8^th Grade Literature Course Outline
2015-2016

General Information

Description

The reason we study literature is to gain a better understanding of others and of the world around us. I think the acclaimed writer, George Saunders, is on the right track, calling fiction a “compassion-generating machine.” He explains that unlike other ways of knowing, (i.e. math, sciences,) literature is able to live with the understanding that the world is a big, sometimes unknowable place. It can house contrasting, even paradoxical ideas all at once. “Is life kind or cruel? Yes Literature answers. Are people good or bad? You bet, says Literature.” This wise lesson about the way it all works means we get a peek into the lives of others and the world, plus the chance to make our own smarter, kinder and more Christ-like.

Expectations and Goals

The reason we are here is to deepen our enjoyment of all that we read, with greater discernment for the variety and flavors of good stories. This requires preparation in and out of class. Eighth grade students should be reading a minimum of 25 minutes non-instructional type reading every school night. [*]

Course Materials

Required Materials

Glencoe Literature: The Reader’s Choice, Course 3 by McGraw-Hill, 2002.

Various Stories (handouts)                                    
Ÿ “A Good Man is Hard to Find”                           
Ÿ “The Cask of Amontillado”                                 
Ÿ “The Masque of the Red Death”                                                        
Ÿ “The Necklace”                                                   
Ÿ “How Far She Went”
Ÿ “The Ledge” and others…

Novels
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Nonfiction
???

“The Man in the Flying Lawn Chair” by George Plimpton

Play
  The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance
 

Optional Materials

Students would benefit from having a good dictionary and thesaurus.
 

Reading Journals

Students will keep a weekly reading journal as log for their required minutes. This log should contain the title, author, page range, time, and a short blurb (1-2) sentences about the reading each day. These journals will be handed in at the end of each week (accounting for holidays and school breaks) for completion grades. Please note the dates on the calendar. Note: These journals can be used for AR reading points.

Course Schedule

Week	Topic	Reading
1) 8/17 – 8/21	Short Fiction	“A Good Man is Hard to Find"
2) 8/24 – 8/28	Short Fiction	“The Cask of Amontillado” & "The Masque of the Red Death"
3) 8/31 – 9/4	Short Fiction	"The Necklace" & “How Far She Went”
4) 9/8 - 9/11	Elements of Story	“The Ledge”
5) 9/14 – 9/18	Plot	“The Moustache”
6) 9/21 – 9/25	Setting	“Harrison Bergeron”
7) 9/28 – 10/2	ITBS TESTING / Conferences	***
8) 10/5 – 10/9	Character	"The Destructors"
9) 10/12 – 10/16	Point of View / Voice	"The Laughing Man"
10) 10/19 – 10/23	Review Short Stories and Literary Conventions	EXAM
11) 10/26 – 10/30	Literature Circles	Choose useful outside readings on topic of Tolerance
12) 11/2 – 11/6	Character	Persepolis
13) 11/9 – 11/13	Plot	Persepolis
14) 11/16 – 11/20	Point of View / Voice	Persepolis
15) 11/30 – 12/4	Setting	Persepolis
16) 12/7 – 12/11	Theme	Persepolis
17) 12/14 – 12/18	Review - Novel	-EXAM-

Exam Schedule

Date	Subject
10/16	Comprehensive Exam – Short Stories and Elements of Fiction
12/17	Comprehensive Exam - Features of the novel

Reading Log Schedule

Date	Subject
9/11	Reading log due - POSTPONED A WEEK
9/18	Reading log due
9/25	Reading log due
10/1	Reading log due
10/9	Reading log due (Thursday)
10/15	Reading log due (Thursday)
10/23	Reading log due
10/30	Reading log due
11/6	Reading log due
11/13	Reading log due
11/20	Reading log due
11/25	Reading log due (Wednesday)
12/4	Reading log due
12/11	Reading log due
12/18	Reading log due