The Dorset School -Grade 8 English

     By the end of Grade 8 Dorset students will use prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and critiquing to produce final drafts of several types of writing.(see below)  They will demonstrate a command of the English language by using appropriate mechanics,usage and grammar (conventions) and by using a variety of sentence and paragraph structures.

I.  Writing

            A.  Process writing--using the steps of the Vermont Writing Process students will

                  generate their own pieces of writing.  Quick writes, student generated ideas,

                  and various writing prompts will be used.

            B.  Product writing-writing with a purpose, following the directives of the Vt.

                  State Standards this is writing with a definitive purpose in genre.  Performance

                  Task Assessment Lists, Vermont State Rubrics, Student and Teacher

                  generated rubrics will be used in assessment.  Peer response groups, teacher

                  edits, and self edits will be stressed in word processing and revision. Genres:

                        1.  Personal Narrative

                        2.  Procedural  (How  to)

                        3.  Narrative Poem

                        4.  Essays of Cause and Effect

                        5.  Persuasive Essays

                        6.  Descriptive Essays (Character Description)

                        7.  Essays with Compare/Contrast

                        8.  Research Work-longer term project in conjunction with other disciplines

                        9.  Responses to Literature (Daybook of  Reading,  a variety of formats)

                        10. Reflective or Personal Essay

II.  Portfolios-- a collection of writing gathered throughout the year

                        A.  All students will have a compendium of work  going on to high

                              school.  All work not collected will go home at graduation.

                        B.  Writing is evaluated according to:  Organization, Voice, Purpose,

                               Details,  and Grammar, Usage and Mechanics.

                        C.  Particular Emphasis is placed on those skills addressed  in the

                              New Standards Reference Exam given in Spring (?) or NAEP (?)

III.  Individual Writing Requirement-  Two independent writing assignments per trimester.

                                                         Word processing required on all final drafts.

IV.  Grammar

                        A.  Harcourt Brace Medallion  Edition

                        B.  Connection between grammar and writing stressed

                        C.  Chapter tests approximately every two weeks

                        D.  Daily Oral Language Workouts-”Mug Shot Sentences”

VI.  Spelling/Study Skills (most weeks, not all) Tests on Fridays, skill sheets Thursdays

 

Grading System:  Classwork:  30%, Homework 20%, Tests/Quiz 35%,Independent                                             Writing 15%