8th-First 9 weeks 

During the first nine weeks, students will be reading the novel Ghost by Jason Reynolds as well as a series of short stories and essays. They will be answering comprehension questions along the way, and analyzing the text (elements of plot, character traits, diction, perspective, author's purpose, and more). After completing the book, they will have a formal assessment. Students will also be using our EBW writing program to write essays and/or short responses on a regular basis.  The focus this nine weeks will be on narratives. Students will be practicing their story-writing abilities (elements of plot, dialogue, theme, and more). In addition to that, students will also be reading independently. The books must be approved by their classroom teacher; reading participation will be entered each nine weeks as an assessment grade.

Reading Comprehension:

8.RC.1 (E)  Analyze what a text says explicitly as well as draw inferences from the text through strong and supportive textual evidence. 

8.RC.2 (E)  Analyze the development of a theme

or central idea over the course of a work of literature, including its relationship to the characters, setting,

and plot; provide a detailed summary that supports

the analysis.

8.RC.3  Compare and contrast the structure of two

or more related works of literature (e.g., similar topic

or theme), and analyze and evaluate how the differing structure of each text contributes to its meaning

and style.

8.RC.8  Use context to determine or clarify

the meaning of words and phrases.

8.RC.9  Distinguish among the connotations

of words with similar denotations.

8.RC.10 (S) Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede, secede).

8.RC.11 (S)  Interpret figures of speech (e.g., verbal irony, puns) in context.

Communication & Collaboration

8.CC.5 (S)  Delineate a speaker’s argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning

and relevance and sufficiency of the evidence

and identifying when irrelevant evidence is introduced.

   Writing

8.W.1 (E)  Write arguments in a variety of forms that.

8.W.3 (E) Write narrative compositions in a variety of forms.

8.W.6.1 (E)  Demonstrate command of English grammar and usage.

8.W.7 (E)  Demonstrate command of the conventions

of standard English.

Reading Comprehension

• Evidence Statements for 8.RC.1

  • Identify an argument, claim, central idea, or theme in a text.

  • Infer an author’s perspective or purpose based on an analysis of a text.

  • Cite textual evidence to support an idea explicitly given in a text.

  • Cite textual evidence to support an idea inferred about a text

• Evidence Statements for 8.RC.2

  • Identify the theme or central idea of a text.

  • Analyze how characters, setting, and plot help develop a theme or central idea over the course of a work of literature.

  • Incorporate the development of the theme or central idea and other story details into a detailed summary that supports the analysis.

• Evidence Statements for 8.RC.3

  • Create and annotate diagrams of two or more text structures.

  • Examine the structures of two or more literary texts and discuss the similarities and differences in how each is organized.

  • Develop a written analysis explaining how structure contributes to the meaning and style of a given text

• Evidence Statements for 8.RC.8

  • Use context clues to determine or clarify the meaning of words.

  • Use context clues to determine or clarify the meaning of phrases

• Evidence Statements for 8.RC.9

  • Define connotation and denotation.

  • Identify examples of connotation and denotation.

  • Examine how word choice affects meaning.

  • Revise passages for vivid, connotative language

• Evidence Statements for 8.RC.10

  • Identify and define Greek roots.

  • Identify and define Latin roots.

  • Identify and define affixes.

  • Predict the meaning of unknown words using Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues.

• Evidence Statements for 8.RC.11

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the meaning of figurative language such as verbal irony and puns and/or other forms the author uses in a text.

  • Determine the meaning of unknown words in context by using strategies such as questioning, inferencing, and rereading.

  • Demonstrate understanding of how word choice and figurative language impact meaning.

  • Apply figurative language to writing tasks

Communication & Collaboration

• Evidence Statements for 8.CC.5

  • Identify a speaker’s claim.

  • Outline an argument made by a speaker, including evidence used to support main points.

  • Distinguish between sound and unsound reasoning.

  • Identify the attitude the speaker has toward a subject by analyzing the content and the delivery.

  • Recognize claims introduced may not be relevant to the topic.

  • Recognize that the evidence offered may not be sufficient or substantial

Writing

• Evidence Statements for 8.W.1

  • Identify claims, reasons, and relevant evidence within text.

  • Determine how to structure an argument.

  • Outline an argument, introducing the claim with a thesis statement and organizing the reasons and evidence clearly in order to support the claim.

  • Formulate support for claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

  • Evaluate the credibility of sources used and relevance of the evidence.

  • Identify and make concessions to conflicting or differing claims.

  • Write an argument to introduce and support a claim with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

  • Utilize words, phrases, and clauses that show relationships between the claims, reasons, and evidence.

  • Establish and maintain a formal style and consistent tone appropriate for the purpose and audience.

  • Plan and write an appropriate conclusion that follows the argument presented.

• Evidence for Statements for 8.W.3

  • Identify components of narrative text.

  • Convey real or imagined experiences and events through written narratives.

  • Establish a context and point of view within writing by introducing a setting, narrator, and/or character(s).

  • Maintain an appropriate event or plot sequence in writing that unfolds naturally and logically.

  • Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and/or clauses that convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.

  • Analyze and employ narrative techniques such as dialogue, pacing, and description to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

  • Intentionally use words and phrases that provide descriptive details.

  • Employ the use of sensory language in order to convey experiences and events.

  • Develop and write an ending that follows and reflects on the narrated experiences or events.

• Evidence Statements for 8.W.6

  • Identify verbs in text.

  • Identify verbals in text.

  • Explain the function of verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives) in general and their function in particular sentences.

  • Form and use verbs in the active and passive voice.

  • Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb voice.

• Evidence Statements for 8.W.7

  • Write using standard English conventions that are appropriate for the grade level.

  • Identify and define pauses, breaks, or omissions in writing.

  • Write, correctly using commas, ellipses, and dashes

• Ghost Novels/Audio

• Scope Magazine

• EBW Resources (videos, notes, graphic organizers)

• Library Books