Eighth Grade - Language Arts

Eighth Grade - Language Arts Indicators

Contextual Understanding	Define unknown words through context clues and the author's use of comparison, contrast, and cause and effect.
Conceptual Understanding	Apply knowledge of connotation and denotation to determine the meaning of words. Identify the relationships of pairs of words in analogical statements (e.g., synonyms and antonyms) and infer word meanings from these relationships. Infer the literal and figurative meaning of words and phrases and discuss the function of figurative language including metaphors, similes and idioms. Examine and discuss the ways that different events (e.g., cultural, political, social, technological, and scientific events) impact and change the English language.
Structural Understanding	Use knowledge of Greek, Latin and Anglo-Saxon roots, prefixes and suffixes to understand complex words and new subject-area vocabulary (e.g., unknown words in science, mathematics and social studies).
Tools and Resources	Determine the meanings and pronunciations of unknown words by using dictionaries, thesauruses, glossaries. technology and textual features, such as definitional footnotes or sidebars.

Reading Process

Comprehension Strategies	Apply reading comprehension strategies, including making predictions, comparing and contrasting, recalling and summarizing and making inferences and drawing conclusions. Answer literal, inferential, evaluative and synthesizing questions to demonstrate comprehension of grade-appropriate print texts and electronic and visual media.
Self-Monitoring Strategies	Monitor own comprehension by adjusting speed to fit the purpose, or by skimming, scanning, reading on, looking back, note taking or summarizing what has been read so far in text.
Independent Reading	Use criteria to choose independent reading materials (e.g., personal interest, knowledge of authors and genres or recommendations from others). Independently read books for various purposes (e.g., for enjoyment, for literary experience, to gain information or to perform a task).

Reading Applications:
Informational, Technical and Persuasive Text Indicators

Compare and contrast text features, including format and headers of various informational texts in terms of their structure and purpose.
Identify and use the organization structure of a text, such as chronological, compare-contrast, cause-effect, problem-solution, and evaluate its effectiveness.
Compare and contrast the treatment, scope and organization of ideas from different sources on the same topic.
Analyze information found in maps, charts, tables, graphs, diagrams, cutaways and overlays.
Assess the adequacy, accuracy and appropriateness of an author's details, identifying persuasive techniques (e.g., bandwagon, testimonial and emotional word repetition) and examples of bias and stereotyping.
Identify the author's purpose and intended audience for the text.
Analyze an author's argument, perspective or viewpoint and explain the development of key points.
Recognize how to write cite facts, draw inferences and present opinion in informational text.
Distinguish the characteristics of consumer materials (e.g., warranties, product information, instructional materials), functional or workplace documents (e.g., job-related materials, memoranda, instructions) and public documents (e.g., speeches or newspaper editorials).

Reading Applications:
Literary Text Indicators

Identify and explain various types of characters (e.g., flat, round, dynamic, static) and how their interactions and conflicts affect the plot.
Analyze the influence of setting in relation to other literary elements.
Explain how authors pace action and use subplots, parallel episodes and climax.
Compare and contrast different points of view (e.g., first person and third person limited, omniscient, objective and subjective), and explain how voice affects literary text.
Identify and explain universal themes across different works by the same author and by different authors.
Explain how an author's choice of genre affects the expression of theme or topic.
Identify examples of foreshadowing and flashback in a literary text.
Explain ways the author conveys mood and tone through word choice, figurative language, and syntax.
Examine symbols used in literary texts.

Writing Processes

Prewriting	Generating writing ideas through discussions with others and from printed material and keep a list of writing ideas. Conduct background reading, interviews or surveys when appropriate. Establish a thesis statement for informational writing or a plan for narrative writing. Determine a purpose and audience and plan strategies (e.g., adapting focus, content structure and point of view) to address purpose and audience. Use organizational strategies (e.g., notes and outlines) to plan writing.
Drafting, Revising & Editing	Organize writing with an effective and engaging introduction, body and a conclusion that summarizes, extends or elaborates on points or ideas in the writing. Vary simple, compound and complex sentence structures. Group related ideas into paragraphs, including topic sentences following paragraph form, and maintain a consistent focus reinforced by parallel structures across paragraphs. Use precise language, action verbs, sensory details, colorful modifiers and style as appropriate to audience and purpose. Use available technology to compose text. Reread and analyze clarity of writing and consistency of point of view. Add and delete information and details to better elaborate on a stated central idea and to more effectively accomplish purpose. Rearrange words, sentences and paragraphs, and add transitional words and phrases to clarify meaning. Use resources and reference materials (e.g., dictionaries and thesauruses) to select more effective vocabulary. Proofread writing, edit to improve conventions, (e.g., grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization), and identify and correct fragments and run-ons. Apply tools (e.g., rubric, checklist and feedback) to judge the quality of writing.
Publishing	Prepare for publication (e.g., for display or for sharing with others) writing that follows a format appropriate to the purpose, using such techniques as electronic resources, principles of design (e.g., margins, tabs, spacing and columns) and graphics (e.g., drawings, charts and graphs) to enhance the final product.

Writing Applications

Write narratives that:
a. sustain reader interest by pacing action and developing an engaging plot (e.g., tension and suspense);
b. use literary devices to enhance style and tone; and
c. create complex characters in a definite, believable setting.
Write responses to literature that organize an insightful interpretation around several clear ideas, premises or images and support judgments with specific references to the original text, to other texts, authors and to prior knowledge.
Write business letters, letters to the editor and job applications that:
a. address audience needs, stated purpose and context in a clear and efficient manner,
b. follow the conventional style appropriate to the text using proper technical terms;
c. include appropriate facts and details;
d. exclude extraneous details and inconsistencies; and
e. provide a sense of closure to the writing.
Write informational essays or reports, including research, that:
a. pose relevant and tightly drawn questions that engage the reader;
b. provide a clear and accurate perspective on the subject;
c. create an organizing structure appropriate to the purpose, audience and context;
d. support the main ideas with facts, details, examples and explanations from sources; and
e. document sources and include bibliographies.
Write persuasive compositions that:
a. establish and develop a controlling idea;
b. support arguments with detailed evidence;
c. exclude irrelevant information; and
d. cite sources of information.
Produce informal writings (e.g., journals, notes and poems) for various purposes.

Writing Conventions

Spelling	Use correct spelling conventions.
Punctuation & Capitalization	Use correct punctuation and capitalization.
Grammar and Usage	Use all eight parts of speech (e.g., noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective, conjunction, preposition, interjection). Use clauses (e.g., main, subordinate) and phrases (e.g., gerund, infinitive, participial). Use parallel structure to present items in a series and items juxtaposed for emphasis. Use proper placement of modifiers. Maintain the use of appropriate verb tenses. Conjugate regular and irregular verbs in all tenses correctly.

Research Indicators

Compose open-ended questions for research, assigned or personal interest, and modify questions as necessary during inquiry and investigation.
Identify appropriate sources and gather relevant information from multiple sources (e.g., school library catalogs, online databases, electronic resources and Internet-based resources).
Explain the usefulness and accuracy of sources by determining their validity (e.g., authority, accuracy, objectivity, publication date and coverage) and define primary and secondary sources.
Select an appropriate structure for organizing information in a systematic way (e.g., notes, outlines, charts, tables and graphic organizers).
Compile and organize the important information and select appropriate sources to support central ideas, concepts and themes.
Integrate quotations and citations into written text to maintain a flow of ideas.
Use style guides to produce oral and written reports that give proper credit for sources and include an acceptable format for source acknowledgement.
Use of variety of communication techniques, including oral, visual, written or multimedia reports, to present information that supports a clear position about the topic or research question and to maintain an appropriate balance between researched information and original ideas.

Communication: Oral and Visual

Listening and Viewing	Apply active listening strategies (e.g., monitoring message for clarity, selecting and organizing essential information, noting cues such as changes in pace. Identify and analyze the persuasive techniques (e.g., bandwagon, testimonial, glittering generalities, emotional word repetition and bait and switch) used in presentations and media messages. Determine the credibility of the speaker (e.g., hidden agendas, slanted or biased material) and recognize fallacies of reasoning used in presentations and media messages. Identify the speaker's choice of language and delivery styles (e.g., repetition, appeal to emotion, eye contact) and how they contribute to meaning.
Speaking Skills & Strategies	Demonstrate an understanding of the rules of the English language and select language appropriate to purpose and audience. Adjust volume, phrasing, enunciation, voice modulation and inflection to stress important ideas and impact audience response. Vary language choices as appropriate to the context of the speech.
Speaking Applications	Deliver informational presentations (e.g., expository, research) that: a. demonstrate an understanding of the topic and present events or ideas in a logical sequence. b. support the controlling idea or thesis with well-chosen and relevant facts, details, examples, quotations, statistics, stories and anecdotes; c. include an effective introduction and conclusion and use a consistent organizational structure (e.g., cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution); d. use appropriate visual materials (e.g., diagrams, charts, illustrations) and available technology, and e. draw from multiple sources and identify sources used. Deliver formal and informal descriptive presentations that convey relevant information and descriptive details. Deliver persuasive presentations that: a. establish and develop a logical and controlled argument; b. include relevant evidence, differentiating between evidence and opinion to support a position and to address counter-arguments or listener bias; and c. consistently use common organizational structures as appropriate (e.g., cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution).