8th Grade ELA
Our Google Classroom Code: 89csgsg
Our 8th Grade Reads
Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Objectives and Expectations for 8th Grade ELA:
Reading: Students will read a wide variety of literature, majority of it based on or including major historical events. Students will be asked to determine universal themes of texts, and relate literature to their lives. They will build comprehension, expand their vocabulary and level of difficulty, form ideas and opinions about texts, and share those ideas and opinions.
Writing: 8th grade writing focuses on developing their own ideas. They will write an original Narrative (by first scaffolding on descriptive writing), an Informative text based on a topic of their own interests, and a Persuasive paper based on a controversial topic the world is facing currently. Additionally, they are expected to give their opinions and interpretations of pieces of literature and poetry that are read throughout the year, as well as free-form writing.
Listening and Speaking: Students will be assessed on their ability to speak to their peers one-on-one, in groups, in discussions, and during presentations. They will be evaluated on their mastery of the language itself, their ability to engage peers, their persuasion techniques, and their tone of voice.
Language: Students will use vocabulary, mechanics, and types of discourses learned to show their understanding of literature, and to interpret texts for themselves. They will express their opinions and defend them, and understand different forms of our language (dialect, slang, ebonics, figures of speech, figurative language, etc.).