English

This course for students in grades 8 and 9 involves high-intensity instruction in which the student concentrates on review and practice of those basic skills necessary for the writing of effective sentences and for detecting and correcting common structural errors in sentences. The goal of the course is the development of the student’s ability to write acceptable high-school-level prose in unified, coherent, adequately developed expository paragraphs. This goal is reached by covering the areas of grammar, mechanics, punctuation, spelling and diction, effective sentences, and finally, the paragraph. Writing assignments vary from critical to expository to creative. (Also listed for Middle School.) 

This dynamic and collaborative writing course will teach students strategies to plan, evaluate, and edit their writing, as well as to develop their personal writer's goals. Students will engage in brainstorming, peer review, workshopping, and self-assessment activities to grow as intentional and imaginative writers. Some exciting final project examples include a podcast segment, a poetry chapbook, a collection of op-eds on current events and short stories. Also listed in Middle School.