English and Writing Tutoring

Eighth grade English has as its primary emphasis in the careful reading and analysis of literature from various literary genres. Students also gain further experience in narrative, descriptive, and essay writing. They continue to develop their vocabulary and to refine their understanding and use of formal English grammar and mechanics.

The purpose of this course is to provide instruction and practice in grammar, spelling, writing, literature, study skills, and technology related to language arts, reading, and writing as outlined in the state standards.

In sixth 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 sixth 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.

Language Arts 7 will build on the work done in Language Arts 6.

Language Arts 8 will build on the work done in Language Arts 7.

English 7 will build on the work done in English 6.

English 6 students will work on grammar, literature, and spelling, while vocabulary will be taught using an integrated approach. Literature will include short stories, non-fiction, the novel, mythology, folk tales, drama, and poetry. Grammar units will include parts of speech, parts of a sentence, kinds of sentences, fragments, run-ons, subject-verb agreement, verb usage, comparison of adjectives and adverbs, and essay writing in the four writing modes. Other units will be taught as deemed necessary through student evaluation.

Creative Writing is a course designed to help the student explore Fiction Writing. A variety of short stories and various authors will be read to aid in the understanding of author style and technique. Students will study all elements of Fiction Writing and will be required to compile a portfolio for the end of the semester.

This course teaches students the extent to which the expository writing techniques specifically writing that establishes a clear thesis and maintains direction, focus, and coherence, and the extent to which the writing reveals an awareness of audience and purpose through word choice and sentence variety.

This course teaches all forms of poetry to a student and allows the student to either read or write poems.

English 9 students will develop skills in speaking and listening, academic research, higher order reading comprehension, language usage and writing, literary analysis, and critical thinking. In English 9, students build the foundation they will need for mastering all the skill areas by the time they complete English 12. Students regularly draw upon community resources as they can be integrated into their readings and research. Exemplary resources are the libraries, Internet, plays and movies, and book shops.

The honors-level course will explore the same topics as the standard-level course, but in a more in-depth manner.

English 10 students will continue to receive instruction in the major skill areas: speaking and listening, academic research, higher order reading comprehension, language usage, writing and rhetorical literary analysis, and critical thinking. Students will develop the speaking skills needed, write essays of substantial length, and use increasingly precise language on sophisticated topics. They will do research of an in-depth nature, using a broad range of sources and an original hypothesis, and they will read and analyze literature of increasing difficulty in terms of language use and thematic content. Students will regularly draw upon community resources as they can be integrated into their readings and research.

The honors-level course will explore the same topics as the standard-level course, but in a more in-depth manner.

English 11 students will continue to develop the skills they must have to express their ideas in writing or orally in clear, concise, and comprehensive ways. Students respond to literature and have ample opportunity to cultivate and develop public speaking skills. In writing, they focus on critical analysis of literary selections. Writing formats include free write, creative writing, personal essays, and formal essays. Students will use primary sources for research papers to broaden the scope of the topics they have selected. Through tier study of literature, students also develop knowledge of, and an appreciation for, American traditions. Students regularly draw upon community resources as they can be integrated into their readings and research.

The honors-level course will explore the same topics as the standard-level course, but in a more in-depth manner.

English 12 students will achieve mastery of the skills related to listening and speaking, academic research, higher order reading comprehension, language usage and writing, literary analysis, and critical thinking. Students will develop the listening and speaking skills they need for higher education. In writing, they will learn to develop position papers and use a variety of creative writing modes, particularly the more complex, such as writing essays based on models of the seventeenth through twentieth centuries. Students will study classical literature to complete the literature component, and literature from around the world will be included. Students will draw upon community resources as they can be integrated into their readings.

The honors-level course will explore the same topics as the standard-level course, but in a more in-depth manner.