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Eighth Grade
(Prepared by Paulette Cefalu-Walkwitz)

Reading and Responding

Standard 1

1.        Develop vocabulary using a variety of strategies, including:

·      use of connotative and denotative meanings

·      use of Greek, Latin, and Anglo-Saxon roots and word parts (ELA-1-M1)

2.        Interpret story elements, including:

·      stated and implied themes

·      development of character types (e.g., flat, round, dynamic, static)

·      effectiveness of plot sequence and/or subplots

·      the relationship of conflicts and multiple conflicts (e.g., man vs. man, nature, society, self) to plot

·      difference in third-person limited and omniscient points of view

·      how a theme is developed (ELA-1-M2)

3.        Interpret literary devices, including:

·      allusions

·      understatement (meiosis)

·      how word choice and images appeal to the senses and suggest mood and tone

·      the use of foreshadowing and flashback to direct plot development

·      the effects of hyperbole and symbolism (ELA-1-M2)

4.        Draw conclusions and make inferences in print and nonprint responses about ideas and information in grade-appropriate texts, including:

·      epics

·      consumer materials

·      public documents (ELA-1-M3)

5.        Interpret ideas and information in a variety of texts (e.g., scientific reports, technical guidelines, business memos) and make connections to real-life situations and other texts (ELA-1-M4)

Standard 6

6.        Analyze universal themes found in a variety of world and multicultural texts in oral and written responses (ELA-6-M1)

7.        Compare and contrast elements (e.g., plot, setting, character, theme) in multiple genres (ELA-6-M2)

8.        Use knowledge of the distinctive characteristics to classify and explain the significance of various genres, including:

·      fiction (e.g., mystery, novel)

·      nonfiction (e.g., workplace documents, editorials)

·      poetry (e.g., lyric, narrative)

·      drama (e.g., plays) (ELA-6-M3)

Standard 7

9.        Demonstrate understanding of information in grade-appropriate texts using a variety of strategies, including:

·      sequencing events to examine and evaluate information

·      summarizing and paraphrasing to examine and evaluate information

·      interpreting stated or implied main ideas

·      comparing and contrasting literary elements and ideas within and across texts

·      making inferences and drawing conclusions

·      predicting the outcome of a story or situation

·      identifying literary devices (ELA-7-M1)

10.    Explain the relationship between life experiences and texts to generate solutions to problems (ELA-7-M2)

11.    Use technical information and other available resources (e.g., Web sites, interviews) to solve problems (ELA-7-M2)

12.    Evaluate the effectiveness of an author’s purpose (ELA-7-M3)

13.    Analyze an author’s viewpoint by assessing appropriateness of evidence and persuasive techniques (e.g., appeal to authority, social disapproval) (ELA-7-M3)

14.    Analyze grade-appropriate print and nonprint texts using various reasoning skills, including:

·      identifying cause-effect relationships

·      raising questions

·      reasoning inductively and deductively

·      generating a theory or hypothesis

·      skimming/scanning

·      distinguishing facts from opinions and probability (ELA-7-M4)

Writing

Standard 2

15.    Write complex, multiparagraph compositions on student- or teacher-selected topics organized with the following:

·      a clearly stated focus or central idea

·      important ideas or events stated in a selected order

·      organizational patterns (e.g., comparison/contrast, order of importance, chronological order) appropriate to the topic

·      elaboration (anecdotes, relevant facts, examples, and/or specific details)

·      transitional words and phrases that unify ideas and points

·      an overall structure (e.g., introduction, body/middle, and concluding paragraph that summarizes important ideas and details) (ELA-2-M1)

16.    Organize individual paragraphs with topic sentences, relevant elaboration, and concluding sentences (ELA-2-M1)

17.    Develop grade-appropriate compositions on student- or teacher-selected topics that include the following:

·      word choices (diction) appropriate to the identified audience and/or purpose

·      vocabulary selected to clarify meaning, create images, and set a tone

·      information/ideas selected to engage the interest of the reader

·      clear voice (individual personality)

·      variety in sentence structure (ELA-2-M2)

18.    Develop grade-appropriate compositions by identifying and applying writing processes such as the following:

·      selecting topic and form

·      prewriting (e.g., brainstorming, researching, raising questions, generating graphic organizers)

·      drafting

·      conferencing (e.g., peer and teacher)

·      revising based on feedback and use of various tools (e.g., LEAP21 Writer’s Checklist, rubrics)

·      proofreading/editing

·      publishing using technology (ELA-2-M3)

19.    Develop grade-appropriate paragraphs and multiparagraph compositions using the various modes of writing (e.g., description, narration, exposition, and persuasion), emphasizing narration and exposition (ELA-2-M4)

20.    Use the various modes to write compositions, including:

·      short stories developed with literary devices

·      problem/solution essays

·      essays defending a stated position (ELA-2-M4)

21.    Develop writing using a variety of literary devices, including understatements and allusions (ELA-2-M5)

22.    Write for a wide variety purposes, including:

·      persuasive letters that include appropriate wording and tone and that state an opinion

·      evaluations of advertisements, political cartoons, and speeches

·      text-supported interpretations of elements of grade-appropriate stories, poems, plays, and novels (ELA-2-M6)

Writing/Proofreading

Standard 3

23.    Use standard English capitalization and punctuation consistently (ELA-3-M2)

24.    Write paragraphs and compositions following standard English structure and usage, including:

·      varied sentence structures and patterns, including complex sentences

·      phrases and clauses used correctly as modifiers (ELA-3-M3)

25.    Apply knowledge of parts of speech in writing, including:

·      infinitives, participles, and gerunds

·      superlative and comparative degrees of adjectives

·      adverbs (ELA-3-M4)

26.    Spell high-frequency, commonly confused, frequently misspelled words and derivatives (e.g., roots and affixes) correctly (ELA-3-M5)

27.    Use a variety of resources (e.g., glossaries, dictionaries, thesauruses, spell check) to find correct spellings (ELA-3-M5)

Speaking and Listening

Standard 4

28.    Adjust diction and enunciation to suit the purpose for speaking (ELA-4-M1)

29.    Use standard English grammar, diction, syntax, and pronunciation when speaking (ELA-4-M1)

30.    Follow procedures (e.g., read, question, write a response, form groups) from detailed oral instructions (ELA-4-M2)

31.    State oral directions/procedures for tasks (ELA-4-M2)

32.    Adjust volume and inflection to suit the audience and purpose of presentations (ELA-4-M3)

33.    Organize oral presentations with a thesis, an introduction, a body/middle developed with relevant details, and a conclusion (ELA-4-M3)

34.    Determine the credibility of the speaker (e.g., hidden agenda, slanted or biased materials) (ELA-4-M4)

35.    Deliver grade-appropriate persuasive presentations (ELA-4-M4)

36.    Summarize a speaker’s purpose and point of view (ELA-4-M4)

37.    Compare, contrast, and evaluate information found in a wide variety of text/electronic media, (e.g., microprint, public speeches, art form) (ELA-4-M5)

38.    Participate in group and panel discussions, including:

·      explaining the effectiveness and dynamics of group process

·      applying agreed-upon rules for formal and informal discussions

·      assuming a variety of roles (e.g., facilitator, recorder, leader, listener) (ELA-4-M6)

Information Resources

Standard 5

39.    Locate and select information using organizational features of grade-appropriate resources, including:

·      complex reference sources (e.g., almanacs, atlases, newspapers, magazines, brochures, map legends, prefaces, appendices)

·      electronic storage devices (e.g., CD-ROMs, diskettes, software, drives)

·      frequently accessed and bookmarked Web addresses

·      organizational features of electronic information (e.g., Web resources including online sources and remote sites) (ELA-5-M1)

40.    Locate and integrate information from a variety of grade-appropriate resources, including:

·      multiple printed texts (e.g., encyclopedias, atlases, library catalogs, specialized dictionaries, almanacs, technical encyclopedias)

·      electronic sources (e.g., Web sites, databases)

·      other media sources (e.g., audio and video tapes, films, documentaries, television, radio) (ELA-5-M2)

41.    Explain the usefulness and accuracy of sources by determining their validity (e.g., authority, accuracy, objectivity, publication date, coverage) (ELA-5-M2)

42.    Gather and select information using data-gathering strategies/tools, including:

·      surveying

·      interviewing

·      paraphrasing (ELA-5-M3)

43.    Generate grade-appropriate research reports that include information presented in a variety of forms, including:

·      visual representations of data/information

·      graphic organizers (e.g., outlines, timelines, charts, webs)

·      works cited lists and/or bibliographies (ELA-5-M3)

44.    Use word processing and/or other technology to draft, revise, and publish a variety of works, including documented research reports with bibliographies (ELA-5-M4)

45.    Give credit for borrowed information following acceptable use policy, including:

·      integrating quotations and citations

·      using endnotes

·      creating bibliographies and/or works cited lists (ELA-5-M5)

46.    Interpret information from a variety of graphic organizers including timelines, charts, schedules, tables, diagrams, and maps in grade-appropriate sources (ELA-5-M6)