Syllabus Grade 9 Language Arts
Ms. Orta- lmorta@dadeschools.net
Critical Reading- reader attains such skills as annotating as a study skill,
employs literary analysis, and reads for content, context, and meaning
(includes vocabulary study)
Critical Writing- student will write with purpose, with grammatical
awareness, and with focus, detail and organization
Critical Viewing- viewer employs critical reading, writing, and thinking
skills while viewing instructional videos
In every area of study:
Critical Thinking- thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking
through skills and awareness- Using application, analysis, synthesis,
evaluation, and incorporating the dialectic.
Creative Thinking- involves creating something new or original. It involves
the skills of flexibility, originality, fluency, elaboration
Critical Reading & Critical Viewing- Literature- every quarter students will
read a supplementary novel from a teacher list
1. Survey- The Short Story- McDougall Littell Literature- stories vary
Plot, POV, Characterization, Symbol, irony, author’s purpose,
literary analysis
2. The Epic/Poetry- The Odyssey
Meter, Greek Mythology, Forms, Language
3. The Play- Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
Meter, figurative language, paraphrasing, irony, conflict, diction,
drama
4. The Novel- Whole class study
Same skills as the short story
Critical Writing - Writing and Grammar Skills
1. The sentence- grammar skills for Standard English and standardized tests
Subject/noun/adjectives
Predicate/verbs/adverbs
Independent Clauses v. Dependent Clauses Phrases and the Comma
Sentence Variation
Semicolon, colon, dash
2. The paragraph
Topic sentence and main idea
Supporting details and elaboration
Techniques- transition, creative writing strategies, sentence
variation
3. The essay
Expository
Persuasive
Narrative
Critical Reading, Writing, Viewing and Thinking:
Vocabulary
Research and Reference: Research Project
Student's Name (Print, Please): ______________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature:_______________________________
Date_____________________