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Independent Study through Correspondence:

High School, Middle School :: Middle School Courses

Course Numbering
The numbers 6, 7, or 8 that precede the title of the course refer to the year level of the course. The letter “A” or “B” following the course number indicates the first or second semester of the course. For example, a course labeled 7B is equivalent to a second semester seventh-grade class. Each middle school course covers one semester and is equal to one-half unit or completion of middle school credit.

Textbook Information
Both new and used prices are listed for textbooks. Prices for new textbooks are listed first; used book prices follow. To verify a textbook’s availability as a used copy, call the UA BookStores Correspondence section at 520-621-2811 or 800-937-8632 before mailing your order.

Email Option: Courses with this symbol feature an e-mail option for completing assignments and/or instructor contact.

FAX Option: This symbol designates that assignments may be submitted to the instructor via facsimile machine.

Web Option: Courses with this symbol may be taken online via the Internet. An additional fee may apply.

English

6A. Reading/Language Arts – First Semester

Students are introduced to a variety of children’s literature, contained within thematic units, in the form of short stories, excerpts, and full-length novels. The course is a literature-based approach that integrates language mechanics, usage lessons, and vocabulary within the thematic story units. Students will use many skills, such as summarizing, classifying, outlining, webbing, the writing process, and grammar.

6 assignments, final exam
Instructor: Dianne Purcell, B.S.
Textbook: Houghton-Mifflin, Quest Text Reading Anthology, 2001, $73/$54.75
Houghton-Mifflin, Workbook, $12.75/$9.75
Houghton-Mifflin, Integrated Theme Test Booklet, Level 6, $5.75/$4.50

6B. Reading/Language Arts – Second Semester

Continuation of 6A. Students are introduced to a variety of children’s literature, contained within thematic units, in the form of short stories, excerpts, and full-length novels. The course is a literature-based approach that integrates language mechanics, usage lessons, and vocabulary within the thematic story units. Students will use many skills, such as: summarizing, classifying, outlining, webbing, the writing process, and grammar.

7 assignments, final exam
Instructor: Dianne Purcell, B.S.
Textbooks: Sebranek, Write Source 2000 Guide to Writing/Thinking/Learning, $22.50/$16.75
Sebranek, Write Source 2000 Skills Books, Level 6, $10.75/$8.25

7A. English – First Semester

The writing process – prewriting, writing, revision, proofreading, and publication – is presented and reinforced. Grammar and composition skills are reinforced as needed. Elements of the novel are presented. The student is expected to comprehend on several levels; composition assignments are included to promote language and vocabulary development.

9 assignments, midterm, final exam
Instructor: Terry Ross, M.A., M.E.
Textbooks: Lowry, Giver and Related Readings, 1997, $18.25/$13.75
Sebraneks, Write Source 2000, 3rd ed., 1995, $22.50/$17
Sebranek, Write Source 2000 Workbook, Level 7, 1995, $17.25/$13

7B. English – Second Semester

Continuation of English 7A. This course is geared for the second semester, seventh grade middle school student. The writing process – prewriting, writing, revision, proofreading, and publication – is presented and reinforced. Grammar and composition skills are reinforced as needed. A variety of literary genres are studied. Composition assignments provide practice in language and vocabulary development.

9 assignments, midterm, final exam
Instructor: Terry Ross, M.A., M.E.
Textbooks: Taylor, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and Related Readings, 1997, $18.25/$13.75
Sebranek, Write Source 2000, 3rd ed., 1995, $22.50/$17
Sebranek, Write Source 2000 Workbook, Level 7, 1995, $17.25/$13

8A. English – First Semester

The writing process – prewriting, writing, revision, proofreading, and publication – is presented and reinforced. Grammar and composition skills are reinforced as the student progresses through the course. Short works of fiction are studied to provide experiences with levels of comprehension and elements of genres. Composition assignments are included to promote language and vocabulary development.

9 assignments, midterm, final exam
Instructor: Terry Ross, M.A., M.E.
Textbooks: Hamilton, House of Dies Drear and Related Readings, 1997, $24.25/$18.25
Sebranek, Write Source 2000, 3rd ed., 1995, $22.50/$17
Sebranek, Sourcebook 8000, 1996, $17.25/$13

8B. English – Second Semester

Continuation of English 8A. The writing process – prewriting, writing, revision, proofreading, and publication – is presented and reinforced. Grammar and composition skills are reinforced as the student progresses through the course. Short works of fiction are studied to provide experiences with levels of comprehension and elements of genres. Composition assignments are included to promote language and vocabulary development.

9 assignments, midterm, final exam
Instructor: Terry Ross, M.A., M.E.
Textbooks: Avil, Nothing But the Truth and Related Readings, 1997, $14.75/$11.25
Sebranek, Write Source 2000, 3rd ed., 1995, $22.50/$17
Sebranek, Sourcebook 8000, 1996, $17.25/$13

French

All four semesters (1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B) equal first-year high school French.

Middle School 1A. French, First Year – First Semester

This course is the first of a four-syllabi French course geared to the middle school student. Includes listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural readings. Emphasis on communicative proficiency. Covers basic introductions, greetings, alphabet, numbers, time, days, months, likes and dislikes, pronouns, the negative, family, possessive adjectives, clothes, and the verbs “to be,” “to have,” and “to go.” Approximately equivalent to first semester, seventh-grade French. Audiotape required for each year; available through the UA Correspondence Office for $10.

13 assignments, final exam
Instructor: Erika Hard, B.A.
Textbooks: Valdman, Dis-Moi, 1993, $60.75/$45.50
Valdman, Dis-Moi Practice Sheet Workbook, 1993, $12/$9

Middle School 1B. French, First Year – Second Semester

This course is the second of a four-syllabi course geared to the middle school student. Includes cultural readings, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Covers leisure activities, direction, “-er verbs,” prepositions, seasons, weather, the near future form of verbs, distinctive pronouns, television, sports, adjectives, demonstrative adjectives, interrogative adjectives, geographical locations, question words, and more irregular verbs. Approximately equivalent to second semester, seventh-grade French. Audiotape required for each year; available through the UA Correspondence Office for $10.

13 assignments, final exam
Instructor: Erika Hard, B.A.
Textbooks: Valdman, Dis-Moi, 1993, $60.75/$45.50
Valdman, Dis-Moi Practice Sheet Workbook, 1993, $12/$9

Middle School 2A. French, Second Year – First Semester

This course is the third of a four-syllabi course geared to the middle school student. Includes cultural readings, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Covers restaurants, past tense with regular and irregular verbs, partitive articles, shopping, expressing quantity, parties, gifts, “-re verbs,” direct object pronouns, school (subjects and time schedule), indirect object pronouns, and more irregular verbs. Approximately equivalent to first semester, eighth-grade French. Audiotape required for each year; available through the UA Correspondence Office for $10.

14 assignments, final exam
Instructor: Erika Hard, B.A.
Textbooks: Valdman, Dis-Moi, 1993, $60.75/$45.50
Valdman, Dis-Moi Practice Sheet Workbook, 1993, $12/$9

Middle School 2B. French, Second Year – Second Semester

This course is the fourth of a four-syllabi course geared to the middle school student. Includes cultural readings, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Covers health, description, body, negative expressions, indirect and direct object pronouns, homes and apartments, pets, ordinal numbers, meals, direct object pronouns in past tense, traveling, interrogative pronouns with inversion, the farm, and more irregular verbs. Approximately equivalent to second semester, eighth-grade French. Audiotape required for each year; available through the UA Correspondence Office for $10.

14 assignments, final exam
Instructor: Erika Hard, B.A.
Textbooks: Valdman, Dis-Moi, 1993, $60.75/$45.50
Valdman, Dis-Moi Practice Sheet Workbook, 1993, $12/$9

Health

7A. Health – First Semester

This course will promote the learning process while enhancing problem-solving skills, reasoning, decision making, critical thinking, and communicating as the student investigates health and general related issues. Topics covered are: Planning for a Healthy Lifetime, Caring for Yourself, Social and Emotional Health, Nutrition and Fitness, Your Body Growing and Changing.

7 assignments, final exam
Instructor: April McGuire, M.A.
Textbooks: Bronson, Teen Health Workbook, $9/$6.75
Bronson, Teen Health, $62.75/$47.25

7B. Health – Second Semester

Continuation of Health 7A.

7 assignments, final exam
Instructor: April McGuire, M.A.
Textbooks: Bronson, Teen Health Workbook, $9/$6.75
Bronson, Teen Health, $42.75/$32.25

Journalism

Journalism 6-8

What better place is there to begin writing in a clear, concise style than right now in middle school? This class gives you the chance to get the jump on journalistic writing. You will master the jargon and various techniques of journalism. The field of journalism has an ever-expanding horizon. Topics are: Historical Overview, Writing a News Story, Creating Attractive Layouts, Those Opinionated Columns, Fundamentals of Sports Writing, Elements of Style, Writing Eye-Catching Headlines, Designing Effective Layouts, Descriptive Features, and Effective Advertising. Students must have access to a library and Internet searches for successful completion of this course.

10 assignments, final exam
Instructor: Sam Cooper, Ph.D.
Textbooks: Hall, Junior High Journalism, 2003, $45.95/$34.50
Rosen, Junior High Journalism Workbook, 2003, $9.95/$7.50

Law

Crime and Law 6-8

What are your legal rights and how does the law apply to you as an adolescent? This course will give middle school students an opportunity to educate themselves on their rights and responsibilities as a member of society. They will learn about the court system, how the laws work, and their rights under the Constitution. Topics include What is Crime?, The Police and You, Being Behind Bars, Search and Seizure, and What Happens If You Are Arrested?

15 assignments, final exam
Instructor: David Avalos, M.Ed.
Textbooks: Tempel, Crime and The Law, $33.50/$25.25
Peoples, Crime and The Law Workbook, $18.75/$14.25

Mathematics

6A. Mathematics – First Semester

This course covers the following concepts: reading and interpreting graphs; making sense of large numbers; introduction to algebra; number and operation sense; adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing with decimals; areas of polygons and circles; connecting fractions and decimals; and adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers.

6 assignments, midterm, final exam
Instructor: Marlene Mansker, M.Ed.
Textbooks: Foresman, Addison Wesley Mathematics, Grade 6, 2002, $73.75/$55.50
Foresman, Practice Workbook, 1999, $8.75/6.75
Practice Skills booklet (Solutions Guide), $15; available at the Correspondence Office; add $5 for mailing

6B. Mathematics – Second Semester

The second half of the course covers the following concepts: multiplication and division of fractions; geometry; addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of integers; ratios and proportions; surface area formulas; calculating volume; and calculating probability.

7A. Mathematics – First Semester

This course covers a branch of mathematics called arithmetic. In the first half of the course you will learn to use the standard order of operation; read, interpret, and use information tables containing various types of data; and write mathematical expressions from word statements. You will also learn to solve one-step and two-step equations; write equations from word statements and then solve the equations; do operations with decimal numbers; and learn basic number theory, including factors, multiples, divisibility rules, and prime and composite numbers.

13 assignments, midterm exam, final exam
Instructor: J. Berry Roberts, B.A.
Textbook: Charles, Prentice Hall Mathematics Course 2, 2004, $53.47/$40.25
$5 additional fee for Resource Guide that is included in syllabus

7B. Mathematics – Second Semester

In the second half of the course, you will learn to work with ratios and proportions; use proportions to solve problems about similar geometric figures; solve proportions to decipher percent problems; and use the standard order of operation. You will also learn to change percents into fractions and decimals, and fractions and decimals into percents; and use proportions to solve percent problems by writing equations from word statements and then solving the equation. Successful completion of both halves of this course should give you a very good understanding of arithmetic, and should prepare you to be successful in your eighth-grade mathematics class.

8A. Mathematics – First Semester

In the first half of the course, you will learn to master operations with fractions, decimals, integers, and rational numbers. You also will learn to solve expressions and equations involving rational numbers, and to graph equations and inequalities in a rectangular coordinate system. You also will learn how to solve proportions, do percent manipulations and calculations, and solve problems involving percentages. Successful completion of both halves of this course should prepare you for first-year high school algebra. Student will need a calculator.

13 assignments, midterm, final exam
Instructor: J. Berry Roberts, B.A.
Textbook: Branch-Boyd, et al, Prentice Hall Mathematics Course 3, 2004, $71.50/$53.50
$5 additional fee for Resource Guide that is included in syllabus

8B. Mathematics – Second Semester

In the second half of this course, you are expected to become familiar with the basics of the metric system. You will become familiar with the basics of geometry, including points, lines, and planes. You will learn about angles and the relationships between angles. You also will learn about polygons and circles, and how to do some simple geometric constructions through the use of a compass and straight edge. You will learn and use basic mensuration formulas, including those involving perimeter, circumference, plane area, surface area, and volume. Successful completion of both halves of this course should prepare you for first-year high school algebra. Student will need calculator, compass, protractor, and straight edge.

Earth, Life, and Physical Sciences

6A. Science – First Semester

Using the process of scientific inquiry, students explore the life, earth, and physical sciences. The nature of science, history, and the work of scientists is also examined.

7 assignments, final exam
Instructor: Dianne Purcell, B.S.
Textbooks: Harcourt, Science, 6th Grade Textbook, $64.90/$48.75
Harcourt, Science, 6th Grade Workbook, $11/$8.25
Harcourt, Science, 6th Grade Resource Book, $55/$41.25

6B. Science – Second Semester

Continuation of Science 6A.

7A. Science – First Semester

This is the first semester of seventh-grade Science. During this semester you will be learning about interactions that occur among plants and animals, the diversity of living things, the characteristics and properties of solutions, and the concepts of force and motion.

11 assignments, midterm, final exam
Instructor: Marlene Mansker, M.Ed.
Textbook: Glencoe Science: Level Green, 2003, $82.75/$62.25

7B. Science – Second Semester

This is the second semester of seventh-grade Science. During this semester you will be learning about the technological impact of structures and design, the process of geological change, the structure of the universe, and the structure of plants.

12 assignments, midterm, final exam
Instructor: Marlene Mansker, M.Ed.
Textbook: Glencoe Science: Level Green, 2003, $82.75/$62.25

8A. Science – First Semester

This is the first semester of eighth-grade Science. During this semester you will be learning about processes that are important to living organisms, the structure of matter, the roles of work and energy in the operations of machines, and the effects of heat and water on oceans and climates.

12 assignments, midterm, final exam
Instructor: Marlene Mansker, M.Ed.
Textbook: Glencoe Science: Level Blue, 2003, $82.75/$62.25

8B. Science – Second Semester

This is the second semester of eighth-grade Science. During this semester you will be learning about the characteristics of electricity, the features and variations of sound, the behavior of light, and the role of heredity in life.

11 assignments, midterm, final exam
Instructor: Marlene Mansker, M.Ed.
Textbook: Glencoe Science: Level Blue, 2003, $82.75/$62.25

Social Studies

6A. Social Studies – First Semester

Students will discover how to prepare for the 21st century by becoming active, reflective learners. This course covers three integrated parts: (1) knowledge and understanding, which includes history, geography, economics, culture, ethics and belief systems, and social and political systems; (2) civic understanding and values, which includes national identity, constitutional heritage, and citizenship; and (3) skills, which includes study skills, visual learning, map and globe skills, and critical thinking. This course includes the following units: The World Past and Present, The Earliest People, and Early Middle Eastern and North African Civilizations.

7 assignments, final exam
Instructor: Gloria Langston, Ph.D.
Textbook: Prentice Hall, The World Explorer: People Places and Cultures, 2005, $74.75/$56.25

6B. Social Studies – Second Semester

Continuation of 6A. This course includes the following units: Earliest Asian Civilizations; The Foundation of Western Ideas; and Rome: A World Power.

7 assignments, final exam
Instructor: Gloria Langston, Ph.D.
Textbook: Prentice Hall, The World Explorer: People Places and Cultures, 2005, $74.75/$56.25

7A. Social Studies – First Semester

Students will learn about the foundations of American democracy, and will be inspired to become active citizens. The application provides ways to put lessons of the past into positive action today. The lessons and activities relate history to literature, art, science, math, and current events. The course provides the basics to teaching all of the social studies skills, including graphs, charts, map reading, interpreting cartoons, illustrations and other skills. An Arizona history section is included for Arizona residents.

9 assignments, final exam
Arizona residents: 15 assignments, final exam
Instructor: Gloria Langston, Ph.D.
Textbooks: McDougal Littell, Creating America, 2005, $90.25/$67.75
Gibbs Smith, Arizona, A Journey of Discovery, 2000, $48/$36 (For Arizona students only.)

7B. Social Studies – Second Semester

Continuation of 7A.

9 assignments, final exam
Arizona residents: 14 assignments, final exam
Instructor: Gloria Langston, Ph.D.
Textbooks: McDougal Littell, Creating America, 2005, $90.25/$67.75
Gibbs Smith, Arizona, A Journey of Discovery, 2000, $48/$36 (For Arizona students only.)

8A. Social Studies – First Semester

Students identify major turning points in American history from prehistory to the early 1900s. They construct charts highlighting strategic events in American history, and compare them to corresponding timeline developments elsewhere in the world. Pre-selected individuals’ contributions and reactions to events are examined by reading journals, diaries, and firsthand accounts of the events. In addition, students investigate and evaluate primary documents and source materials of each period, using literature and case studies to understand specific events. An Arizona history section is included for Arizona residents.

Instructor: Gloria Langston, Ph.D.

Non-Arizona residents: 8 assignments, final exam
Textbooks: Davidson, American Nations, 2005, $86/$64.50

Arizona residents: 12 assignments, final exam
Textbooks: Davidson, American Nations, 2005, $86/$64.50
Wagoner, Arizona, A Journey of Discovery, 2000, $48/$36

8B. Social Studies – Second Semester

This course is a continuation of American History and Geography 8A. Students use background material presented in that course, and additional information, to respond to Constitutional, civic, and ethical ramifications of the events that shaped American history from 1929 to the present. Landmark decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court are discussed and explained in their relationship to life in the U.S. Special emphasis is placed on defining the structure and function of national and state governments and their effect on our lives. An Arizona history section is included for Arizona residents.

Instructor: Gloria Langston, Ph.D.

Non-Arizona residents: 8 assignments, final exam
Textbooks: Davidson, American Nations, 2005, $86/$64.50

Arizona residents: 12 assignments, final exam
Textbooks: Davidson, American Nations, 2005, $86/$64.50
Wagoner, Arizona, A Journey of Discovery, 2000, $48/$36

Psychology of Self

You’ve probably heard the term “self-concept,” and know that everyone has one. Do you know what it is? How did you get it? We all talk to ourselves, but sometimes we don’t hear it. What we say to ourselves has a big effect on how we act and feel. This course will present tools to learn how to explore negative self-talk and how to stick up for yourself in healthful, meaningful ways.

10 assignments, final exam
Instructor: Dianne Purcell, B.S.
Textbooks: Berg, Cognitive Self-Concept Workbook, 1990, $21.50/$16.25
Gershen-Kaufman, Stick up for Yourself, 1999, $11.95/$9