8th Grade Language Arts Semester 1

Enrollment Message

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Course Description

Language Arts, grade eight, based on Indiana’s Academic Standards for English/Language Arts, is integrated instruction emphasizing reading, writing, speaking, listening, and media interest and age-appropriate content. Students begin to study the history and development of English vocabulary. Students begin to compare different types of writing as well as different perspectives on similar topics or themes. Students evaluate the logic of informational texts and analyze how literature reflects the backgrounds, attitudes, and beliefs of the authors. Students read and respond to fiction selections — such as classic and contemporary literature, historical fiction, fantasy or science fiction, mystery or adventure, folklore or mythology, poetry, short stories, and dramas. They also read and reflect on nonfiction selections — such as subject area books, biographies, magazines, and newspapers, various reference or technical materials, and online information. Students get ready for the language challenges of high school materials. Students not only write or deliver research reports but also conduct their own research. Students use subordination, coordination, noun phrases, and other devices of English language conventions to indicate clearly the relationship between ideas. 

Course Goals

Upon completion of the course, students will…

• determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details.
• analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.  
• determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text.
• analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone in both poetry and prose.
• understand context and improve note-taking skills.
• write for different purposes, including narrative writing, argumentative writing, and informative writing.

Indiana Academic Standards

• Language Arts Grade 7 

Units of Instruction

• Unit 1 Personal Narratives
• Unit 2 Introduction to Dystopian Literature
• Unit 3 Artificial Intelligence and Dystopian Literature
• Unit 4 Informative Writing
• Unit 5 Holocaust
• Unit 6 Poetry and Society
• Unit 7 Argumentative Writing
• Unit 8 Characterization

Grading/Evaluation

Indiana Online does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue transcripts or diplomas. A final score reported as a percentage of total points earned will be sent to students upon completion of a course. Your school of record can also access this score within the Student Information System, Genius. The final score will be shown as a percentage in Canvas and Genius. The student’s school of record will determine the letter grade based on their specific grading scale.

Students must complete at least 70% of the course and take all parts of the final exam(s) to have a score reported to their school of record. Failure to meet these requirements will result in a score of 0 reported to the school of record.

Assessments

Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, teacher-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments. The course includes the minimum number of assessments

• 4 Discussions
• 13 Assignments
• 13 Quizzes

The assessments for this asynchronous course are weighted as follows

Teacher Contact Response Time

Students can use email or the private message system within Genius or Canvas to access highly qualified teachers when they need teacher assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside Canvas. The Teacher Information page of their course may describe additional communication options.

The teacher will respond to student inquiries (email, text, call) within one business day. Assignments will be graded and posted within two business days.

Expectations for Academic Conduct 

Student Handbook 

It is your responsibility to read the student handbook to understand all aspects of taking an online course including expectations for academic conduct. Contact your teacher if you have any questions. 

Assistance for Students with Accommodations

Indiana Online supports an inclusive learning environment for all students. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that hinder your full participation, such as inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos and podcasts, reasonable accommodations can be arranged.

Technology

Technology Requirements 

Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube. Please review the Indiana Online’s Technology Requirements.

Technical Skills Needed 

Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to

• download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
• download and install software
• use a messaging service similar to email
• communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
• open attachments shared in messages
• create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
• save a file as a .pdf
• copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
• insert images or links into a file
• search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
• work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
• activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
• use presentation and graphics programs
• follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
• use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
• create and maintain usernames and passwords

Technical Questions?  Please contact the Indiana Online Helpdesk.