Seventh Grade Language Arts Syllabus
Department: English Course Title: English 7
Grade Level: Seventh Grade Prerequisite: None
I. Course Description
English 7 is a required class for all seventh grade students. Students will engage in the five modes of communication: reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing. The following units will instill learning using the five modes: Intro to the Writing Process, Essay and Paragraph Writing Skills, Journals, Grammar Review, Presentation Speaking, Novel 1--A Wrinkle in Time, Book 2--Nelson Mandela: No Easy Walk To Freedom/Nelson Mandela Video, Poetry Basics, Short Story Basics.
II. Course Outcomes
1. Students will develop skill in the use of mechanics and conventions of language in relation to purpose, audience, and performance.
2. Students will think critically in order to solve problems and make decisions in their daily lives using the modes of communication.
3. Students will learn character empathy and improve their decision making process by analyzing the choices made by characters in their reading material.
4. Students will locate information and use it to answer questions and present it as a written compilation.
5. Students will understand how language adapts to the needs of people through different times and situations.
6. Students will increase their multi-cultural, non-sexist, and global awareness, while at the same time, develop understanding of common cultural experiences.
7. Students will develop paragraph and essay writing skills.
8. Students will develop an increasing awareness of technical developments and how to apply these towards communication.
9. Students will become more comfortable and capable speaking in front of peers.
III. Course Competencies
1. Students will use the five step writing process.
2. Students will produce documents low in spelling errors.
3. Students will demonstrate proper grammar, usage, and mechanics skills.
4. Students will keep a journal.
5. Students will increase their vocabulary.
6. Students will read at least 8 books independently over the year.
7. Students will use information gathering skills to find information via media center, computer sources, and outside sources.
8. Students will be able to access and process information using the computer.
9. Students will analyze biographical reading material to understand more about past and present beliefs.
10. Students will create, present and critique a presentation.
11. Student will develop strategies to write directions and instructions informatively.
12. Students will understand the concepts of persuasive, expository, narrative, and creative writing as well.
13. Students will analyze the biography Nelson Mandela: No Easy Walk to Freedom.
14. Students will compare/contrast the roles of minorities in the U.S. and South Africa.
15. Students will learn the basic components of a short story.
16. Students will use the basic components of a short story to write their own stories.
17. Students will read A Wrinkle in Time and empathize with the characters and evaluate their handling of life choices.
18. Students will develop use of and understanding of sound devices in writing.
19. Students will analyze works of poetry as well as create their own.
20. Students will develop use of and understanding of figurative language.
21. Students will analyze the novel A Wrinkle in Time and relate it to other works of science fiction.
22. Students will read at least one Iowa Teen Award Book, one historical fiction, one biography/autobiography, and one Newberry nominee.
IV. Course Outline
A. Reading
-will increase vocabulary. (Novel vocab/quizzes + journal vocab)
-will read at least 8 books independently/year. (Reading day every Fri.; two reports
-will increase reading base. (Book reports/Story Frames due each quarter)
B. Writing
-use of the five step writing process. (4 weeks + occasional workshops)
-will produce documents low in spelling errors. (List on Monday; test on Friday)
-use of proper grammar, usage, and mechanics (Every Thursday)
-will keep an ongoing journal throughout the year. (6 reg. entries + 1 vocab entry/3 weeks)
C. Identifying and Using Information (integrated through writings)
-will use information gathering skills in the media center, through computer sources, and through outside sources.
-will access and process information using the computer.
D. Paragraph/Essay Writing (8 weeks)
-will create, present and critique an informative speech.
-will understand the concepts of persuasive, expository, and narrative writing as well.
-will expand on skills for writing to a specific audience.
E. The Novel: A Wrinkle in Time (9 weeks)
-will analyze the novel A Wrinkle in Time and relate it to other works of science fiction.
-will evaluate character decisions, struggles, and challenges to relate to our own lives.
F. The Biography: Nelson Mandela: No Easy Walk to Freedom (6 weeks)
-will analyze the biography Nelson Mandela: No Easy Walk to Freedom.
-will compare/contrast the roles of minorities in the U.S. and South Africa.
-will watch the movie Nelson Mandela and compare to the situation in the book.
-will work cooperatively with social studies class about S. Africa.
G. Literature: Poetry (4 weeks)
-will analyze works of poetry as well as create their own works.
-will develop use of and understanding of figurative language.
-will develop use of and understanding of sound devices.
-will write several original poems.
H. Short Stories (4 weeks-if time)
-will analyze short stories as well as create their own works.
-will learn the basic components of a short story and their functions.
V. Course Resources
Students in this class will be required and expected to use the following resources:
-Resources in the Valley Media Center.
-Computer lab for word processing and other productions.
-Independent reading material
-A separate notebook for a journal
-A separate notebook for notes
-Supplementary material provided in class
VI. Course Projects and Assessment Strategies
Book Reports - Students are required to complete at least one book report and one story frame report per quarter. These 8 books need to be chosen according to the Booklist provided.
Writing Pieces - Students will publish several significant writing pieces in this class, but will draft many more. Most will be done using the MyAccess Software.
Journaling - Students are expected to maintain and periodically turn in an ongoing journal.
Presentation - Students are expected to write and present a five minute presentation on an approved Ancient World topic.
Novel/Biography Units - Students are expected to keep current on assigned reading along with daily work, projects, and tests.
Poetry - Students are expected to understand the different types of figurative language and sound devices used in poetry and to use examples of these in their own poetry.
Short Stories - Students are expected to understand the basic elements of a short story and use these elements to write their own stories.
Tests - Students will be expected to successfully complete a written test following each unit which requires the student to demonstrate their acquisition of unit competencies and objectives.
VII. Evaluation Methodology and Scale
All course projects will be evaluated to determine the attainment of identified competencies and objectives. Project and major assignment evaluation will be based upon an established rubric, which identifies the targeted competencies and objectives. Successful completion requires a quality demonstration of all competencies. Projects, tests, and major assignments will be given a letter grade to denote the level of achievement of the identified competencies. Daily or practice work will be given a complete or incomplete grade. Late work significantly lowers the grade (50%). If incompletes are not made up, the student’s grade will be drastically lowered. Students also earn daily points for participation.
The grading scale is as follows:
A = Quality work! Attention is paid to neatness, detail, accuracy, and thoroughness.
B = Good work. The basic requirements are attained, and some effort to go above and beyond is displayed.
C = Adequate work. May be sloppy, undeveloped, and only attains the bare bone minimum of the assignment.
D = Low quality work. Work that is turned in on time, but does not attain the expectation of the assignment.
F = Unacceptable work.Work not on time, or not worthy of a passing grade.
I = In progress. Work is incomplete. An important element of the assignment is missing or the work is very low quality. Needs to be redone.
Letter grades given out at the end of the quarter are based on the number of competencies achieved during the grading period. Extended learning must be shown in the specific competencies covered in the grading period in order to achieve an “A” or a “B.” Satisfactorily completing the assigned course work within the grading period equals a “C” or “D” grade. Not completing the course work within the grading period equals an “F” grade. Incomplete grades or “I” grades will be held only one week after the grading period ends unless dictated through special, approved circumstances.
VIII. Classroom Rules and Expectations
1. Students are expected to be in their seats and writing down their assignments in their planners when the class period starts or they will be tardy.
2. Students are expected to contribute positively to the learning environment. Negative comments will not be allowed. *Thumper Rule.
3. Other students’ materials and other classes’ materials are off-limits in the classroom (especially multimedia compostition)!
4. If a student is absent, he or she is responsible for finding out from the teacher what the make-up assignment is. Find this out before or after class. During class is a bad time because I will be busy teaching and you should be busy learning.
5. Students are expected to put forth their best effort in learning and demonstrating the course competencies.
6. Students are expected to show respect for the other students and the instructor at all times.
7. Students may chew gum if it is not seen or heard. One mishap ruins it for the whole class for the whole quarter, so help your neighbor out if he/she needs it.
8. Students need to sit on all four legs of their chairs.
9. No cell phones, beepers, headphones, etc. in class.
10. You need to be dismissed by the teacher to leave the classroom.
11. Substitute teachers will be treated with respect or the consequence is a minimum double detention.
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