English Language Arts Syllabus

Nine Weeks Overview

Dear Parent(s) or Guardian(s):

During the course of this 9 weeks period, all of our reading and writing will be focused around
answering the following question: Identity: Whats Your Story?

Students will be exploring the answer to this question through the reading of the following
extended texts: The Outsiders. They will also read a variety of short texts from various genres
surrounding this theme.

Our writing focus will be learning the elements of narrative writing. Students will be writing in
response to texts read throughout this unit as well as asked to do extended research around
this theme. This nine week period will conclude with a Research Project based on the unit
question of Identify and it may be completed in class as well as outside of class.

We look forward to partnering with you in order to maximize your child's academic success.
The following resources are provided to assist your involvement in our unit for this 9 weeks
period. (www.newsela.com)

Please keep in mind, these are only suggestions and any other resources that you find to
supplement this unit at home will greatly benefit your child.

Sincerely,

Casshaunda D. Riddle

8th Grade English

Olive Branch Middle School

College and Career Readiness Focus Standards:

CCRA.RL 8.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the
course of the text, including the relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an
objective summary of the text.

CCRA.RL 8.6 Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience
or reader (e.g. created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or
humor.

CCRA.W 8.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective
technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

CCRA.RI 8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection,
and research.