Composition Course Outline 2013-2014

Mrs. Sarah Norman

skranz7@gmail.com (618) 845-3518 ext. 217 Classroom: H108 Planning Period: 6th Hour

Students in Jr. High Composition will learn the strategies and tools that will improve their writing skills. The focus of this course is the development of the ability to express thoughts in clear, correct sentences using precise words, and to logically organize ideas into coherent compositions. Students will practice their skills through sentence diagramming, various types of writing exercises, and peer editing.

RULES FOR LATE DAILY WORK: 50% deducted first late day, assigned to catch-up caf, then a zero in the grade book **If you do not have an assignment to turn in, you are to complete an Assignment Accountability form, giving your reason for not having your work. LATE ESSAYS: One letter grade deducted each late day. After 5 days its a zero in the grade book. FINAL EXAM POLICY: See student handbook. CLASSROOM RULES: 1. Show respect to everyone! 2. Always come to class prepared with class binder, pen/pencil, homework, and planner. IF YOU DO NOT BRING ONE OF THESE ITEMS, YOU MAY RENT/BUY ONE FOR A QUARTER. HOWEVER, YOU WILL STILL RECEIVE A STRIKE. (See Student Handbook). 3. Be in your seat when the bell rings. Stay in your seat until the end of the class period. 4. No food, drink, or candy. ONLY water in a water bottle is acceptable. 5. The first tardy is a free pass. Any more after the first tardy, become strikes. 6. Each student will receive 3 locker/bathroom/drink passes per Quarter, only when utilizing his/her own planner. No exceptions. ESSAY/HOMEWORK RULES: All work is due at the beginning of the hour. If you need to print work, do so before the class period (work will be counted late, otherwise). All essays must be typed, double-spaced, and include a title unless otherwise noted. In the top, left-hand corner of any assignment you must include the following: NAME CLASS HOUR DATE *Five points will be deducted for not following directions.

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CHEATING POLICY: Cheating is not acceptable! Any form of plagiarism is also cheating (copying or paraphrasing from the internet is included). *plagiarize: To take (ideas, writings, etc.) from another and pass them off as ones own. GRADES: Grades are not weighted. Test grades can range from 50-200 points. Essays/Stories range from 25-100 points. Daily work and quizzes can range from 10-100 points. Projects can range from 50-100 points. Binder grades will be taken every quarter (100 points). Typically, a student can accumulate close to 2000 points in a semester. EXPECTATIONS: Complete Bell Work daily. Take notes during all class discussions (must use date and heading). Have notebook open and engage in all discussions. Utilize time given in class for homework assignments. Attend class consistently. Ask me questions during class, after class, or during my prep period. Use planners to keep track of all class work.
***Please note that any procedure not mentioned above, but outlined in the 2013-2014 CHS Handbook, applies in my classroom.

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Note to guardian / parent: If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me: skranz7@gmail.com or (618) 845-3518 ext. 217. I look forward to working with you and your teenager! *A curriculum plan is attached. Subject to change due to school activities, snow days, re-teach, etc.

Semester 1
8/15-9/16 Journals/Daily Bell Work/Bonus Points/Remind101/Class Website Class Rules Post It Note Activity All About Me Essay Parts of Speech: Teachers Guide - Intro Quiz - Lists of POS - Dictionary Activity - POS Worksheets - Sentence Diagramming - POS Bingo - POS Powerpoint TEST #1 Parts of Speech 9/17-10/18 Mechanics: (Workbook) - Capitalization - Punctuation o P. 57-65 Sentence Writing: Teachers Guide Kinds of Sentences Subject/Predicate - Complete - Simple - Compound Subject/Verb Agreement Sentence Fragments Simple Sentences Compound Sentences Run-on Sentences Combining Sentences TEST #2 Sentence Writing 10/21-12/20 Narrative Writing: Writing a Good Title (Workbook) - P. 13 - P. 74-89 (Writing Strategy Guide) - Practice w/made up stories A Good Beginning (WB) - P. 11 - Practice w/made up stories Its All in the Details (Writing Strategy Guide) - P. 28-32 - Show and Tell o P. 33-37 o Sense Words P. 51 (WB) - Figurative Language o Metaphor/Simile o Personification o Hyperbole o Onomatopoeia - FL Poster Sequence of Events - P. 38-46 - Practice w/Daily Routine Key Ingredients: - P. 52-57 Dialogue (WB) - P. 14 - Practice w/scenarios A Good Ending (WB) - P. 40 - P. 90-111 (Writing Strategy Guide) - Read Bambi o Rewrite an ending for Bambi Picture Story (Teachers Resource) - P. 107-108 - 2 Other pictures to practice o Individual Computer Activity - Self Evaluation p. 111 p. 112 (WSG) - Peer Evaluation p. 112 Personal Narrative - Winter Tale - Self Evaluation p. 111 - Peer Evaluation p. 112 Show and Tell Presentation due 12/18

Semester 2
1/6-1/17 Compare/Contrast Writing: - P. 48-50 (WB) - Idea Charts/Venn Diagram - Essay Set Up (Notes) - Practice Writing Activities - Compare Contrast Essay due 1/16 o Peer Evaluation Rubric Provided 1/20-1/31 Persuasive Writing: p. 20-27 (Writing Strategy Guide) Fact/Opinion Game p. 68 (WB) Letter Writing: - 5 Parts of a Letter (Notes) - P. 69 (WB) - Persuasive Letter due 1/31 2/3-2/7 Persuasive Debates: Group Activity - Choose Topic from bucket - Come up with reasons for/against - Debate Peer Evaluation - Rubric Provided 2/10-2/14 Using Explanation: Describing Things We Love - Use of Figurative Language - 3 Things We Love and Why Things I Love Collage Poster 2/17-2/28 Expository Writing: What is it? (Notes) Ideas to Explain (List) - Thesis Statement o Practice w/Ideas - Topic Sentences o Practice w/Ideas - Practice Writing Expository Essay o Use Prompts Expository Essay due 2/28

3/3-3/14 Stories with a Lesson - What is Theme?? - Discuss themes o Practice writing theme w/ideas Movie Lion King - Write themes/lessons in the movie Story with a lesson/theme due 3/12 - Present Story to Class o Class guesses your theme 3/17-4/11 Composition Activities - New Prompt Each Day - Share Writing Once a Week 4/14-5/2 Research Writing: - Plagiarism - Credible Sources - Citations - Works Cited - Outline P. 79-84 (WB) Research Essay Examples - Evaluate Examples using Rubric Research Essay due 5/2 5/5-5/9 Poetry: Elements of Poetry - Form (Stanzas) - Sound (Rhyme/Rhythm) - Speaker - Figurative Language Read Poetry All About Me Poems: - I Am - Acrostic Poster Format Poems: - Cinquain - Haiku 5/12-5/16 Final Exam Study Guide - Types of Writing - Thesis - Theme - Outline - Poetry