Mrs. Bryson's Home Page
8TH Grade English / Language Arts

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."   Eleanor Roosevelt (U.S. Diplomat, Reformer, First Lady)

Contact me: obryson@chicousd.org Top of Page My dog Freedom Mrs. Bryson A Real Unicorn

Indepentent Reading and Book Reports       Top of Page "A man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't."  Mark Twain  All students are required to read two books per quarter. Books must be at least 200 pages (see me for exceptions). Each book must be a different genre, or type; for example, if the student chooses a fantasy for the first book, the next one may be a mystery. A book report is required for each book.  Student have been given a copy of the book report format, an example and other helpful papers that will guide them through writing the report. It is worth 85 points.                Book Report Due Dates    September 16, 2008                  October 13, 2008 November 11, 2008                   December 16, 2008   January 27, 2009                       March 16, 2009                                    April 21, 2009   Click on the icon for book report information

In Class Reading Top of Page "I must say that I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a good book."  Groucho Marks (Comedian, Film Star) Stories from Language of Literature include:               "Flowers for Algernon,"  Daniel Keyes     What Kind of Smart Are You?                "Tell Tale Heart,"  Edgar Allen Poe   "The Monkey's Paw,"  W.W. Jacobs   "The Diary of Anne Frank,"  Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett            Various Tall Tales, Myths and Legends,  Authors Vary 8th grade core novels include:    Call of the Wild,  Jack London The Outsiders,   S.E. Hinton Walkabout,  James Vance Marshall   See icons below for novel related assignments.                               Literature Book story assignments

Walkabout Call of the Wild Anne Frank

Writing Top of Page "It is perfectly okay to write garbage--as long as you edit brilliantly"   C.J. Cherryh (Science Fiction Author) Each student will be responsible for several writing assignments. Some assignments will be in class: Compare / Contrast Paragraphs Response to Literature Poetry Analysis Other assignments will be given as homework. These assignments are always to be typed. Autobiographical Incident                         Rough Draft Due:  Sept. 23, 2008                         Final Copy Due:     Sept. 28, 2008 Shivery Story         Final Copy Due: Oct. 28, 2008 Australia Projects   Due: Dec. 18, 2008 MLA Style Research Paper Tall Tale Due dates will be added as the assignment is given. Click icon for assignment

Spelling and Vocabulary Top of Page I have a spelling checker It came with my PC It plainly marks for my revue Mistakes I cannot sea I've run this poem threw it I'm sure your please to no It's letter perfect in it's weigh My Checker tolled me sew             -anonymous There are new spelling and / or vocabulary words every week. We will be doing "White Board" practice and work sheets weekly. Quizes will be every Wednesday. Click icon for words and assignments

Grammar and Mechanics Top of Page "I never made a mistake in grammar but one in my life and as soon as I done it I seen it"  Carl Sandburg (Author, Editor)   Students will be learning grammar and mechanics through practicle application and work pages. We will be doing "Daily Sentence Correction" and "Paragraph Editing," as well as working in the McDougal Littell Grammar Books. Click icon for assignments

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