-Speaking-

The learner will be able to:

• express ideas and opinions to a peer group.
• communicate effectively using appropriate voice modulation, topics, and gestures.
• partake in formal and informal speaking situations.
• evaluate one's own strengths and weaknesses as a communicator.
• understand the requirements for the appropriate and effective use of spoken language.
• use the body to enhance communication.
• analyze an audience and adapt a speech accordingly.
• use role playing to understand communication problems.
• recognize types of interference that interrupt daily communication.
• understand the impact of nonverbal communication upon the spoken message (facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, posture, and movement).
• differentiate between standard and nonstandard English.
• recognize the effect of vocal characteristics, such as pitch, rate, and inflection, on spoken messages.
• recognize typical nervous reactions during a speech and practice ways of dealing with these actions.
• deal successfully with factors affecting delivery such as timing, feedback, and distractions.
• understand the importance of using audio visual aids in presenting effective public speaking.
• prepare clear speaking notes and use them effectively.
• identify a specific purpose for each speech they create.
• write a thesis statement for each speech he creates.
• write speech appropriate introductions.
• compose appropriate conclusions for speeches.
• avoid memorizing speeches by practicing various words while rehearsing.
• gather material from their personal experiences.
• present a speech based on personal experiences.
• present an extemporaneous speech.
• present a speech which explains how to do something and/or demonstrates a process.
• clearly and effectively prepare an informative speech.
• participate effectively in a group discussion.
• identify the methods for reaching a decision in a group discussion.
• deliver a persuasive speech.
• order ideas logically in a speech.

The learner will be able to:

• infer word meaning from context.
• identify persuasive language.
• draw a conclusion from implicit information found in a reading passage.
• classify, organize, and recall details read in a non-fiction passage.
• analyze informational sources.
• identify the main idea, events, and supporting details of passage.
• identify both the problem and solution within a reading section.
• identify the main idea in a long passage.

The learner will be able to:

• select appropriate reference source.
• identify pertinent information for notes and note cards.
• identify irrelevant information.
• develop and understand a Works Cited page.
• synthesize information from reference materials.
• collect and organize data, and create graphical forms to communicate the data to others.
• interpret information from various forms of data.

The learner will be able to:

• define unfamiliar words using context clues such as affixes, figures of speech, root words, possessives, plurals, verb tense, sentence construction, and the details of a given sentence or passage.
• use the context of a sentence to determine the meaning of a specified word.
• determine the meaning of unfamiliar words by analyzing word structure (bases, affixes).
• determine the meaning of unfamiliar technical terms by analyzing the context (a paragraph or more) in which the words are used.

The learner will be able to:

• read and understand text the provides public information.
• construct meaning from non-fiction essays.

The learner will be able to:

• write to persuade a given audience on a given topic utilizing word choices, language expressions, examples, and other persuasion techniques.
• organize ideas and details in a composition.
• write a composition which includes a main idea and supporting details.
• utilize pre-writing strategies (drawing, webbing, brainstorming, discussing) to begin the writing process.
• understand the drafting stage of the writing process and how to write drafts using ideas generated in the prewriting stage.
• understand the revising stage of the writing process, and how to approach drafts with specific goals for revisions.
• understand the rewriting stage of the writing process as an opportunity to apply peer and teacher input, to add to the content, to improve the style, and even to begin a new draft.
• understand the editing stage of the writing process, and how to apply editing skills to his/her own written works and to the written works of peers.
• prepare and present written works to be shared with others.

The learner will be able to:

• critique a speaker for speech content.
• formulate questions which require a speaker to clarify meaning, analyze, and synthesize information.
• distinguish between relevant and irrelevant details in an orally read passage.
• effectively use the techniques of active listening.
• provide effective feedback to speakers in conversations and informal group discussions.

The learner will be able to:

• identify and correct incorrect uses of standard written English.

The learner will be able to:

• recognize and follow the implicit and explicit rules which govern language conventions and usage.

The learner will be able to:

• utilize technology as a way to communicate.
• use appropriate technologies for efficient and effective communication.
• use computers to organize information.
• annotate information from a database.
• narrow one's focus when searching a database.
• use databases to conduct research.
• use technology to store information.
• use a word processing program on the desktop publishing system for writing, editing, and typesetting.
• use audio and video technologies to enhance learning experiences.
• examine the effectiveness of a variety of technologies for specific purposes.
• use the Internet to collect information.
• discuss the reliability of Internet sources.
• investigate technology to access ideas and information for tasks.
• use local and worldwide communication networks.
• gain an understanding of the computer processing process-process, store, retrieve, and transmit information.
• use Internet search engines to collect information.
• use video cameras.
• create PowerPoint presentations.