First Nine Weeks

Literature: Mystery and Suspense : “The Tell Tale Heart,” “The Raven,” “The Monkey’s Paw,” excerpts from Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Writing Focus: Writing to entertain

Second Nine Weeks

Literature: Mythology and Fantasy: Edith Hamilton’s Mythology and The

Dark Is Rising

Writing Focus: Writing to explain, describe or report

Third Nine Weeks

Literature: Nonfiction/Personal Narrative: Diary of Anne Frank and

selected American Essays

Writing Focus: Writing to express and reflect

Fourth Nine Weeks

Literature: Prejudice and Courage: Ivanhoe

Writing Focus: Writing to influence or persuade

This syllabus is subject to change. Reading Contract assignments will be ongoing with individualized due dates.

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Supplies: Each student is expected to bring paper, a blue or black pen, and a pencil to each class. Additional supplies will be divided among the classes:

1^st period: Kleenex 5^th period: 2 yellow highlighters

2^nd period: Colored pencils 6^th period: 2 glue sticks

4^th period: 1 pair of scissors 7^th period: 1 package of paper

Please understand that all classes will share these supplies.

Contact Information: If possible, please email instead of calling. I will be able to

respond much more quickly. My email is: kmuskiev@ccisd.net. I will maintain my

website with daily assignment information:

https://muskievicz.tripod.com/muskieviczla.html.

The school phone number is (281) 337-7160 and the 8^th grade team meets between 8:15

and 8:45.

General Grading Information: Daily work (classwork, homework, quizzes, rough

drafts) will be 65% of the grade, Major grades (tests, presentations, final drafts, projects)

will be 20%, and the Reading Contract (various individualized assignments based on

independent reading) will be worth 15%. CCISD policies for late and absent work will

apply: one day extension in both cases with 20% penalty for late work.

Homework: Students will have a standing assignment of ½ hour of reading per night,

with an average of one hour of written work per week. Class time is offered to begin

assignments; additional homework time may be required if class time is not used

efficiently.