Language Arts Curriculum

Language Arts Curriculum Composition IA Juniors

Description: Composition IA is designed to give 4-year college-bound junior students an overview of the grammatical elements as they relate to sentence composition. Concepts covered are included in the outline below. Students will work in both individual and group format on these sentence elements to develop strong, clear writing structure. Vocabulary work will also be incorporated to enhance overall writing quality. Students will also engage in personal and creative writing experiences. (Semester course - .5 credit)

Texts: Elements of Writing, Level 5 published by Holt, Rinehart, Winston, 1998 Sentence Improvement, Malcolm Moore, published by Houghton Mifflin, 1979. Wordpak, Rangefinder series published by Perfection Form Co.

Concepts Covered: A. Recognition of Sentence Patterns (8) and Elements within them 1. Ability to identify and write each pattern 2. Grammatical Constructions in sentence patterns a. Subjects and Predicates b. Subject Complements – Predicate Adjective, Predicate Nominative c. Predicate Complements – Direct Objects, Indirect Objects, Objective Complements B. Focus on identification and writing of phrases in sentence structure 1. Preposition phrases 2. Appositives phrases 3. Participial phrases 4. Gerund phrases 5. Infinitive phrases C. Production of simple to compound to complex sentences with appropriate structural elements 1. Recognize and use process of coordination in sentence writing 2. Recognize and use process of subordination in sentence writing a. Adverb Clauses b. Adjective Clauses c. Noun Clauses D. Vocabulary Enrichment 1. Introduction to 10 vocabulary words weekly 2. Skills addressed; a. Word definition b. Synonyms c. Antonyms d. Sentence writing e. Common phrase usage E. Writing to augment student’s composition as well as creative skills 1. “I am...” composition 2. “What Cannot be Thrown Away” composition 3. “It’s in the Bag” composition 4. Planet Poem – group composition Assignments and Graded Materials: A. Daily exercises in textbook and accompanying workbooks B. Tests over each grammar and composition unit and Vocabulary exercises 1. Sentence Patterns 2. Phrases 3. Coordination and Subordination C. Written composition of sentences D. Creative Writing Assignments E. Cooperative group work Behavior Expectations: A. Homework and Attitude 1. Assignments are expected on the day they are due, unless you have an excused absence due to illness. In that case, you have two days to turn in the missed assignment. 2. Failure to have an assignment ready on the due date results in a loss of those points. The assignment is due at the beginning of class; you may not work on it while we attend to other class activities. 3. If you miss a test, it must be made up within the two-day time limit. 4. If you are absent for group work, you miss that day’s worth of points or must make them up on your own. 5. In this classroom you will conduct yourself with a sense of respect your teacher, your classmates and yourself; you will project both decorum and decency at all times.

Ms.pistulka’s Grading Scale High LOW grade 100% 97 % A 96% 93% A- 92% 89% B+ 88% 85% B 84% 81% B- 80% 77% C+ 76% 73% C 72% 70% C- 69% 67% D+ 66% 63% D 62% 60% D- 59% 0% F