8th- Third 9 weeks 

Students will read and analyze text connected to the Holocaust. We will read the historical fiction play of "The Diary of Anne Frank" and a combination of nonfiction supplemental articles, activities based on survivors and victims, as well as poems rooted in the same themes. There will be an emphasis on research and citing textual evidence.  There will be a focus on writing arguments with credible research that considers ethos, pathos, and logos. Independent reading will continue this nine weeks; reading participation will be entered into the grade book as an assessment grade. Please note that all books must be approved by the classroom teacher.

Reading Comprehension

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

8.RC.2- 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.4- Analyze the development of a central idea over the course of a text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide a detailed, objective summary of the text.

8.RC.5- Determine an author’s perspective or purpose in a text, and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.

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

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

Writing

8.W.1- Write arguments in a variety of forms.

8.W.2- Write informative compositions on a variety of topics.

8.W.3- Write narrative compositions in a variety of forms.

8.W.4- Apply the writing process.

8.W.5- Conduct research assignments and tasks.

8.W.6- Demonstrate command of English grammar and usage

8.W.7- Demonstrate command of conventions of standard English.

Communication & Collaboration

8.CC.4- Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g., social, commercial, political) behind its presentation. 

8.CC.8 - Identify and analyze persuasive and propaganda techniques used in visual and verbal messages by electronic, print and mass media, and identify false or misleading information.

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.4

  • Determine the central idea of a nonfiction text.

  • Analyze a text in order to explain how a central idea is developed.

  • Analyze how the central idea relates to supporting ideas as the text develops.

  • Develop a detailed, objective summary of the text.

• Evidence Statements for 8.RC.5

  • Determine and explain the author’s perspective or purpose in a text.

  • Examine the organization of ideas in the text to determine the ideas that signal and address opposing viewpoints.

  • Analyze how an author acknowledges and responds to conflicting viewpoints.

• 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

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 Statements for 8.W.2

  • Identify components of informative writing.

  • Determine a structure for writing that best organizes ideas, concepts, and information on a topic using categorization.

  • Outline informative writing tasks to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through text selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

  • Determine when to include formatting, graphics, and/or multimedia to aid in comprehension.

  • Introduce and develop a topic in writing using a thesis statement, relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, examples, and other information.

  • Select and use various transitions that clarify relationships among presented ideas and concepts.

  • Use precise language and content-specific vocabulary when writing to inform or explain a topic.

  • Establish and maintain a formal style when writing.

  • Plan and write an appropriate conclusion that follows the information or explanation presented.

  • Edit and revise writing to eliminate wordiness and redundancy.

• Evidence 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.4

  • Determine the appropriate writing mode necessary to fit the specific task, purpose, and audience.

  • Engage in all steps of the writing process: planning, developing, drafting, revising, and publishing.

  • Draft writing pieces that adhere to a clear topic or purpose.

  • Incorporate revisions in order to make substantive changes to writing.

  • Edit writing to align with grade level appropriate expectations for grammar and mechanics.

  • Actively participate in peer review opportunities, providing and utilizing academic feedback in order to strengthen and enhance the clarity and coherence of writing.

  • Use appropriate technology in order to interact and collaborate with others.

• Evidence Statements for 8.W.5

  • Develop a research question.

  • Conduct an investigation of multiple sources in order to develop an answer or a hypothesis to a research question.

  • Use search terms effectively.

  • Assess the credibility and accuracy of each source.

  • Annotate sources.

  • Construct an answer or hypothesis in the form of a thesis statement.

  • Use correct formatting to quote or paraphrase information found in sources.

  • Construct and correctly format a works cited page to house citations and avoid plagiarism.

  • Present information, choosing from a variety of formats

• 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

Communication & Collaboration

• Evidence Statements for 8.CC.4

  • Identify the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats.

  • Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats.

  • Evaluate and explain the speaker’s motives behind the presentation of information.

• Evidence Statements for 8.CC.8

  • Analyze print, video, and audio advertisements for rhetorical appeals.

  • Compare media coverages and identify any use of persuasive and propaganda techniques.

  • Analyze how specific word choice, graphics, pictures, headlines, and other text elements are used to influence an audience.

  • Reflect on personal experiences being influenced by media around a given topic and analyze how specific techniques have shaped one’s thinking.

  • Differentiate between propaganda, bias and stereotyping and identify and analyze examples of each.

• Scope Scholastic Online

• Scope Magazine

• "The Diary of Anne Frank" play

• Online Holocaust supplemental materials