COURSE OUTCOMES
WRITING-12/13 COURSE II
(July 2014)
Writing-12-13 Course II is designed to be taught concurrently with the Literature-12-13
Course II. The essential units for both courses are aligned to take advantage of the
inter related skills. Writing-12-13 Courses I & II are primarily meant to be
writing courses with grammar components. A diagnostic Test is provided for
the grammar components in each unit. Students who show mastery of this test should be
credited with mastery for the applicable essential outcomes. Students who show mastery of
parts of the test should focus on areas not yet mastered. Writing-12-13 Courses I & II and
Literature-12-13 Courses I & II have been designed to allow flexibility in grouping students
according to ability level.
Writing-12-13 Course II supports and is aligned to the success orientations, competencies,
and knowledge noted in the QSI English Program Outcomes.
Course Units:
This course includes eight essential units and five selective units. Many of the selective units
are designed to allow teachers to provide an extended opportunity to write in a chosen genre.
A total of at least ten units must be completed. Completed writing pieces assessed for credit
in a previous unit cannot be re-used for credit in another (selective) unit. The normal pace for
this course leads to mastery of all seven essential units and a minimum of three selective units
in one school year. This course is designed to use five class periods a week. A class period
is to be a minimum of 45 minutes.
Each unit is divided into essential, ongoing and suggested outcomes. Essential outcomes are
required and have not been previously introduced in this course. Practiced/ Ongoing Skills
are tasks that may have been introduced previously and will be practiced throughout the
years.
It is critical that Portfolio Unit E07 be reviewed before the year begins. Portfolio artifacts
will be collected throughout the year, but the unit will not be formally opened until later.
It should be formally opened once the essential units for the year are complete. In this way
we avoid having too many units open at any one time (Portfolio, Grammar, the current unit).
Suggested Materials:
Prentice Hall Writing Coach, Grade 8
Pearson
Boston, MA 2012
(Abbreviated WC)
Write Source, Grade 8 (previous textbook)
Houghton Mifflin Co.
Wilmington, MA 2005
(Abbreviated WS)
Literature, Grade 8
QSI LANGUAGE ARTS012/13 B CO
Copyright © 1988-2007
1
Holt McDougal
(Abbreviated LIT)
Language of Literature, Grade 8 (previous textbook)
McDougal Little
Boston, MA 2006
(Abbreviated LangLit)
An outline of Essential and Selective units is as follows:
Essential Units:
* Indicates a required Oral Component
E01 – Grammar
WC pp. 271–628
LIT pp. R46–R67
E02 – Biographical Narrative (Narrative Writing)
WS pp. 135–142 (Biographical Essay)
WS pp. 130–131 (Narrative Essay Rubric)
WS pp. 11–69 (The Writing Process)
E03 – Expository Essay (Expository Writing)
WC pp. 144–169
WS pp. 157–217 (Expository)
WS pp. 194–195 (Expository Essay Rubric)
WS pp. 4–69 (The Writing Process)
E04 – Persuasive Essay (Position Paper)
WC pp. 170–195
WS pp. 219–260 (Position Essay)
WS pp. 256–257 (Position Essay Rubric)
WS pp. 11–69 (The Writing Process)
E05 – Poetry* (Poetry Writing)
WC pp. 118-143 (Poetry and Description)
E06 – Research I
WC pp. 222–255
LIT 1057–1095
WS pp. 363–410 (Research Writing)
WS pp. 11–69 (The Writing Process)
E07 – Portfolio (Student Portfolio)
WC pp. 26-48
Selective Units:
S01 – Goal Setting Using MAP Data- Language Usage
QSI LANGUAGE ARTS012/13 B CO
Copyright © 1988-2007
2
S02 – Research II*
WC pp. 222–255
LIT 1057–1095
LIT R78–85 (Speaking and Listening)
WS pp. 363–410 (Research Writing)
WS pp. 11–69 (The Writing Process)
WS pp. 416–430 (Oral Report)
S03 – Autobiographical Narrative (Narrative Writing)
WC pp. 64-89
S04 – Creative Writing
WC pp. T90A–117
S05 – Book Writing (Write a Children’s Book)
S06 – Persuasive Essay (Persuasive Writing)
WC pp. 170–195
WS pp. 219–260 (Position Essay)
WS pp. 256–257 (Position Essay Rubric)
WS pp. 11–69 (The Writing Process)
S07 – Plagiarism
QSI LANGUAGE ARTS012/13 B CO
Copyright © 1988-2007
3