Grade 8

Language

Reading Literature

Reading Informational Text

Speaking and Listening

Writing

Conventions of Standard English

Knowledge of Language

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Key Ideas and Details

Craft and Structure

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Key Ideas and Details

Craft and Structure

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Comprehension and Collaboration

Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

Text Types and Protocol

Production and Distribution of Writing

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Range of Writing

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and specialized reference materials, as appropriate.

Read closely to determine what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of a text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.

Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.

Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.

Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches an author takes.

Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.

Read closely to determine what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of a text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.

Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.

Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.

Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.

Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches an author takes.

Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.

Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media formats, such as visual, quantitative, and oral formats.

Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.

Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with varied partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning; the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.

Adapt speech to a variety of contents and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective techniques, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.

Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.

Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focus questions, demonstrating new understanding of the subject under investigation.

Integrate relevant and credible information from multiple print and digital sources while avoiding plagiarism.

Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. When reading and writing, explain the functions of punctuation in creating sentence variety and style.

When writing and speaking, adjust style and tone to a variety of contexts; when reading or listening, analyze stylistic choices to determine context.

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on 8th grade-level text by choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

When reading, listening, writing, and speaking, explain the function of figurative language, word relationships, and connotation/denotation and use them correctly and effectively.

Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the post-secondary and workforce level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

Acquire and accurately use grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; develop vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

Analyze what a text says explicitly and draw logical inferences; support an interpretation of a text by citing relevant textual evidence.

Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary.

Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including allusions to other texts, repetition of words and phrases, and analogies.

Compare and contrast the structure of two or more texts and analyze how the differing structure of each text contributes to its meaning and style.

Analyze how similarities and differences in the points of view of the audience and the characters create effects such as suspense, humor, or dramatic irony.

Analyze the extent to which a filmed or live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from a text or script, evaluating the choices made by the director or actors.

Analyze how contemporary texts are shaped by foundational texts or literary archetypes and how authors allude to traditional works, myths, or religious texts; describe how traditional elements are rendered anew.

Read and comprehend a variety of literature at the high end of the grades 6-8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Analyze what a text says explicitly and draw logical inferences; support an interpretation of a text by citing relevant textual evidence.

Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary.

Analyze the techniques used to distinguish between and to make connections among individuals, events, or ideas in a text.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone, including analogies and allusions to other texts.

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

Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums to present a particular topic or idea.

Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether evidence is relevant and sufficient to support the claims and the reasoning is sound.

Analyze a case in which two or more texts provide conflicting information on the same topic and identify where the texts disagree on matters of fact or interpretation.

Read and comprehend a variety of literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 6-8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media formats; evaluate the motives, such as social, commercial, and political, behind its presentation.

Delineate a speaker's argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and relevance and sufficiency of the evidence; identify when irrelevant evidence is introduced.

Prepare for collaborative discussions on 8th grade level topics and texts; engage effectively with varied partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own ideas clearly.

Present claims and findings in a focused, coherent manner with relevant evidence; sound, valid reasoning, and well-chosen details; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.

Integrate multimedia and visual displays into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and to add interest.

Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

Write narratives (fiction and nonfiction) to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective techniques, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1–3 up to and including grade 8.)

Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to collaborate with others; present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently; type a complete product in a single sitting as defined in W.1-3.

Conduct research to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on multiple sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.

Use search terms effectively; integrate relevant and credible information from print and digital sources; quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

Support interpretations, analyses, reflections, or research with evidence found in literature or informational texts, applying grade 8 standards for reading; assess whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient to support the claims and recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.

Write routinely over extended time frames and shorter time frames for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

When reading or listening, analyze the use of phrases and clauses within a larger text.

When reading or listening, explain the function of verbs.

When writing or speaking, produce simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences with effectively-placed modifiers.

When reading or listening, explain the function of the voice (active and passive) and the mood of a verb and its application in text.

When writing or speaking, produce and use varied voice and mood of verbs.

Use context as a clue to the meaning of a word or a phrase.

Use common grade-appropriate morphological elements as clues to the meaning of a word or a phrase.

Consult reference materials, both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or phrase.

Use etymological patterns in spelling as clues to the meaning of a word or phrase.

Introduce claim(s).

Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant, sufficient evidence; acknowledge and refute alternate or opposing claim(s).

Organize the reasons and evidence clearly and clarify the relationships among claim(s) and reasons.

Use credible sources and demonstrate an understanding of the topic or source material.

Craft an effective and relevant conclusion that supports the argument presented.

Use precise language and content-specific vocabulary.

Use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.

Use varied sentence structure to enhance meaning and reader interest.

Establish and maintain a formal style.

Introduce a topic clearly, using the introduction to prepare the reader for what is to follow.

Synthesize and organize ideas, concepts, and information into broader categories using effective strategies to create cohesion and aid in comprehension.

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

Thoroughly and accurately explain and elaborate on the evidence provided, demonstrating a clear understanding of the topic and the source material.

Craft an effective and relevant conclusion.

Include formatting, graphics, and multimedia when appropriate.

Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.

Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary.

Use varied sentence structure to enhance meaning and reader interest.

Establish and maintain a formal style.

Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or participants/characters.

Organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.

Create a smooth progression of experiences or events.

Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection when appropriate, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts, and show the relationships among experiences and events.

Craft an effective and relevant conclusion that reflects on the narrated experiences or events.

Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to convey experiences and events.