8th Grade Language Arts

1
8th Grade Language Arts

• Ms. Erickson
• Utterback Middle School

2
Class Information

• Language Arts Overview of the year
• First Quarter
• Theme Personal Experience
• Major Writing Personal Narratives/Memoirs
• Second Quarter
• Theme Culture and Diversity
• Major Writing Research Projects
• Third Quarter
• Theme Culture and Diversity
• Major Writing Expository Essays
• Fourth Quarter
• Theme The Craft of Writing
• Major Writing Poetry and creative writing

3
Reading

• During each quarter, you need to read 4 books
  from any genre you choose. However we recommend
  you read
• books in the following genres during each
  quarter
• First Quarter
• Autobiographies
• Biographies
• Diaries
• Realistic Historical Fiction
• Second Third Quarters
• Fiction
• Non Fiction
• Historical Fiction on Cultures around the world
• Novels with diverse characters, themes, settings
• Novels by authors around the world
• Fourth Quarter
• Poetry
• Creative writing
• Reading will be done in class and for homework,
  30 minutes of reading 5 days a week is the
  required homework policy. A book project needs to
  be completed for each book. (see hand-out on book
  projects for ideas.)

4
Homework Book Projects

• Remember that 30 minutes of reading 5 days a week
  is the homework requirement
• Book projects also need to be completed for
  homework for each book.
• There are many, many ideas that will satisfy this
  book project assignment. From writing and
  illustrating a childrens book to creating a
  photo essay.
• Please refer to your Book Project Ideas
• handout that you received the 1st
• weeks of school for ideas.
• Finally, make sure you choose books
• that you will enjoy reading.

5
Homework Vocabulary

• In addition to reading and book projects, you
  will be learning a lot about Greek and Latin
  rootwords, prefixes and suffixes.
• Each week on Mondays, you will be given a list of
  5 Greek or Latin rootwords, prefixes or suffixes
  to define, use in a sentence and learn.
• Vocabulary assignments are due on Fridays.

6
Homework Grade

• Vocabulary will be graded on a weekly basis and
  is worth 100 points each week
• Reading and Book projects are graded as follows
• Scoring Guide
• 4 books read, 4 book projects A
• 3 books read, 3 book projects B
• 2 books read, 2 book projects C
• 1 book read, 1 book project D
• Remember this is the homework grade only.

7
Quarter 1 Sample Lessons10 Personal History
Paragraphs

• First, you will select 10 important events in
  your life.
• Next, you will write one paragraph for each event
  and create a timeline.
• Last, you will choose one of these events to
  develop into a personal experience essay.

8
Personal Timeline

• You will be developing a timeline of your life
  from birth up to your present age.
• Use the 10 important events in your life from
  your Personal Experience paragraphs to include in
  your timeline.
• Finally, you will create an illustrated timeline
  of these events.

9
Personal Experience Narrative or Memoir

• Once you have written your 10 personal history
  paragraphs and completed your timeline, you will
  choose one event to develop into your narrative
  or memoir.
• Mini lessons will be scheduled to learn about the
  writing process and the writing rubric which is
  used to score your written work.

10
Future Predictions/Time Capsule

• 4 paragraphs will be written on the following
• 1. Predictions on your life in 5 years
• Predictions on your life in 10 years
• Predictions on your life in 25 years
• Time capsule contents
• Choose 5-6 things that represent your
• generation to include in a time capsule
• then write a paragraph explaining why
• you chose those items.

11
Symbol of My Essence

• Think of a symbol that represents you.
• Try to think of who you are in terms of your
  personal life, friends, family, school, your
  beliefs and values.
• Choose a symbol and create it artistically.
• Then, write about why you chose that symbol and
  what it represents.

12
Hand-made Book

• A final product of the year will be making a
  book by hand. The author of this book is YOU!
  And the contents will be a mini portfolio of your
  work.
• This book is meant to be a keepsake and the
  beginning of your history in written form for you
  to share with family and friends, forever!

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