8th Grade English

Course Description:

English 8 continues to build students’ skills in writing and reading with an increased focus on nonfiction. Writing instruction focuses on academic writing, which includes nonfiction narrative, informative essay, explanatory essay, argumentative essay, and text-dependent analysis. Ongoing instruction in standard English conventions parallels the writing assignments, emphasizing practical application of these skills. Reading instruction focuses on vocabulary development and building comprehension and close reading skills. Each unit in reading is designed with a gradual release approach, starting with whole-group instruction, moving toward small-group learning, and concluding with students independently reading and applying reading strategies. Eighth Grade Nebraska State Language Arts Standards are assessed through coursework and the NSCAS-ELA.