“Continuous effort- not strength or intelligence- is the key to
unlocking our potential.” – Winston Churchill
WELCOME TO ENGLISH 8 Honours
Mr. Elphick
As you have an opportunity to look through the course outline below
you will quickly notice that it is going to be a busy, but enjoyable
year. Throughout the year we will be working on a wide variety of
activities that will appeal to the needs and interests of a different
learners. Not only will you have an opportunity to improve
intellectually as a student, but you will also have the opportunity to
grow as a learner by exploring a variety of different concepts and
perspectives as they relate to our course.
The schedule listed is tentative. Additions and omissions may
occur.
Evaluation
The focus of your year should be to grow as a writer, speaker, learner,
and citizen. As hard as is it may be, I would like you to not worry too
much about your mark.
You will be asked to complete a variety of assignments that will be
entered in my marks book in the following categories.
Quizzes/Tests/Writing (minor)- These assessments are for your
benefit. They show you how you are progressing day to day and week
to week. They do not heavily influence your mark. Often, I will give
you written feedback on these assignments only. This is like batting
practice, soccer practice, or piano practice. These minor assessments
are your path to improvement. 5%
Summative Exams (major)- I will give you plenty of warning before
a summative exams. Such exams will be weighted more heavily than
minor quizzes and tests. They are meant to assess the learning and
progress that result from your hard work on minor assignments/quizzes.
25%
Summative Assignments (major). Often major writing or assignments
start as minor assignments. For example, you will be writing a short
story (major) in October. However, before you hand in your story, you
will be doing a lot of minor assignments to develop your story and
improve your characterization. 30%
Oral Assignments- These group and individual assignments will allow
you to improve your ability to express yourself orally. 25%
In-Class Writing: Time Sensitive- These assignments will be done
during class time without the assistance of writing devices and under
the pressure of an in-class deadline 15%
Letter grades rather than numerical marks.
For most of your marked assignments, I will be giving you a letter
grade rather than a numerical mark or percentage. One of the
main reasons for this is that English is not a course that converts
into percentages seamlessly. I can tell, for example, that an essay
deserves a “B” but I cannot personally distinguish between a 74%
and a 77% B. At report card time, I will convert your series of
letter grades into an appropriate percentage, based on the scale
below.
93-100
86-92
79-85
73-78
67-72
60-66
50-59
0- 50
A+
A
B+
B
C+
C
CD
At the end of each term I will sit down with you to evaluate your
progress.
No marks at all??????????
Don’t be surprised if all that you get back on many of your assignments
is written comments with no letter grade at all. Writing and speaking
well require constant feedback so that you have the opportunity to
improve. I keep track of the comments I give in class and this helps me
to determine your strengths and weaknesses.
Grade 8 English 2012/2013 Year at A Glance- Mr. Elphick
This is a rough calendar of events for this school year. The calendar and its
contents are subject to change.
September Introduction to English 8
Summer Book Review
Character, Setting, and Plot- Part 1 of
writing and analyzing short stories.
Writing fundamentals- ideas
Major Assignment: oral introduction
of short story.
Minor Assignment: quiz on first three
elements of a short story.
October
November
December
January
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk
Mood, Theme, Symbol, and Point of
View- Part 2 of writing and analyzing
short stories.
Writing fundamentals- organization
Major Assignment: writing a short
story- you’re the author.
Major Assignment: test on elements
of short story
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk
Let’s get dramatic- Shakespeare’s
Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Major Assignment- Reciting lines of
play in front of class.
Writing fundamentals- voice
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk
Literature circles- novel study
Writing fundamentals- word choice
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk
Non-Fiction in focus
Reading and writing non-fiction.
Writing fundamentals: sentences
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
Theme:
Identity -Who am I? How is the concept
of identity explored in short stories,
poetry, novels, popular music and
movies? Can identity change? What clues
do other people use to classify me? Is
“who I am on the inside” all that really
matters? This unit ties in nicely with the
grade eight social studies focus on
Canadian Identity.
Conflict - Conflict is the basis of all story
telling. Can conflict be good? Are there
different types of conflict? How can
conflict be resolved?
Relationships- We will examine the
complex relationships that make life so rich
and challenging. Do parents have too much
or too little control over the lives of their
children? What defines a true friend?
Were the relationships described by
Shakespeare in MSND so different from
our own?
Theme TBA based on novel selections
Reality (What a Concept) – Who is telling
the truth? Everyday we are inundated with
images, sound bites, and information that is
supposed to be truthful. Is it possible that
we are being lied to? How has propaganda
influenced people in our past? In this unit
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk
February
March
April
May
June
Oral Presentations- non-fiction
Writing fundamentals: paragraphs
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk
Poetry- analyzing and creating
Written assignment: poetry collection
Oral Assignment: poetry slam
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk
Poetry terms exam
Library Novel Study
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk
Mythology Unit
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk
Final Assignment-TBA
-Monthly In-Class Write
-Monthly Grammar Test
-Monthly Vocabulary Test
-Weekly Book/Poem/ Story Talk
we will figure out ways to get to the truth –
OR – at least ways to tell when we are
being manipulated.
Morals- What is right and wrong and how
do we decide? We will examine how
writers and orators use strategies to
convince you to see things from their points
of view.
Expressing ideas: How do people express
their opinions, identity, their feelings and
culture. What is your favourite form of
expression? We will look closely at poetry
and music as forms of expression.
Nature – Spring is in the air, in our hearts,
and in our minds. At this time of year we
focus on the renewed world around us.
What does nature mean to you? How is
nature viewed in other cultures? We will
explore the world around us, and using new
technology we’ll tell the world what we
think.
Myth making - A look at modern/urban
myths. What is a myth? How do they start?
Why do they exist? Are they harmful? Let’s
do some MYTH BUSTING.
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS
1. Attendance – Notes from parents/guardians are not required for absences,
unless they follow a long absence. However, I will be watching closely for
attendance patterns. If you are consistently late or absent, I am obliged to
inform your parents and the administration. However, I would rather treat
you like an adult. If you must be absent due to a field trip or at the request
of another teacher, please speak to me first. It is your responsibility to
ensure that all work missed is completed. Make sure that you have a
classmate who will collect your work if you miss a class.
1. Punctuality – Students are expected to arrive on time. Those who arrive late
must sign the clipboard by the door and quietly take their seat. (Please do
not disrupt the class.) Excessive lateness will negatively affect your mark
and will be taken as a sign of disrespect to your classmates and to me. If
you are late too often I will ask you to make up time.
Assignments – According to the Oxford dictionary a deadline is “the latest time
or date by which something must be completed.” I, as the teacher, set the
deadlines. You do not. Pay close attention to deadlines, for there are specific
assignments that have very firm deadlines, after which I will not accept your work.
Be aware that I may ask you to re-do an assignment if I feel it is doesn’t
meet my expectations. (e.g. if it is illegible or careless.)
Always do your best so that you can learn from your successes and failures.
Remember that if you choose to hand in something that isn’t representative of
your abilities, then you are wasting your own time and my time too.
Plagiarism – Plagiarism is passing off another’s ideas as your own. It is a
serious offense that will result in the failure of the assignment and a referral to
administration.
“Good work habits help develop an internal
toughness and a self-confident attitude that will
sustain you through every adversity and temporary
discouragement.” Paul J. Fleyer