PREREQUISITE: 8TH GRADE ENGLISH Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, and communication skills through written papers, interpretative literary projects, speech presentations, and tests. Students will be encouraged to expand vocabulary and spelling. Major emphasis will be given to development of writing skills and the study of world literature. Assessments will be made by portfolios reflecting writing skills in the areas of description, exposition, narration, and literary analysis; tests; oral presentations; and observation. In order to pass this course, students must demonstrate proficient reading and writing skills on the English Department's Reading/Writing Benchmark Exam. Students may pursue an Honors option with instructor approval.