Syllabus for 7th Grade
2011 - 2012
1st Six-Weeks (August 22 – September 30)
Color Bead Writing Process
Parts of Speech Overview
Writing: It’s All about Me
How to Overcome General Problems with Writing
Writing Terminology
Eliminating Repetition in Writing
Purposes for Writing
Brainstorming
Writing: Taking Risks
Ratiocination
Fluency and Personification
Organization in Writing
Writing: Inventions
Writing: Cinquain
SPAMO
Writing: Facing a Challenge
Improving Word Choices
Stringy and Wordy Sentences
Sentence Fragments and Run-Ons
TAKS Benchmark
Writing: Introduce Shiner Research Project (Introduce assignment)
Overview of punctuation, capitalization, and spelling rules
Vocabulary: Roots #1, #2, and #3
Spelling List 1
2nd Six-Weeks (October 3 – November 4)
10 AR points are due
Complements
Writing: Haiku
Variety in Sentence Length
Varying Sentence Beginnings
Sentence Boosters
Writing: Metaphor Poem
Phrases: Adjective, Adverb, Infinitive, Appositive, Participial, and Gerund
Writing: Guest Speaker
Specific Word Choices
Voice in Writing
Adjective and Adverb Clauses
Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences
Writing: Cause and Effect (Sports)
Spelling Lists 1 and 2
Vocabulary: SAT #1 and SAT #2
3rd Six-Weeks (November 7 – December 16)
10 AR points are due
Review over Writing Lessons
Writing for a Specific Audience
Parallel Structure
Format of a Personal Letter
Writing: Thank You Note
Verbs: Basic and Progressive Tenses and Shifts in Tense
Troublesome Verbs
Writing: Impacting Other’s Lives
TAKS Benchmark
Leads and Introductions
Spelling Lists 1, 2, and 3
Active/Passive Voice
Writing: Back to the Future
Sensory Words
1st Semester English Exam over PoS, Comps, Phrases, and S, Cd, and CX Sentences
Vocabulary: SAT #3 and #4 and semester vocabulary test over Roots #1, #2, and #3
4th Six-Weeks (January 3 – February 10)
10 AR points are due
Writing: School Rule Change
Pronoun Usage
Writing: Description of Lunchtime
Subject/Verb Agreement
Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement
Format of a Business Letter
Writing: Letter of Complaint
Using Modifiers
TAKS Benchmark
Writing: Ballad about a Texas Legend
Correcting Awkward Sentences
Combining Sentences
Verbs with Verve
Spelling Lists 1, 2, 3, and 4
Vocabulary: SAT 5, #6, and #7
5th Six-Weeks (February 13 – April 5)
10 AR points are due
Writing: Research project (Letter to President Obama)
Bias
Thesis
Introductions
Conclusions
Evaluating Internet Sources
Plagiarism
Outlines
Parenthetical Citations
Works Cited Page
Format of a Research Paper
Writing: How-to Speech
Thesis Statements
Introduction, Body, and Conclusion
Writing: Rip Van… Who?
Vocabulary: SAT #8, #9, #10
Spelling: Lists 1 - 4
6th Six-Weeks (April 9 – May 25)
10 AR points are due
Writing: Fairy Tale Sequel
Writing: Tardy Excuse
Writing: Children’s Story
Review All Parts of Speech and Usage
Review All Punctuation and Capitalization Rules
Vocabulary: SAT 11 and SAT Writing Words
Spelling: Lists 1 - 4
Notes:
(1) All writing assignments are not indicated on the syllabus but students will write throughout the year. Also, students may be assigned projects and group work not indicated above.
(2) Once a punctuation or capitalization rule is covered, the student can expect to be re-tested on the rule throughout the year.
(3) This is a working plan that may change during the year. Also, the assignments/topics are not listed in order.
