Curriculum: Language Arts

Applied Communications II

by Andrea Anderson & Randi Clause

February 24, 2005

A: Grammar

1. Students will understand the difference between standard and nonstandard usage and the importance of editing their writing appropriately in the workplace.

2. Students will use periods, question marks, commas, quotation marks, underlining, apostrophes, and other basic punctuation appropriately in career related writings.

3. Students will understand the elements of a complete sentence and will create a variety of sentence structures with few fragments or run ons.

4. Students will use capitalization appropriately.

B: Writing

1. Students will experience the four stages of the writing process as they complete various types of career related writings.

2. Students will understand the importance of tailoring writing styles to various purposes, audiences, subjects, and structures for success in the workplace.

3. Students will evaluate their own writings, as well as accept constructive criticism from others, and revise accordingly.

4. Students’ final drafts of career related writings will contain few major departures from standard usage and punctuation conventions.

5. Students will clearly express and support original thoughts in their writings and will support such ideas with relevant and appropriate examples, details, etc..

6. Students will form opinions about written works based on analysis.

7. Students will use appropriate research procedures for class projects.

8. Students will use appropriate citations when needed in any type of writing.

9. Students will complete work related forms appropriately.

C: Literature

1. Students will use active reading strategies to interpret works of nonfiction and fiction.

2. Students will review differences in various genres of literature and their related literary elements.

3. Students will relate fiction to real life experiences.

4. Students will evaluate non-fiction material for accuracy, bias, and usefulness.

5. Students will form opinions about writings and will defend their opinions, using details from the works being analyzed.

6. Students will analyze and interpret work related documents such as classified advertisements, office memos, reports, and personnel procedures.

D: Communication

1. Students will adjust the level of formality in communication to fit various workplace situations.

2. Students will use appropriate vocal and non-vocal communication skills when presenting information in class.

3. Students will create formal presentations using the basic speech structure with a clear introduction body and conclusion.

4. Students will understand the importance of proper citations in oral presentations.

5. Students will cite sources during presentations when appropriate.

6. Students will interact appropriately in cooperative learning activities.

7. Students will develop job interview skills through practice.