English Preface Grade 8

Language
1. Conduct structured small and large group discussion.







Composition

1. Write with focus, logical development, and supporting detail.

2. Select appropriate genres, reasoning, and style for specific audiences.

3. Demonstrate the ability to revise writing by improving organization, content, paragraph development, level of detail, style, tone, and word choice.

4. Use appropriate standard English conventions, such as structure, usage, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.

5. Use study skills such as questions, notes, summarizing, précis writing, and outlining.

6. Use open-ended research questions, sources of information, and appropriate research methods.

7. Develop and use rhetorical, logical, and stylistic criteria for final versions of written projects.

	Identify examples of irrelevance, redundancy, ambiguity/plagiarism.
	Prepare and deliver presentation, using prepared notes compiled from research.
	Describe the origins and meanings of common, learned, and foreign words used frequently in written English.
	Use appropriate resources to develop understanding of content or specific vocabulary (glossary, thesaurus, dictionary, etc).
	Identify appropriate reference sources for specific information.
	Use pronouns appropriately, i.e., indirect/direct objects, predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives, antecedent agreement.

	Demonstrate ability to take notes as well as to prepare report (research citing multiple sources - a minimum of three).
	Produce multi-paragraph compositions of the following types:

- Response to literature (comparison and contrast with documentation from two works).

- Expository (cause/effect; definition).

- Narrative (personal reflection).

- Creative (contemporary forms).

- Letter (of application).

- Persuasive (position paper with documentation).

Use the following English language conventions:

- Clauses.

- Verbals.

- MLA documentation.

- punctuation (ellipses).

Edit and revise, concentrating on Grade 8 English language conventions in accordance with rubrics.

	Identify and locate explicit information/details.
	Evaluate information to draw conclusions.
	Relate characteristics of genre to author's purpose.
	Demonstrate understanding of character through artistic expression, essay, or discussion.
	Describe changes in character over course of story.
	Identify organizational patterns of text and relate to writing through note-taking, outlining, sequencing.
	Focus and plan reading through use of strategies, such as setting purposes, generating essential questions, clarifying reading through re-reading and discussion, paraphrasing.
	Identify examples of assonance, consonance, and rhythm in poetry.

	Conduct a research project, effectively using a variety of research sources.
	Analyze and describe the effect of color and sound within video media on audience's emotions/attitudes.
	Identify and explain the effective use of graphics in various media.

Literature
1. Demonstrate an ability to decode, understand, and use new words.

2. Identify main idea in what is heard, read, or viewed.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of different genres.

4. Identify, analyze, and apply theme, using evidence to support ideas.

5. Identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of structure and elements of fiction, using evidence to support ideas.

6. Identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of structure and elements of nonfiction, using evidence to support ideas.

7. Identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of structure, elements, and theme of poetry, using evidence to support ideas.

8. Identify and analyze how words appeal to the senses, create imagery, suggest mood, and set tone.

9. Compare/contrast a variety of cultural myths and narratives.

10. Interpret literary works, nonfiction, film, and media.

11. Present effective dramatic readings, recitations, and performances for a variety of audiences.
Media

1. Obtain information from a variety of media and evaluate the quality.

2. Explain how traditional forms are modified for electronic media.

3. Design and create coherent media productions with focus, detail, and consideration of audience and purpose.