Eighth+Grade

Eighth grade media standards

ELA8R1 The student demonstrates comprehension and shows evidence of a warranted and responsible explanation of a variety of literary and informational texts. For literary texts, the student identifies the characteristics of various genres and produces evidence of reading that: a. Identifies the difference between the concepts of theme in a literary work and author’s purpose in an expository text. b. Compares and contrasts genre characteristics from two or more selections of literature. c. Analyzes a character’s traits, emotions, or motivations and gives supporting evidence from the text(s). d. Compares and contrasts motivations and reactions of literary characters from different historical eras confronting similar situations or conflicts. e. Evaluates recurring or similar themes across a variety of selections, distinguishing theme from topic. f. Evaluates the structural elements of the plot (e.g., subplots, climax), the plot’s development, and the way in which conflicts are (or are not) addressed and resolved. g. Analyzes and evaluates the effects of sound, form, figurative language, and graphics in order to uncover meaning in literature: i. Sound (e.g., alliteration, onomatopoeia, internal rhyme, rhyme scheme, meter) ii. Figurative language (e.g., simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, symbolism, imagery). h. Analyzes and evaluates how an author’s use of words creates tone and mood and provides supporting details from text. For informational texts, the student reads and comprehends in order to develop understanding and expertise and produces evidence of reading that: a. Analyzes and evaluates common textual features (e.g., paragraphs, topic sentences, concluding sentences, introduction, conclusion, footnotes, index, bibliography). b. Applies, analyzes, and evaluates common organizational structures (e.g., graphic organizers, logical order, cause and effect relationships, comparison and contrast). c. Recognizes and traces the development of an author’s argument, point of view, or perspective in text. d. Understands and explains the use of a complex mechanical device by following technical directions. e. Uses information from a variety of consumer, workplace, and public documents.