The eighth grade language arts course emphasizes active reading and essay writing. The literature textbook, Windows to the World, teaches students how to read, infer, analyze, and write about literature. In addition, it recognizes the power of literature to influence readers for good or ill, and therefore seeks to teach students to recognize an author’s worldview and read with discernment. The class will read classic literature such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Fellowship of the Ring, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, and numerous short stories. Students will be taught how to construct a standard 5-paragraph essay and they will apply this knowledge as they write a variety of essays throughout the year. Finally, uplifting poetry will be memorized and students will compose a variety of original poems.
