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Course Description:
In Seventh
Grade English Language Arts, students continue to develop an appreciation
of written and spoken language. They expand their use of descriptive words
and complex sentences, as well as their choices of modes of writing.
Throughout seventh grade, students continue to develop the ability to
critique constructively their own work as well as the work of others.
Students use oral language, written language, and media and technology for
expressive, informational, argumentative, critical, and literary purposes.
Students use the stages of the writing process to write clear, coherent
compositions that develop an idea or tell a story. Although students in
the Advanced Course will address the same instructional objectives as
students in the On Level course, they will be held to significantly higher
writing expectations, and will pursue a more abstract and analytical
interaction with selected reading. |
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Reading
and Literature ·
The
student will read and analyze a variety of literary texts such as poetry,
drama, short stories, and novels to acquire an understanding of the
conventions of each form. ·
The
student will read and analyze a variety of informational texts to develop
an understanding of organizational structures, such as cause and effect or
comparison-contrast, and graphic features, such as diagrams and
illustrations that are typically found in nonfiction. ·
The
student will acquire new vocabulary and use it effectively in reading and
writing. ·
The
student will recognize and trace the development of the author’s
argument for and against an issue. Reading
Across the Curriculum ·
The
student will read the equivalent of 1 million words per year from a
variety of subject areas. |
Writing ·
The
student will produce a variety of writings such as persuasion, narrative,
expository, and response to literature. ·
The
student will use technology to research topics and to produce various
products such as essays and presentations. Conventions ·
The
student will learn and apply the rules of Standard English in written and
oral language. Listening,
Speaking, and Viewing ·
The
student will participate in effective oral interaction with the teacher
and with other students. ·
The
student will listen to and view various forms of media in order to gather
and share information, persuade others, and express ideas. |
Grading:
Tests, essays and projects will make up 50% of the grade.
Homework, classwork, and quizzes will account for 50% of the grade.
Major
Assignments: (i.e. essays, reports, projects, etc.) These assignments will be checked on a due date.
Late assignments will have as much as 10% of the points deducted for each
calendar day they are late.
Homework: Homework is assigned as necessary. Homework may take the form of reading, writing, research, grammar practice or studying for tests. Homework will be checked on a due date, and late homework will not receive credit.
Scheduled
Help Sessions: Help sessions may be provided before homeroom from 7:45
a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Other times may be arranged with the teacher on an individual
basis. Please note that advance
notice is requested to avoid conflicts. Parents
will be responsible for providing transportation.
Teacher/Parent
Communication:
The
student is recommended to keep a list of assignments in his/her agenda.
The parent should check this from time to time to keep up with the
student’s progress. Grades will
be sent home every nine weeks, and interim progress reports will be sent home
every four and ½ weeks. Parent
Connect may also be used to access your child’s grades throughout the year.
Please note that you may reach teachers most efficiently by emailing
questions and concerns directly to the teacher.
Absent/Make-up
work: It is the student’s responsibility to request make-up work
for an absence. Upon returning to
school following an absence, the student should request make-up work.
The student must complete make-up work within the time specified by the
teacher. (The student will be given
the same amount of time to make up the work as he/she was absent unless other
arrangements are mutually agreed upon.) The
student will receive the actual grade on the make-up work if the absence was
“excused.” Make-up work for
“unexcused” absences may be reduced up to 6 points.
Make-up work submitted late will receive a zero.
Provisions for improving grades are provided through recovery
and must be completed ten days prior to the end of the semester. These
opportunities are designed to allow students to recover from a low or failing
cumulative grade (73 or below) when all work required to date has been completed
and the student has demonstrated a legitimate effort to meet all course
requirements including attendance.