Grade 8

Vocabulary Development and Word Analysis Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies and understanding textual features (e.g. sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).

Reading Literature and Informational Texts - Craft and Structure Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and non-print texts.

Reading Literature and Informational Text - Comprehension, Response, and Analysis Students read a wide range of print and non-print texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works, and literature from many periods.

Writing – Processes and Features Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.

Grammar and Usage Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.

Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration Students adjust their use of spoken language to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.

Determine word meanings (based on grade eight reading)

Understand word relationships. 

Explain the comparison an author makes through metaphors, allusions, or analogies in a text and analyze how those comparisons contribute to a meaning.

Utilize the structural features of media and use the features to obtain information

Distinguish major categories and features of literary genre (e.g. stories from poems, fiction from non-fiction)

Describe the structure an author uses to organize specific text

Determine point of view and cultural context on which media is portrayed

Analyze the structure, format and purpose of informational materials

Expository critique - Assess evidence of nonfiction and informational text

Identify a purpose for reading

Interpret text using background knowledge, literary elements and inferences.

Apply Catholic values, virtues, Catholic Social Teachings in evaluation of literary themes and plots

Describe how a story’s plot unfolds (in a series of episodes or as a problem to be solved) as well as how characters adapt or change as they move toward a resolution 

Identify and analyze features and themes conveyed through characters, actions and images

Interpret figurative and connotative meanings of words and phrases, as they are used in text, to explain meaning 

Determine the causes or reasons that link different events, ideas, or information in a text, drawing on key details. 

Evaluate, critique, and interpret a variety of literature from different eras and cultures and authors

Extend awareness of world cultures and historical perspectives through diverse texts, including first-person materials, accounts of historical events, documents and historical fiction.

Compare and contrast the accounts of a subject in different mediums (e.g. person’s life story told in print, video, or multimedia) 

Distinguish among fact, opinion, propaganda, and reasoned judgment presented

Assess the similarities and differences between two or more texts on the same subject.

Expand the use of reference materials for gathering information and develop rubric for evaluating validity of sources from web sources.

elf-select appropriate texts for research and personal reading

Produce grade appropriate coherent, clear, and legible writing in which organization, development, substance and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience

Write routinely for a range of tasks, purposes and audiences, over short and extended time frames

Engage in a writing process of planning, reviewing, revising, editing, rewriting, evaluating or trying a new approach

Emphasize content as well as mechanics in written work

Compose paragraphs that are based on information, flow from reading and describe events and observations

Write for different purposes; information, persuasion, description, and to a specific audience or person, adjusting tone and style as necessary

Write for correspondence

Write focused narratives 

Write expository, informative/explanatory, descriptive, and technical texts

Perform focused research tasks that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic using several sources 

Write in response to literary or informational sources

Write persuasive compositions that include a well- defined thesis that makes a clear and knowledgeable appeal

Use technology in an appropriate way, including the internet, to produce, publish and interact with others about writing, including linking to and citing online sources in order to avoid plagiarism.

Observe conventions of grammar and usage in writing and speaking

Observe conventions of capitalization, punctuation, and spelling

Use appropriate and varied sentence types to develop paragraphs

Initiate and engage in group discussions on eighth grade topics and texts being studied in class

Analyze, evaluate, and interpret information presented in visual or multimodal formats

Present information emphasizing salient points with pertinent descriptions and details, using appropriate manners and speech, adequate volume, clear pronunciation, and use of visuals

Identify the purpose of a presentation and apply appropriate presentation skills for the particular purpose

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown or multiple-meaning words through the use of one or more strategies, such as using, semantic clues (e.g., definitions, examples, or restatements in text); using syntactic clues (e.g., the word’s position of function in a sentence); analyzing the word’s sounds, spelling, and meaningful parts; and consulting reference materials, both print and digital

Use known prefixes, root words, and suffixes as a clue to meaning of an unknown word with the same root (precede, recede,secede)

Verify the preliminary determination of a word’s meaning (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or looking up a word in the dictionary)

Interpret various figures of speech (e.g., verbal irony, puns) relevant to particular texts

Understand the influence the etymology of words has on meaning and vocabulary expansion

Trace the network of uses and meaning that different words have and the interrelationships among the meanings and uses

Distinguish a word from other words with similar denotations but different connotations 

Identify analogies: word and synonym, word and antonym, part and whole

Analyze idioms and comparisons

Compare and contrast the structural features of media and use the features to obtain information

Determine and articulate the relationship between the purposes and characteristics of different forms of poetry

Explain how author’s purpose for writing influences the contents of the selection (e.g., inform, entertain, persuade)

Explain how a difference in the perspective or knowledge of characters and audience (e.g. created through the device or dramatic irony) produces suspense or humor 

Compare and contrast literature from diverse cultural backgrounds

Analyze how text structure affects meaning, including chronological order, order of importance and special order

Compare poetry with conventional structure, such as a free verse poem

Analyze, in detail, the structure of a specific paragraph of text, including the role of particular sentences in developing and refining a key concept

Identify how a narrator’s point of view influences how events are described

Compare and contrast the cultural context of a text with another similar text. 

Compare the point of from which different stories are narrated, including the difference between first and third person narrations

Draw conclusions, make reasonable statements and inferences a text, supporting them with accurate examples

Compare the original text to a summary to determine whether the summary accurately describes the main ideas, includes important details and conveys the underlying meaning

Synthesize understanding of texts by creating outlines, notes, diagrams, summaries, or reports

Use information from a variety of documents (Vatican, consumer, primary documents) to explain a situation or decision and to solve a problem

Expository critique - Assess evidence of nonfiction and informational text

Student will read a variety of texts and genres to build an interest in leisure, academic, and informational reading

Evaluate the structural elements of the plot such as subplots, parallel episodes, and climax; the plot’s development; and the way in which conflicts are addressed and resolved.

Analyze the relevance of setting and compare and contrast the motivations and reactions of literary characters from different historical eras.

Identify and analyze recurring themes that appear frequently across traditional and contemporary works

Analyze significant literary devices, such as metaphor, symbolism, dialect or quotations, and irony, which define a writer’s style and use those elements to interpret the work

Analyze how an author introduces, illustrates, and elaborates on two or more significant ideas in a text, including how the relationship between ideas is expressed

Analyze a work of literature showing how it reflects the heritage, tradition, attitudes, and beliefs of the author

Compare and contrast the works of various authors

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums (e.g., text, multimedia, video) to present a particular topic

Evaluate an argument’s claim and reasoning as well as the degree to which evidence supports each claim.

Compare and contrast how two or more authors writing about the same topic shape their presentations of key information by emphasizing different interpretations of facts.

Provisional writing – brief, daily writing that supports learning (brainstorming, spontaneous, routine tasks)

Readable writing – intended for an audience (essay test question, assignment –short response answers)

Polished writing – engaged in the full writing process (plan, research, reflect, revise; first draft, second draft, final)

Revise writing to improve the organization and consistency of ideas within and between paragraphs to improve meaning and clarity.

Collaborate with adults and peers throughout the writing process to enhance ideas and techniques 

Discuss ideas for writing, keep a list of ideas, and use a graphic organizer to plan writing

Reflect on how well questions of purpose have been addressed and revise writing as needed.

Use strategies of note-taking, outlining, and summarizing to impose structure on composition text 

Edit and proofread one’s own writing, as well as that of others, using an editing checklist or set of rules, with specific examples of corrections of frequent errors

Demonstrate the ability to use punctuation to affect meaning and flow in a written piece 

Apply spelling and grammar rules to all written work

Support theses or conclusions with analogies, paraphrases, quotations, expert opinions, and similar devices and evidence

Use varied word choices to make all types of writing interesting and more precise for the reader

Use symbols, pictures and charts to convey thoughts and meaning in a written document

Friendly and business letters

Memos that portray the appropriate tone

Thank you notes

Email and electronic notes that portray the appropriate tone

Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view, and have an organized sequence of events or experiences

Develop narrative elements (e.g., setting, event sequence, complex major and minor characters) using relevant sensory details and devices such as dialogue, suspense and the naming of narrative action

Write biographical, autobiographical and short stories that tell about an incident, event, or situation, using details; reveal the significance of, or writer’s attitude about the subject

Use narrative and descriptive strategies, including relevant dialogue, specific action, physical description, background description, and comparison or contrast of characters

Use a variety of techniques to convey sequence, shift from one time frame or setting to another and/or show the relationships among the events or experiences 

Choose words and phrases to develop the events, experiences, and ideas precisely to create a particular mood or attitude

Provide a satisfying conclusion that follows from events, experiences, or ideas

Introduce a topic, state a thesis, organize information appropriate to the purpose, use strategies such as definition, classification, compare/ contrast, and cause/effect and offer evidence to support arguments and conclusions

Develop the topic with relevant and accurate facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples

Use appropriate links and varied sentence structures to join and clarify ideas.

Use straightforward language to create an objective style, appropriate for a reader seeking information

Provide a conclusion that follows logically from the information or explanation presented

Produce a 5-10 paragraph essay

Identify the need for correct citation of sources to avoid plagiarism

Use MLA (or APA) style for bibliography

Use formatting techniques (headings, fonts, font sizes, etc) in technical writing to aid in style and comprehension

Gather information from experience as well as print and digital resources, take notes on sources, categorize evidence, restate, summarize or paraphrase information

Participate in shared research and writing projects

Use a variety of resources and documents 

Demonstrate that sources have been evaluated for accuracy, bias and credibility

Demonstrate the distinction between one’s own ideas from the ideas of others

Cite sources used

Provide basic bibliographic information using MLA or APA format

Draw from text to support analysis and reflection describing what has been learned

Develop an interpretation that shows careful reading, understanding and insight

Reference standards in Reading Literature and Informational Text- Comprehension, Response and Analysis (beginning on page 29)

Ppresent detailed evidence, examples, and reasoning to support effective arguments using emotional, logical and ethical appeals

Provide details, reasons, and examples, arranging them effectively by anticipating and answering reader concerns and counterarguments

Use nouns with particular emphasis on concrete, abstract and collective nouns as a part of speech 

Demonstrate agreement of antecedent with pronoun

Use relative pronouns, intensive/reflexive, possessive, demonstrative and indefinite pronouns

demonstrate understanding of and use of predicate nominative and predicate adjective (predicate nouns or subject complements)

Identify and properly use present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect verb tenses

Form and use verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional and subjunctive moods

Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb voice and mood

Identify and use identify and use modifiers such as adjective and adverb phrases; identify the words they modify

Identify and use verbals and verbal phrases (gerunds, participles, and infinitives)

Use correct capitalization rules

Use a comma after a dependent clause to begin a sentence and after introductory words to set off interrupters, nouns of direct address and appositives

use a semi-colon, colon, hyphen, parentheses, bracketing, and ellipses appropriately

demonstrate the use of quotation marks with emphasis on direct quotations

use simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences

use effective coordination and subordination of ideas, including both main ideas and supporting details in single sentences to express complete thoughts and present lively and effective personal style

place phrases and clauses within a sentence avoiding misplaced and dangling modifiers

use a variety of complex transitions between sentences to build coherency within paragraphs

identify and properly use parallelism to present ideas in a series and items juxtaposed for emphasis

prepare for discussions by completing reading or conducting research and explicitly draw on that material in discussion

ask questions concerning the speaker’s content, delivery and attitude toward a subject 

cooperate with peers to set clear goals and deadlines 

advance a discussion by asking questions, responding precisely, and sharing factual knowledge and observations 

ensure a hearing for the range of positions on an issue

ensure a hearing for the range of positions on an issue

demonstrate respect for the views of others assessing new ideas against Catholic doctrine

explain how the information presented clarifies and contributes to a topic or issue under study

interpret and evaluate the various ways in which visual image makers communicate information and affect impressions and opinions

evaluate the credibility of a speaker, including whether the speaker has hidden agendas or presents slanted or biased material

analyze oral interpretations of literature, including language choice and delivery and the effect of interpretations on the listener

analyze oral interpretations of literature, including language choice and delivery and the effect of interpretations on the listener

outline the organization of a speech, including an introduction, transitions, previews, and summaries, a logically developed body and an effective conclusion

use appropriate grammar, word choice, enunciation, vocabulary, voice modulation, expression, tone and pace during formal presentations

use precise language, action verbs, sensory details, appropriate and colorful modifiers, and the active rather than passive voice in ways that enliven oral presentations

adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate

use audience feedback, including both verbal and non-verbal cues, to reconsider and modify the organizational structure and/or to rearrange words and sentences for clarification of meaning

incorporate digital media and visual displays of data when helpful and in a manner that strengthens the presentation

deliver narrative presentations such as biographical or autobiographical information that relate to a clear incident, event or situation including well-chosen details revealing the significance of the incident, event, or situation

use narrative and descriptive strategies to support the presentation including relevant dialogue, specific action, physical description, background description, and comparison or contrast of characters

give research presentations that define a thesis, research important ideas, concepts, and direct quotations from significant information sources and paraphrase and summarize important perspectives on the topic, use a variety of research sources and distinguish the nature and value of each, present information on charts, maps and graphs

deliver descriptive presentations that establish a clear point of view on the subject, establish the presenter’s relationship with the subject, contain effective, factual descriptions of appearance, concrete images, shifting perspectives and sensory details

provide oral responses to literature that interpret a reading and provide insight, connect personal responses to the writer’s techniques and to specific textual references; make supported inferences about the effects of a literary work on its audience, support judgments through references to the text, other works, other authors, or personal knowledge

make persuasive presentations that include a well-defined thesis, differentiate fact from opinion and support arguments with detailed evidence, examples, reasoning and persuasive language, anticipate and effectively answer listener concerns and counterarguments through the inclusion and arrangement of details, reasons, examples, and other elements while maintaining a reasonable tone