Testing:
Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (Reading and Writing)
District Test (Writing: Persuasive Essay)
The selection of reading and writing materials is at the sole discretion of the teacher as long as the materials fit within Mesa Public Schools policies and curriculum. Reading and writing materials are subject to change throughout the semester.