• Eighth-Grade Literacy

    Eighth-grade students read from a variety of genres. During reading, students maintain active reading notes, engage in both informal and formal discussions, respond to various writing prompts and study vocabulary. In addition to studying core texts, eighth-graders study several short stories, poems and essays. Students also set independent reading goals and are expected to read a wide variety of self-selected books. Eighth graders explore through their reading and writing essential questions like "What affects a person's decision to help another or to choose not to help another in need?" and "In the face of social injustice, what is our human responsibility?" Students maintain a writer's notebook (either electronic or hard copy), which houses observations, reactions to events and first drafts of stories and poems. As students build a portfolio of writing designed to help strengthen their skills, they work closely with teachers in individual conferences.

    Eighth-Grade Literacy Learning Objectives

     

    Recognize the empowering nature of reading and writing

    Approach texts as a reader by comprehending and interpreting grade appropriate texts

    Evidence/Inference

    ● draw conclusions, infer, and analyze by citing the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text


    Word Meaning

    ● determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings using context, affixes, or reference materials


    Theme/Claim

    ●  determine the theme(s)/central idea of a text and analyze the development over the course of the text

    Approach texts as a writer by analyzing craft and structure in grade appropriate texts

    Point of View

    ● analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader create dramatic irony in a literary text

    • analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or points of view in an informational text


    Word Meaning

    ● analyze how specific word choices and sentence structures contribute to meaning and tone


    Craft and Meaning

    ● analyze how literary devices are used to develop setting, reveal character, advance the plot and contribute to meaning


    Argument and Evidence

    ● evaluate an author’s argument, assessing whether reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced

    Approach texts as a researcher by synthesizing/comparing/ contrasting ideas from multiple grade-appropriate texts

    Relationships in Texts

    ● analyze two or more texts that provide conflicting information on the same topic, and identify where the texts disagree on matter of fact or interpretation

    Approach the writing task as a researcher

    Research

    ● conduct research to answer a question

    ● integrate information

    ● gather relevant, credible sources, information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively

    ● assess the credibility and accuracy of each source

    • quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism

    Approach the writing task as a writer

    Development

    • Follow a writing process to produce writings in narrative, expository and argumentative genres:

    • Narrative writing, including poems about real or imagined experiences which establish and maintain a consistent point of view and include clearly identified characters, well-structured event sequences, narrative techniques, and relevant descriptive details

    • Expository (informative/explanatory) writing to examine a topic with relevant facts, examples, and details; establish relationships between ideas and supporting evidence

    • Argumentative writing introducing and supporting a claim with clear reasons and relevant evidence; acknowledging counterclaims; and establishing relationships among claims, counterclaims, and supporting evidence

    Approach the writing task as a reader

    Revise and edit writing with consideration for task, purpose, and audience.

    ● introduce the topic, maintain a clear focus throughout the text, and provide a conclusion that follows the text. Add or delete content and change organization to achieve the writer’s purpose

    ● choose precise language and make syntactical choices appropriate for the style, task, and audience

    ● demonstrate a command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage, including spelling and punctuation

    ● use a variety of appropriate transitions to clarify relationships, connect ideas and claims, and signal time shifts

    Collaborate 

    Questioning

    ● delineate a speaker’s argument and claims, evaluating reasoning and sufficiency of evidence in order to pose questions that connect the ideas of several speakers and respond to others’ questions and comments with relevant evidence, observations, and ideas


    Viewpoints of Others

    ● acknowledge new information expressed by others including those presented in diverse media and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views in light of the evidence presented