Syllabus and Grading Policy

 8th Grade Pre-AP English

Course Integrity:


Integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.

"he is known to be a man of integrity"

Synonyms: honesty, probity, rectitude, honor, good character, principle(s), ethics, morals, righteousness, morality, virtue, decency, fairness,   scrupulousness, sincerity, truthfulness, trustworthiness


As a department, we spend a tremendous amount of time, energy and care when we put together our lessons.  We want to challenge all scholars to do their best work; however, it will not be successful unless every scholar commits to not cheating.

COURSE OVERVIEW:

Through our exploration of literature from around the world, 8th grade English students will be reading and reflecting on literature selections that focus on themes we encounter in our lives. In this class we will make connections between literature and ourselves, develop our reading, writing, critical thinking, and speaking skills, and strengthen our vocabulary and grammar knowledge. We will learn to analyze literature, to read for deeper meaning, and to think critically about what we read. We will build upon our knowledge of narrative, persuasive, analytical and informative writing styles, while learning to incorporate clearly defined thesis statements, textual evidence, smooth transitions, and various organizational strategies into our writing. Our intention in 8th grade English is to prepare for high school, college, and beyond.


COURSE OBJECTIVES:

  1. To improve overall reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.
  2. To expand our knowledge of English vocabulary and grammar.
  3. To maintain effective study habits and organizational skills
  4. To gain a strong foundation in English for uses in future classes and endeavors.
  5. To foster an appreciation for literature and reading.

CURRICULUM::

Mirrors and Windows Literature Book (log in code: lvqaftn at www.emcschool.com/resources)

Laying the Foundation

Google Classroom


NOVELS:

House on Mango Street Sandra Cisneros

The Giver Lois Lowry

The Book Thief Markus Zusak

Killing Mr. Griffin Lois Duncan

*Note: Novel selections are subject to change based on student needs and/or availability. *


MAKE-UP WORK/FAILED ASSIGNMENT 

1. ​Late Assignments​- ​Pre-AP students will not be allowed to submit late MINOR work. They will be allowed to submit late MAJOR assignments with a progressive grade penalty of 15 points per day with only two days to complete the major assignment. 
2. ​Failing Major Assignments​-​Pre-AP students will not be allowed to retest or redo major assignments unless 50% of the class fails
3.​ Excused Absences​-Students with an Excused Absence will have the opportunity to make up missed work at the rate of 1 day for 1 day missed, with a maximum of 5 days. Students who are absent but had prior notice ​of a major or minor assignment must complete the assignment on the 1st day back to school. Student will receive a 0 for any major or minor assignment not made up within the allotted time.
4. ​Unexcused Absences​-Students with an Unexcused Absence may not make up missed work. However, if the unexcused absence is determined to be caused by extenuating circumstances, makeup work may be allowed. The grade for the makeup work will be no higher than a 70.

SEMESTER EXAMS Semester exams will be comprehensive and count as 20% of the semester grade. Should the semester exam cause a student to fail the semester, the student has the option of retesting. The student must retest within 3 days, and the retest will be the sole responsibility of the student. The retest grade will be no higher than a 70. 

Grading Policy:
Major Assignments (60% of Final Grade):
Tests
Reports
Research Papers
Projects/Presentations
Essays

Minor Assignments
(40% of Final Grade): 
Daily Classwork
Homework
Quizzes
Notebook Checks
Journal Writing 
Vocabulary
 
HOMEWORK 

Your homework assignment each night will be to read for 20-30 minutes. The purpose of this standing assignment is to help you to improve your reading skills in preparation for high school and college classes and to spark (or stoke) a love of reading in you.

NewsELA: Read and quiz on a minimum of 2 articles per week (1 student choice and 1 teacher choice) each grading period. This does not include articles assigned and read in class. 

SAT Vocabulary should be studied daily at home to prepare for weekly tests. In Google Classroom a link to Quizlet.com will be assigned each week to practice with flashcards, games and quizzes.

*Check Mrs. Aguilar’s Google Classroom after absences for missed assignments, news, and information.  It is the student’s responsibility to ask for missed assignments and make up any work he/she missed.