Mrs. Cheney's Language Arts: 2/22/08 9th

Friday, February 22, 2008

2/22/08 9th

Today is a catch-up and reading day. If you have missed a quiz, you should plan to take it today.

Also, we will be taking the Romeo and Juliet final test on Monday. Here are some drama terms you will need to know:

Drama: a story that is written to be acted for an audience.
Comedy: a story that ends happily; comedies usually end with a wedding
Tragedy: a story that ends in the death of the main character or characters
Aside: words that are spoken by a character in a play to the audience or to another character but that are not supposed to be overheard by the others onstage
Soliloquy: a long speech in which a character who is onstage alone expresses his or her thoughts aloud
Setting: the time and place of the story or play
Theme: the central idea of a work of literature; tells what the writer wants to reveal about the subject; is usually expressed in a sentence
Motif: a repeated structure, contrast, or literary device that helps to develop the theme
Allusion: reference to a statement, a person, a place, or an event from literature, history, religion, mythology, politics, sports, science, or pop culture
Foreshadowing: the use of clues to hint at events that will occur later
Comic Relief: comic scene or event that breaks up a serious play or narrative

Character: person in a story, poem or play
Static Character: a character who does not change much in the course of a story
Dynamic Character: a character who changes as a result of a story’s events
Flat Character: has only one or two traits
Round Character: has many different traits, which sometimes contradict one another
Protagonist: the main character in fiction or drama
Antagonist: the character or force that works against the protagonist
Motivation: the fears, conflicts, or needs that drive a character
Foil: a character who is used as a contrast to another character

Irony: a contrast between expectation and reality—between what is said and what is really meant, between what is expected to happen and what really does happen, or between what appears to be true and what is really true
Verbal Irony: a writer or speaker says on thing but really means something else
Situational Irony: occurs when there is a contrast between what would seem appropriate and what really happens, or when there is a contradiction between what we expect to happen and what really happens
Dramatic Irony: occurs when the audience or the reader knows something important that a character in a play or story does not know

8th grade disclosure document

I am looking forward to spending this trimester with your student in 8th grade language arts. We will be enjoying our time together through reading, writing, and learning to use the English language effectively.

Reading
We will be reading one novel and one play as a class this trimester. I also encourage students to discover the joy of reading good books on their own. We will go to the library once every two weeks to check out books, and I will give class time (15 minutes) every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for reading. Each student is expected to bring a book to class on these days. The students will earn a reading grade based on their participation and behavior during reading time.

Writing
We will be following the writing process to complete several writing assignments this trimester. The writing process requires students to complete multiple steps before they turn in a finished project. I will generally require students to have an adult read and evaluate their drafts based on criteria I provide. Your feedback will help your student see how they can improve their writing.

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If a student plagiarizes any work, he/she will earn a zero on the assignment and a referral to the office. Plagiarism means “the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work.” (http://www.dictionary.com/) Close imitations most often happen when a student cuts and pastes from an internet source and then changes a word or two here and there while claiming it as his/her own work. When students are assigned to write, they must write their own sentences and paragraphs; they must form their own ideas. If I suspect a paper is cut and pasted, it is easy for me to search the internet to find evidence. Please do not allow your student to plagiarize.

Language
I teach the correct use of written and oral language in my class. Students will be expected to use correct grammar in their writing as well as during oral presentations. Students will be required to give at least one oral presentation during the trimester.

Materials
Students are to come to class prepared. Students should have a spiral notebook for a daily journal/glossary. We will write every day, and it is best if students have a spiral notebook used ONLY for their journal/glossary. Students are also to bring a pencil or pen to class as well as the book they are currently reading. Students who come unprepared will receive a reduction in their citizenship grades.

Makeup/Late Work
You will be given two late-work vouchers to use during the trimester. I will only accept late work if it is accompanied by a voucher. If you use them all up the first two weeks of the trimester, you will not receive additional vouchers. Use them wisely. You may turn unused vouchers in at the end of the trimester for extra credit.

For your convenience, I am now on the internet: http://mrscheney.blogspot.com/. I do my very best to post every day. I post assignments, resources, notes, helpful hints, and upcoming due dates on my webpage. There is also a link to the SIS student login page, so students can easily check their grades. I encourage all students and parents to check my blog when there is an absence, as there will be far more detailed descriptions of what you missed there than I can provide in the minute or so before or after class.

Grading Scale
I will grade on the following scale:
93-100% = A 90-93% = A- 87-89%= B+
84-86% = B 80-83% = B- 77-79% = C+
74-76% = C 70-73% = C- 67-69% =D+
64-66% =D 60-63% = D- 0 –59% = F

Class Rules
My class rules are posted in my room. We have gone over the rules in class. If you have any questions about the rules or any of my policies, please contact me. I do my best to answer all emails within 24 hours. You are welcome to visit my classroom at any time.

Mrs. Cheney's Language Arts

Friday, February 22, 2008

2/22/08 9th

Email Mrs. Cheney

When is this due?

Spelling/Vocabulary list, 8th

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8th grade disclosure document