Course Description: This ELA class is designed to increase your communications skills through reading, writing, speaking, and the study of the English language. Our primary focus in language arts class will be mastery of different writing styles, demonstration of the rules of grammar, and the ability to express yourself effectively through various mediums of communication in direct correspondence to the North Carolina Common Core State Standards. This year you can expect to read a variety of fiction ,non-fiction text including informational texts, novels, short stories, dramas, poetry, and essays. These writing pieces will model the different writing styles we will be working on ourselves. Writing assignments will include timed responses, journal writing, essays, critiques, and creative pieces. Vocabulary, spelling, and supplemental grammar assignments (as needed) will also be an important part of this class. Because we are a community of learners, please also expect to work periodically in cooperative learning situations and to present information to your peers in collaborative teams as well as individually. Throughout the duration of the school year you will: • read and respond widely and deeply to foster a deeper understanding of the human experience • use a variety of thinking strategies to understand, analyze, and create text for personal enrichment, inquiry, and problem solving • collect, analyze, and cite specific evidence to formulate questions, construct arguments, make decisions, and reinforce thinking • obtain, analyze, and synthesize information from a variety of resources to express information, change perspectives, clarify thinking, and make informed decisions