IN THIS COURSE
Reading: Analyzing texts, identifying themes and main ideas, understanding literary devices (metaphor, simile, etc.).
Writing: Writing multi-paragraph essays, developing a thesis statement, conducting research, and writing reports.
Grammar and Punctuation:
Nouns: Abstract nouns, collective nouns.
Verbs: Tenses (past, present, future), irregular verbs.
Adjectives and Adverbs: Comparative and superlative forms.
Pronouns: Reflexive and relative pronouns.
Conjunctions: Coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions.
Prepositions: Prepositional phrases.
Sentence Structure: Complex sentences, subject-verb agreement.
Punctuation: Quotation marks, colons, semicolons, apostrophes.
Listening and Speaking: Engaging in debates, giving speeches, active listening, and note-taking.
Vocabulary: Learning academic vocabulary, using word roots and affixes to understand new words, and studying words in context.
Basic Language Skills:
Comprehension Strategies: Using strategies like summarizing, predicting, and questioning to understand texts.
Writing Process: Planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing written work.
Literature (introduced around Grades 6-8):
Genres: Understanding different genres (novels, short stories, drama, poetry).
Literary Elements: Identifying elements like plot, setting, characters, conflict, and resolution.
Themes and Symbols: Recognizing themes and symbols in literature.
Critical Thinking: Analyzing texts, making inferences, and drawing conclusions.
Comparative Analysis: Comparing and contrasting different texts and authors.