Grade 8 - English

Language Arts 8 A - Semester 1 (Credit: 0.50)

In this exciting course, students will master the subtle and complex art of the Standard American English writing style, allowing them to express their ideas more clearly and effectively than ever before. As students become experts on sentence structure, verb tenses and punctuation, they'll learn not only what the grammar rules are, but the logic behind them. Alongside this rigorous language instruction, students will analyze the poetry of legendary writers such as Seamus Heaney, Robert Frost, and Jane Kenyon. In addition, they will practice effective research techniques and prepare complete and polished reports and essays. Their work will also cover formal letter writing, biographical essays, and creating a bibliography. Students will use strategies such as the Sign and Design Mind and Clustering to help form their ideas and develop stories and arguments. Entertaining videos and diverse reading selections provide a wealth of information. Peer discussions and teacher feedback also contribute to help students learn the processes needed to become more effective writers.