English Language Arts

Grade 7

Writing Requirements

• Persuasive Essay
• Research project TBD
• Narrative Poem
• Creative Piece/teacher choice
• Write on demand 4 times
• Foundation/short answer response
• Foundation/develop and organize ideas

Vocabulary Requirements

• Prefixes: in/un, inter, dis/con, mal/bene, uni/bi/tri re/pro, pre/post, mort/viv, contra
• Roots: scribe/script, rupt
• Vocabulary Level B units 3-6 (optional 1,2,7,8) Sadlier-Oxford
• Vocabulary in Context "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi"

Grammar Requirements

• Sentence Structure:
  • Simple sentences
  • Compound sentences
  • Compound-complex sentences
  • Comma before a coordinating
  • Conjunction in a compound sentence

Literary Terms

• Reinforce: elements of plot(exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution), setting, simile
• Introduce: Characterization, Conflict (internal/external), Dialect, Onomatopoeia, Rhyme scheme, Narrative poem, Free Verse, Mood,Irony, Theme, Imagery, Personification, Hyperbole,
• Metaphor, Alliteration

Technology Skills

• Basic word processing (ex. Formatting)

Grade 8

Writing Requirements

• Persuasive Essay (literature based)
• Controlling Idea Essay
• Research project TBD
• Memoir
• Creative Piece/Teacher choice
• Write on demand 4 times

Vocabulary Requirements

• Prefixes: Chron, Trans, De, Ped/man, Med, Matri/Patri, Sub/super, Ex/in, Mono/poly, Omni, Circum, Micro/macro, Auto, Ultra/hyper, Geo, Bio, Hydr
• Suffixes: -ism, -logy
• Reinforce 7th grade Vocabulary
• Vocabulary Level B units 12-14 (optional 9-11, 15)
• Vocabulary in context "Flowers for Algernon," "12 Angry Men," and/or "Diary of Ann Frank"

Grammar Requirements

• Identify passive and active voice
• Edit writing to use comma to separate coordinate adjectives
• Edit to use comma, ellipses, or dash to indicate pause

Literary Terms

• Reinforce all 7th grade terms
• Reinforce author's purpose, point of view, genre
• Introduce: Suspense, Symbolism, Extended Metaphor, Omniscient. Allusion, Oxymoron, Dynamic and Static Character

Technology Skills

• Reinforce basic word processing
• Blogging
• Podcasting