Genres

This unit includes identifying and comparing key characteristics of literary genres, as designated by a work's subject, theme, style, and time period. Some example of genres are: science fiction, poetry, drama, British literature, and multicultural literature.

Information Processing

The Information Processing Unit includes competencies and objectives which focus on the processes of comparing, evaluating, interpreting, and organizing information and ideas in isolation from other Language Arts areas such as: reading, writing, listening and spelling.

Language Expressions

This unit focuses on language conventions, structure, usage, and language study. It also addresses parts of speech, figures of speech, syntax, paragraph and sentence structure, word agreement, modifiers, and grammar.

Language Mechanics

This unit includes comprehending and applying the rules which govern punctuation and capitalization when writing and editing written works.

Listening

This unit includes identifying and distinguishing between sounds and patterns in sounds, constructing meaning from information delivered verbally, and understanding and responding to verbal information.

Media

This unit includes the study of information and entertainment communications. Topics include: advertising, art, journalism, film, and media messages, forms and productions.

Reading Operations

This unit includes constructing meaning from fiction and non-fiction selections at comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and judgment levels of understanding. It includes skills which address identifying, discussing, and comparing both concrete and abstract elements of selections (setting, plot, characterization, genre, historical period, theme, tone, moral message, and psychological and political implications).

Speaking

This unit focuses on techniques and strategies (voice modulation, body language, ordering of ideas, visual aids, etc.) to convey meaning and to present information and opinions to groups. This unit includes: formal and informal communication, debate skills, and verbal/nonverbal communication.

Spelling

This unit includes studying language and word structure knowledge to discern the correct spelling of words. It includes skills related to editing passages for correct spelling by making connections between spelling, meaning, and structure.

Study and Research Skills

This unit includes developing organization and research skills needed to find appropriate resources, to judge resources as relevant or not relevant to a given topic, to categorize and synthesize information, to take notes in class, and to study for exams.

Vocabulary

This unit includes studying and applying knowledge of word structure (bases and affixes), concrete analogies, synonyms, antonyms, and syllables. It also includes applying knowledge of connotation, denotation and words with multiple levels of meaning.

Word Analysis

The Word Analysis Unit focuses on examining word structure and sound. It includes topics such as: consonants, vowels, rhyming, and word building.

Writing

This unit focuses on each stage of the writing process: prewriting, writing, revising, and publishing. It includes skills covering a variety of organizational formats and purposes for writing (communicating ideas, opinions, and feelings, clarifying thoughts, and solving problems). Some example writing formats are: expository, narrative, poetry, and drama.