Increasing the students vocabulary usage is stressed by completing organized units from the vocabulary series and also by focusing on unfamiliar words encountered during reading. 1 English 8 is required of all students and focuses on the power of the English language. To utilize this power, students are taught the correct ways of speaking, writing, reading and analyzing the spoken and written word. English 8 is taught with consideration given to American Cultures I. Certain historical novels are read, interpreted, and analyzed when these same concepts are discussed in American Cultures. Short stories, poems, and plays are also investigated.
Students focus on the validity of what they read and hear.
Related projects utilize group work, research, organizing information, correctly documenting information, and writing and orally presenting information. Correct grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling are always enforced and students continually learn new vocabulary words through reading and the workshop units. Writing assignments will include compositions based on the literature as well as longer writings, including a research paper. In literature, the student will study the short story, nonfiction, poetry, drama, and the novel. The study of important authors and relevant literary terms will be incorporated in the units of study.