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Course Description:
This independent/flexible Language Arts course does not have any live meetings. This course is aligned to the national standards of citing text evidence, main idea, summarizing, argument writing, and collaboration and discussion. 

This course is centered around the topic of video games. The informational readings and assignments in this course will be related to video games. The readings will be used to support the national standards. Feedback will be given on each assessment that is turned in privately to the teacher.  

**The Middle School Language Arts Mini-Courses are designed around a theme and can be taken in any order. Each course contains informational readings and touches on national standards. To get a more rigorous and full semester long experience, please see my Middle School Language Arts Part 1 and Part 2 courses. The readings and topics are different in the full semester classes and cover more national standards.**

National Standards:
-RI.5.1, RI.6.1, RI.7.1, RI.8.1, RI.9.1 - Citing Text Evidence
-RI.5.2, RI.6.2, RI.7.2, RI.8.2, RI.9.2 - Main Idea
-RI.5.2, RI.6.2, RI.7.2, RI.8.2, RI.9.2 - Summarizing
-W.5.1, W.6.1, W.7.1, W.8.1, W.9.1 - Argument Writing
-SL.5.1, SL.6.1, SL.7.1, SL.8.1, SL.9.1 - Collaboration and Discussion

Course Format:
At the beginning of the week, a “List of Learning” Google Document will be posted on the Outschool classroom page. Each “List of Learning” will have steps students need to complete for the week. These steps will include a lesson video to watch that relates to the standard for the week, the reading assignments for the week, discussion questions to respond to and give feedback to other classmates, assessments to complete, a writing assignment, and possible other assignments or extension opportunities. Any work that will be turned in will be in the form of a Google Document. Students will need to share the document with the teacher and other students will not have access to the document. 

It is encouraged to have the readings and assignments done by each due date so students can participate in discussions together. To give each student a more meaningful learning experience, all students need to participate in the discussion questions by responding to the questions and giving feedback to other students.

Interaction between students and teachers will be through discussion questions, assessments, and assignments.

Preview Week 1: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p6cgpESfgUylmSMbQbH2ofQkBGyxXME3/view?usp=sharing 

Course Schedule (Subject to Change):
Week 1 
-Lesson: Citing Text Evidence
-Reading: Goodbye lonely video gaming, multiplayer games are the new thing
-Reading: "Fortnite" attracts players of all ages, but are some too young?
-Reading: The NBA enters the eSports arena with a new virtual league
-Reading: "Fortnite" climbs up most-wanted video game list for children, teens
-Reading: Video games called a "great equalizer" for people with special needs
-Reading: West Virginia: Waiting game, video games as teachers strike

Week 2
-Lesson: Main Idea
-Reading: Student Opinion: Video gaming can be harmless and even helpful
-Reading: Custom features are what earn the big bucks in "Fortnite" video game
-Reading: Esports camp provides summer fun for budding pro gamers
-Reading: "Fortnite" dance moves boogie off the screen and into real life
-Reading: "Fortnite's" first World Cup winner is $3 million richer

Week 3
-Lesson: Summarizing
-Reading: Educational gaming is catching on, especially in science class
-Reading: Not just for fun: Action video game may help people with ADHD
-Reading: Professional esports gamers scouted and recruited like athletes
-Reading: How the video game "Fortnite" became baseball's most addictive pastime
-Reading: Veterans Affairs sees health benefits for soldiers who play video games
-Reading: Video games: Can they make people more empathetic in real life?
-Reading: Video gaming keeps booming; E3 peers into future of this hot market

Week 4
-Argument Writing