The American Academy

Description:
The needs of ninth grade students transitioning to high school are a fundamental concern to middle-level language arts teachers. The Utah Core focuses on reading and writing experiences that are developmentally appropriate: vocabulary instruction that compares connotation with denotation and identifies word meanings using sentence structure (grammar), reading instruction that focuses on inference and the difference between interesting and important information in informational text, and character development and more complex figurative language in narrative and poetry. Writing focuses on comparing multiple ideas and perspectives to extend thinking through writing, and concentrates on persuasive writing in preparation for the Utah Basic Skills Test. Skills in analytical evaluation and assessment of writing become more nuanced, and editing skills are specific and clearly delineated. Inquiry skills are focused on questioning as a research technique and evaluating sources of information.

Graduation Requirement:
All quarters of this course are required to meet the Language Arts requirement for diploma-seeking students.