8th Grade Language Arts

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8th Grade Language Arts

• Course Outline Sheet
• Notebook Expectations
• Daily entries
• 2009 - 10

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Are You Ready to be a Successful High School
Student?

• The focus of this 8th grade Language Arts class
  is to get you, as an individual student, ready
  for the academic demands of high school.
• You must have an adequate foundation in using the
  English language in both reading and writing.
• You must be able to write an effective essay,
  offer your ideas and opinions in a variety of
  written forms, and summarize information you have
  consumed in your own convincing, reasonable
  words.
• You must be able to understand textbooks on your
  grade level.

You in 5 years?
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Daily Expectationsfor this class

• Be in your seat when the bell rings with notebook
  out and ready to record the days notebook entry.
• Begin writing the days entry by writing the
  date.
• Complete the entire entry! Do not abbreviate or
  shorten any information.

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The Course Information Outline Sheet gives
detailed information about how the notebook
should be structured! and should always be the
first page of your notebook!
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Example of a daily entry
8/__/09 Quote Life is like playing the violin in
public and learning the instrument as one goes
on. (Rewording/Summary Your rewording or summary
should be highlighted, underlined, or written in
a different color.) In Class Assignments 1.
Share examples of ways to rewrite It was
raining. 2. Discuss 8th grade detention
policy. 3. Classroom/Homework Construct an
essay, which argues that the 8th grade lunch
detention policy is or is not a fair policy or
consequence for misbehavior or failure to follow
school or classroom rules. Begin with an
effective lead, which is followed by a clear and
detailed description of the detention policy.
Identify clear reasons why this policy is or is
not fair. Conclude with your opinion as to
whether this policy will be effective or not.
4. Discuss the Course Information Outline Sheet,
the Table of Contents, and the Mid-term Progress
Report. D.L.P. He could not decide so he took
his boot with an aperture in the toe and told
his daughter to hang it on a nail and fill the
old leather boot with water. If the boot holds
water, I will mary her but if it runs thru I will
not. (corrected example) He could not decide,
so he took his boot with an aperture in the toe
and told his daughter to hang it (this boot) on a
nail and fill the old leather boot with water.
(new paragraph) If the boot holds water, I will
mary(marry) her, but if it(the water) runs
thru(through) I will not.
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The Daily Entry

• Record the days date.
• Copy the quote of the day.
• Skip at least two lines for your summary or
  rewording of the quote and highlight or underline
  your response.
• Accurately record the days In Class Assignments
  as they are written.
• Write the Daily Language Puzzle (D.L.P.) with the
  errors and then make corrections.
• Write the Personal Dictionary entry if there is
  one as a dated entry in your PD section.

• Any part of the daily entry that is omitted by
  the instructor will be identified by N/A which
  means not assigned.
• Have a 3-prong paper notebook set up as
  instructed by the end of your first week in class.

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Each days entry should consist of
The days date The quote A summary or rewording
of the quote The I.C.A. or In Class
Assignments (accurate and complete) The D.L.P.
or Daily Language Puzzle (with errors and then
edited) Each days entry should be
on one page!!!!!! The P.D. or
Personal Dictionary entry should appear in the
Personal Dictionary Section by date.
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Personal Dictionary Entries (examples)
9/3/09 Means that which helps somebody do
something Widow a woman whose husband has
died Widower a man whose wife has
died Persuasive urging someone to believe,
think, or act in some way 9/5/09 Tormentto
inflict torture, pain, or anguish on somebody or
something It a pronoun used to refer to an
object Thing a pronoun used to refer to an
unnamed or unspecified object Something a
pronoun used to refer to an unspecified or
unidentified object Everything a pronoun used to
refer to all the items, actions, or facts in a
given situation 9/6/09 Aperture a small narrow
opening
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The Notebook Basics

• Will have an accurate Table of Contents for each
  6 weeks with a point total for each entry and the
  entire notebook... as the 2nd page
• and a Mid-term Progress Report page as page 3.
• An individual mission statement will be page 4.
• Will be brought to class daily!!!

• 1. Notebook with four sections (41 of 6 weeks
  grade failure to turn a completed notebook
  failure for the 6 weeks). The Course Outline
  Sheet is page 1.

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The Table of Contents page will be given to you
each 6 weeks! and should always be the second
page of your notebook! This page must be filled
out accurately with numerical values for each
segment of the daily entry.
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Briefly identify the written or homework
assignment. Complete the assignment and get 2
points.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1st 6 Weeks
Date
Quote
Summary
DLP
Edited
Homework/Writ.
ICA
PD
Total
Aug. 25
1
2
1
2
List 10 essay topics 2
1
1
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Write the DLP get 1 point. Edit the DLP get 2
points.
If you wrote the quote, you award yourself 1
point. Summarize the quote and award yourself 2
points.
For each segment of the daily entry you complete,
award yourself the appropriate point value.
Earn a total of 10 points for each days entry.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1st 6 Weeks (example for 4
days)
Date
Quote
Summary
DLP
Edited
Homework/Writ.
ICA
PD
Total
Aug. 25
1
2
1
2
List 10 essay topics 2
1
1
10
26
1
2
1
2
1
1
10
essay outline 2
2
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1
1
2
1
10
1
N/A 2
2
2
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1
1
1
N/A 1
10
essay draft 2
Use point values to indicate completion of each
segment of the daily entry.
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Student Notebook Self-Evaluation 1st 6 weeks
Table of contents
Complete______

Incomplete___ ( F) Section one Daily entries

Number of entries complete______
Number of entries missing or
incomplete______ Quotes Number summarized
and highlighted______
Number not
Summarized______ D.L.P.
Number
Edited______
Number not
Edited______ Section two Personal Dictionary

Complete all words defined______
Number
not Complete______ Section three Essay Draft
Section(5 off for each missing essay)
Complete essay assignments and
outlines ______
Number not
complete______ Section four Homework(1 off for
each missing assignment)
Number of assignments complete ______
Number of
assignments incomplete______ Total Points________
__________ Student Self Grade_____ Teacher
Grade_____
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Student Notebook Self-Evaluation 1st 6 weeks
Table of contents
Complete__X___

Incomplete___ ( F) Section one Daily entries

Number of entries complete__28__
Number of entries missing or
incomplete__2__ Quotes Number summarized
and highlighted___29__
Number not
Summarized__1___ D.L.P.
Number
Edited__29__
Number not
Edited__1___ Section two Personal Dictionary

Complete all words defined___X__
Number
not Complete___0__ Section three Essay Draft
Section(5 off for each missing essay)
Complete essay assignments and
outlines ___3__
Number not
complete___1__ Section four Homework(1 off for
each missing assignment)
Number of assignments complete __12__
Number of
assignments incomplete___6__ Total Points__253___
___84_____ Student Self Grade_B__ Teacher
Grade__B__
(-15)
(-18)
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In order to get a passing grade on your notebook
1. The Course Outline Sheet must be signed by you
and a parent!!! 2. Your Table of Contents must
be complete with point values for each segment
of each days entry, a point total for each day,
and a point total for the notebook. 3. The
self-evaluation on the back of the Course Outline
Sheet must be complete with section evaluated
and a point total with a percentage which equates
to the notebook grade.
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Midterm Progress Report (3rd page of
notebook) 1st 6 weeks Notebook set up as
instructed with completed Table of Contents to
date A Notebook needs restructure or entries
incomplete or missing assignments C Notebook
not set up as instructed or missing significant
assignments F 2nd 6 weeks Notebook set up
as instructed with completed Table of Contents to
date A Notebook needs restructure or entries
incomplete or missing assignments C Notebook
not set up as instructed or missing significant
assignments F Parent initials any 6 weeks
the midterm progress grade is not at least a C
1_______2_______ 3_______ 4_______5_______6_____
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The Mid-term Progress check will occur on 9/12
the 1st 6 weeks.
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Personal Mission Statement

• Identify what you want to accomplish as a 8th
  grade Language arts student. Include specific
  goals and skills that reflect what you need to
  accomplish to prepare to become a successful high
  school student.
• Example In the 2009-2010 school year, I will
  support my students efforts by developing and
  implementing effective lesson plans, by
  celebrating students successes, and by
  challenging students to think, to become
  effective writers and critical thinkers, and to
  develop positive attitudes.

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Four Notebook SectionsLabel each section with
the following

• Daily Entries Section 1
• Entries by date
• Personal Dictionary Section 2
• Entries by date
• Essay Drafts Section 3
• Table of Contents indicating which assigned
  drafts are completed and which are not
• Homework Section 4
• Table of Contents indicating which assignments
  are completed and which are not

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You must have a mini Table of Contents on the
title page of each or these sections!
Essay Drafts Table of Contents 9/10/09
Draft/web diagram/outline Detention
Policy incomplete 9/16/09 Draft/web
diagram/outline My Most Dreaded
Habit Complete 9/23/09 Draft/web
diagram/outline Dress Code Complete 9/30/09
Draft/web diagram/outline Teens
extracurricular activity Complete Homework
Table of Contents 9/3/09 ten essay
topics Complete 9/4/09 summer moment
paragraph Complete 9/5/09 15 it
sentences incomplete 9/8/09 letter to
ed./caption Complete 9/10/09 3
leads incomplete 9/11/09 3
leads incomplete 9/15/09 slogan/paragraph/le
tter to ed. incomplete
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Important piece of information

• Your notebook will be brought to class daily!!!
• Paper, and pen or pencil will be brought to class
  daily.
• Failure to come to class prepared results in the
  loss of one percentage point of your grade for
  each day (-30 possible).

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6 Weeks Requirement

• Students will chose one essay each six weeks for
  an individual writing grade which will be 20 of
  the students six weeks grade which will include
  a rubric indicating all the basic requirements of
  the assignment have been completed. (Written
  assignments will have a heading that will include
  the students name, period, and the date the work
  is received by the instructor.)
• The emphasis on writing the first half of the
  year will be on the essay because 8th grade
  students are responsible for an effective FCAT
  essay.

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Earn an A for the 6 Weeks(Extra credit can
only be earned if all major assignments are
complete.)

• Getting students to publish their work is the
  highest possible end result. Therefore, students
  will be encouraged to submit their written work
  to
• a) the Xpressions section of Mondays SP Times
  . (example My Most Dreaded Habit)
• b) letters to the editor
• c) essay, story, or poetry contests identified
  by the instructor which might be school wide,
  countywide, statewide, or nationwide.
• d) articles for the school newsletter,
  Lancerlife or the scholl literary magazine, The
  Knights Scroll.

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Important information4. Any work not received
on the due date will lose one letter grade each
day it is late.5. Make-up work will be completed
within two days of an absence. The student is
responsible for asking for assignments missed due
to an absence. All notebook entries must be
made up each 6 weeks.6. Classroom
participation will constitute 5 of the students
grade on a plus or minus scale.7. Extra credit
offered only if all work is complete to date and
the students notebook is up-to-date.8.
Assignments will be graded on a scale of 90 -
100A, 80-89B, 70-79C, 60-69D, 0-59F.
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Classroom rules

• Be in your seat and ready to work when the bell
  rings. Begin recording the days notebook entry.
  Respect the individual who is talking. Do not
  interrupt. Be courteous. All other school and
  county rules in the student code of conduct apply
  in this classroom. The restroom should be used
  between classes. Once a week restroom passes may
  be issued provided the student does not abuse the
  privilege. Misbehavior will 1st receive a
  verbal or nonverbal warning, 2nd result in a
  private discussion outside the room, 3rd result
  in parent contact, and 4th result in a referral
  to the AP. Severe misbehavior will generate an
  immediate referral. Constant disruption or
  violent behavior will result in the student not
  being allowed to return to the instructors
  classroom that is a directive consistent with
  state law.

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Additional info

• 10. Teacher/parent conferences will be scheduled
  at least 24 hours in advance.
• A. The student and the parents (s)
  signatures are requested on this copy. This copy
  will remain in the students notebook for the
  entire year. The notebooks grade will be
  recorded on the back of this sheet.
• 11. A 2 three ring binder is required to
  construct the years portfolio that will count as
  15 of the final 6 weeks grade.
• 12. Each student will evaluate his own notebook
  using using the categories listed on the back of
  this page.

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Finally

• Notebooks will not be accepted without
• signatures and parents initials!
• Students signature
• ________________________________________
• Parents (s) signature 1st 6 weeks
• ________________________________________
• Parent initials each 6 weeks
• 2_______ 3_______ 4_______5_______6_______

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Mr. Taylors web site addresshttp//teacherweb.
com/fl/meadowlawnms/michaeltaylor/index.htmlThe
web address is found just above the signatures on
the Course Information Outline Sheet

• Homework assignments will be kept
  up-to-date on the
• Homework page.

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Homework Earn Extra Credit You can participate
in Scholastic Chess Tournaments which are
scheduled for January 15th, February 12th,
March 5th, April 2nd, and May 7th.  Become part
of the Meadowlawn Chess Team. Specific
information about registration and directions are
available on the St. Petersburg Chess Club web
site at http//www.stpetersburgchessclub.com/ Se
nd a letter to the St. Petersburg Times by using
the following web address
http//sptimes.com/letters/ A wise strategy to
use would be to type your letter in a word
processing program, spell check and/or grammar
check your effort, highligh the text, copy the
text, go to the SP Times letter to the editor
form, and paste Your letter. Then, fill in the
information about yourself and send. --------- Ext
ra Credit Get published by submitting your
written efforts to the Xpressions pages in the
SP TImes January has an open theme you can
submit poems, essays, or descriptive pieces on
any subject. Postmark deadline is Jan.12th (up to
150 words) February is a High School Showcase for
bay area high school students only. March Purple
Theme - write about the color purple or use the
color to dominate any creative writing. (100 -
150 words) You can continue to submit book
reviews to "Book Buzz" which featured reviews by
Dat Tran, Lea Mijatovic, Shon Singh, and Linda
Son on January 3rd. ------------------------------
---------------------------- 4th 6
Weeks 1/3/10 1. New Table of Contents. 2. On
pages 26 and 27 in your FL Writes practice book,
plan and write an essay explaining why a new
year could mean a new stage in life for someone.
Decide on one basic idea such as A new year
allows me to _______. Create a web diagram or
outline. Identify three specific reasons why and
offer at least one example for each. Finish
with a strong conclusion.
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One of the concerns of 8th Grade Language Arts is
the FCAT/FL Writes essay. The following
statements were written by former students in
response to the question Were You Adequately
Prepared for FL Writes?
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Student Responses to Were You Adequately
Prepared for FL Writes? Well, actually yes and
no. I was extremely nervous after I read the
prompt. I didnt know how to start the writing
or anything. Then, I had a billion things
humming through my head like a computer chip. I
finally pulled myself together and thought of the
12 lead types Mr. Taylor told us about, picked
two, planned them out, and chose the one I liked
most. After I began, it was as if my pencil had
an engine built in and a mind of its own. S.
W. I think I was adequately prepared for the
FCAT/FL Writes because of all the preparing
assignments the practice FCAT workbooks or the
essays we have written. The daily quotes that we
reword helped me learn to rewrite something with
more or less detail. The D.L.P.s we do helped my
grammar and language skills. The poems we had to
write helped me learn how to put poetry and
imagery into my essays and helped me improve my
ability to create details. I think the essay
test was easier for me than most because of the
work we do in class. C. Q. I was adequately
prepared for the FCAT/FL Writes essay test
because of all the assignments we did in class.
The essays and practice FL Writes were a lot of
practice in order to help me out. The daily
quotes and D.L.P.s also helped me because I knew
exactly what grammar and punctuation to use in my
essay. All of the lead techniques helped me pick
a good lead to start constructing my essay. I
believe all of this practice we had to do really
made writing my essay less stressful and easier.
A. M. The FCAT/FL Writes test was relatively
easy for me due to many of the assignments Ive
done in class. The persuasive essays and
occasional expository essays have developed my
knowledge in writing Ive gained more
confidence, and become more familiar with the
structures. We learned about the different lead
types, forms, and factors of an essay. When I
received graded papers, I knew what I needed to
work on, or what might be expected next time.
Therefore, when FCAT testing came, I knew the
ropes of the game and hopefully rode out with an
excellent, informative essay. J. H. I truly
think that near the beginning of the year if I
had taken the FCAT/FLWrites, I would have done
very poorly. But I think when I wrote the essay
yesterday, I was not only mentally but physically
prepared. I learned many things before now and
tried to use as much of that knowledge as I
could. I also prepared myself the day before by
getting a good nights sleep and eating a good
breakfast. I also had faith in myself and knew
that I would do great on the essay. I did the
best I could, and I know Ill get a good score.
A. R.
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For the FCAT/FLWrites test, I felt prepared for
the essay portion because I learned how to map
out what I will write. That helped me a lot.
Also, the basic structure guide that Mr. Taylor
introduced to us helped me organize my essay. In
all, I felt 100 prepared. Some assignments that
helped me practice and prepare for the FLWrites
test were the essays we did in class. For
example, the Bronx Masquerade essay helped me
practice comparison and contrast in essay form.
D. L. I believe that I was prepared for the
FCAT/FLWrites. For the writing portion, I was
prepared because of all of the essays and daily
lesson plans from eighth grade. For the grammar
portion, all of those days of grammar drills and
lessons from the sixth grade paid off. Every
question I was ready to answer. The writing
prompt, are you kidding me? I thought that the
whole test was simple for eighth graders. K.
E. I was prepared for the FCAT essay. I used
comparison and contrast, and I used the FCAT plan
of bumping it from a 3 to a 4 strategy and used
many details. Overall, it was the best essay I
have ever written in length and detail. I think
I scored at least a 4 and maybe a 4.5. B. P.
No, I may have done a much better essay if I
actually did the essay draft assignments from
class. But from reading the example essays, they
sort of gave me a better understanding. If I had
done the essay drafts, I may have been able to
add better vivid examples and more detail. But I
think I did good on the FL Writes essay. J.
H. Yes, I was prepared for the FCAT. The Major
Writing Grade essay helped me a lot. The essays
helped me see what I needed to improve on. Also
learning about constructing a paragraph helped
me. Learning about lead types helped me make a
lead that I thing was good. N. Q. When the
FCAT/FLWrites test came around, I was more than
adequately prepared. We have gone over
procedures and strategies in our Language Arts
class. The practice was very educational and
made comprehension of the prompt a lot easier.
Having to create paragraphs in the FL Writes book
was the most help. Z. D.
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In the FCAT/FLWrites essay test, I was surprised
at how easy the essay prompt was. Nature is a
broad subject. The only problem I had was with
the time limit, a problem that had been solved
through many timed essays. Though the test was
the most boring 3 periods of my eighth grade
year, I have to say I was thoroughly prepared.
N. W. For the FCAT, I feel I was adequately
prepared. I feel we spent so much time writing
essays that when it came time to write in Florida
Writes, we were ready. I also feel that we were
prepared for the grammar because of all the
D.L.P. corrections and that we knew what we were
doing. S. W. I was prepared and a half for the
FCAT/FLWrites essay. It was so easy, it was
actually disappointing! The writing prompt that
I received was quite juvenile, and the grammar
portion was so easy it made me feel stupid.
Thanks a lot FCAT! B. E. I felt like I was
prepared for the FCAT essay. All the lead
practice we had in class really helped me. The
P.D. gave me more vocabulary to draw words from.
All the essays helped me practice opening
sentences and paragraph transition. It was
really a pretty easy 20-minute essay for me. J.
M.
Fred 2009