I. Course Title: Interdisciplinary Core 8

II. Course Description:
This course will focus on four quarter-long units that focus on the learning strategies that are needed in order to analyze and evaluate information across all disciplines. These units are the same throughout grades 6, 7 and 8, but spiral in difficulty. The units are:

Biography/autobiography
Students will learn the characteristics of the biography and autobiography genre, and the literary elements associated with these.

Ethics
Students will understand the concept of ethical decision-making and relate these concepts to personal decision-making, fairness and justice, and consequences.

Media
Students will be exposed to a variety of media, including newspapers and periodicals. They will read, identify and analyze the various sections, and write articles and criticism of their own. They will also learn to understand advertising techniques.

Research
Students will learn how to select research topics from arts/humanities, social studies, science, math and/or current events/issues. They will learn to narrow down topics so that they may be handled in depth, using appropriate sources. Students will also learn to use proper research formats and citations.

The class will meet every day.

III. Course Goals:
As a result of this course students will learn to analyze and evaluate nonfiction text and respond to the text in writing. Students will also engage in discussions that will stimulate their analytical and critical analysis skills.

Major Texts:
The New York Times
When I Was A Young Man
The Greatest
Profiles in Courage
On the Field with Mia Hamm

V. Supplemental Resources:
Supplemental resources will include newspaper and magazine articles, articles on research, Lakeland Schools Research Guide, independently read biographies and autobiographies and a variety of teacher selected material.

VI. Content Outline:
Students will study each unit for one quarter. Included will be activities to understand the major themes of the unit and a project that will demonstrate that students can apply those themes. Projects will include research papers, essays, student written newspaper and magazine articles, etc.

VII. Class Preparation:
Students are expected to come to class with required materials that
include:
Writing utensil
Planner (Agenda Book)
Notebook (3 ring binder)
Daily homework
Current reading selection

VIII. Homework Policy:
Students are expected to complete all short-term and long-term homework assignments and projects on time. Points may be deducted for late papers.

IX. Extra Help Policy:
Teachers are available by appointment daily on teacher preparation time and before or after school.

X. Grading Policy:
Quarterly averages are calculated using the following criteria:
Homework
Vocabulary/spelling/grammar
Literature-based writing
Projects
Quizzes
Tests