Middle School English Language Arts Grade 7

Course Length:

Two semesters

Course Description:

Through analysis of written, spoken, and multimedia texts, students will become more critical consumers of information and of various forms of media. They will also synthesize and organize ideas to prepare structured essays in several different modes, including narrative, persuasive, and expository. Each lesson will guide students in learning and applying specific strategies for reading and writing different types of texts. A review of basic English mechanics is included in many of the writing lessons, along with a discussion of levels of formality required for different purposes and audiences. This course provides instruction in many modalities, including audiovisual presentations and videos, interactive activities, projects, and discussions. Opportunities for teacher feedback are frequent, detailed, and varied.

The second semester of Grade 7 English Language Arts online course builds on the skills and concepts introduced in the first semester. Students tackle more difficult texts and themes in Semester B, and the level of analysis demonstrated and required is more in-depth. In this part of the course, students study the English language closely—both its history and evolution and the less obvious ways it can be used to convey meaning. The reading assignments are selected to guide students in understanding how language can be used to convey broader themes in poetry, drama, and humorous or satirical texts. Students continue to develop their writing skills through multi-draft assignments and projects. The emphasis in this semester is on recognizing the multiple levels of meaning that any word or phrase might convey, and in writing one’s own texts with these concepts in mind.

Prerequisites:

None

Comprehensive Syllabus:

Language Arts 7 Public Syllabus

Required Materials:

A working computer with reliable access to the internet is required.
Required Anthology:
- Poetry Speaks Who I Am
ISBN-10: 1402210744
ISBN-13: 978-1402210747

Required Novels:
- Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (Semester A)
- The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (Semester B)
Optional Novels (Choose 2):
- A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck
- Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
- Nothing but the Truth by Avi
- The Cay by Theodore Taylor
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Specific Technical/Software Requirements in Addition to General Requirements:

Please review the general original credit software requirements at http://mtda.link/techreq

Course Availability (subject to resource and teacher availability):

Fall: A available
Spring: B available

Lead Teacher:

John Amundson, Billings Public Schools, john.amundson@montanadigitalacademy.org