(2017-2023 Archive) BPS District English Standards Book
K-12 Grade Levels
Grade 08
8th Grade English
"I can ... statements"
This course covers grammar, the eight parts of speech and their usage, and composition including sentence and paragraph writing as the areas of main concern the first semester, along with drama and the short story. The second semester will include
study of the novel, poetry, and the short story, and composition activities with these units. Vocabulary and spelling are an important part of both semesters’ work.
Note: Standards Identifiers auto-link to popup a detailed description with "I can ..." and Proficiency Scales.
Prioritized Standards Identifiers are highlighted a sky-blue.
Prioritized Standards Identifiers are highlighted a sky-blue.
ELA-08.RL Reading Literature Strand
- ELA-08.RL.01 Read closely to comprehend Literature/Fiction text.
ELA-08.RL.01.a ELA-08.RL.01.b ELA-08.RL.01.c Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly. Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports inferences drawn from the text. Provide an objective summary. - ELA-08.RL.02 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.
- ELA-08.RL.03 Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story, poem, or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or prompt a decision.
- ELA-08.RL.04 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 analogies or allusions to other texts.
- ELA-08.RL.05 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.
- ELA-08.RL.06 Explain how differences in the point of view of characters and the audience or reader creates effects such as suspense or humor.
- ELA-08.RL.07 Analyze the extent to which a filmed or live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating the choices made by the director or actors.
- ELA-08.RL.08 (Not applicable to literature)
- ELA-08.RL.09 Analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on themes, patterns of events, or character types from myths, traditional stories, or religious works such as the Bible, including describing how the material is reimagined or made new.
- ELA-08.RL.10 By the end of grade 8, read and comprehend grade-level appropriate literature, in a variety of print genres and other media, proficiently and independently, with scaffolding as needed.
ELA-08.RI Reading Information Strand
- ELA-08.RI.01 Read closely to comprehend Informational/Nonfiction text.
ELA-08.RI.01.a ELA-08.RI.01.b ELA-08.RI.01.c Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly. Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports inferences drawn from the text. Provide an objective summary of the text. - ELA-08.RI.02 Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas.
- ELA-08.RI.03 Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events.
- ELA-08.RI.04 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
- ELA-08.RI.05 Analyze the structure an author uses to organize a text, including how sections, paragraphs, and/or particular sentences contribute to the whole and to the development of the ideas.
- ELA-08.RI.06 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.
- ELA-08.RI.07 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums to present a particular topic or idea.
- ELA-08.RI.08 Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.
- ELA-08.RI.09 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.
- ELA-08.RI.10 By the end of grade 8, read and comprehend grade-level appropriate literature, in a variety of print genres and other media, proficiently and independently, with scaffolding as needed.
ELA-08.W Writing Strand
- ELA-08.W.01 Write arguments to support claim(s) (thesis statement) with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
- ELA-08.W.02 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
- ELA-08.W.03 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
- ELA-08.W.04 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
- ELA-08.W.05 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.
- ELA-08.W.06 Use technology , including the Internet, to produce and publish grade-level writing and present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
- ELA-08.W.07 Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question).
- ELA-08.W.08 Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources.
- ELA-08.W.09 Incorporate evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
ELA-08.L 
Language Strand
- ELA-08.L.01 Within the context of authentic English writing and speaking…
- ELA-08.L.02 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
- ELA-08.L.03 Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
- ELA-08.L.04 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 7 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
- ELA-08.L.05 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships (analogies), and nuances in word meanings.
- ELA-08.L.06 Acquire and accurately use grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
ELA-08.SL Speaking and Listening Strand
- ELA-08.SL.01 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
- ELA-08.SL.02 Use effective note-taking strategies to analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats and evaluate the motives behind its presentation.
- ELA-08.SL.03 Evaluate a speaker’s argument and specific claims, the soundness of the reasoning, the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence, and identify when irrelevant evidence is introduced.
- ELA-08.SL.04 Present claims and findings, emphasizing significant points in a focused, coherent manner with relevant evidence, sound valid reasoning, and well-chosen details; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
- ELA-08.SL.05 Integrate multimedia and visual displays into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and add interest.
- ELA-08.SL.06 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
A Sample of What Your Child Will Be Working on in 8th Grade
- Citing the evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what is explicitly stated and/or implied from a book, article, poem, or play
- Analyzing where materials on the same topic disagree on matters of fact, interpretation, or point of view
- Learning how authors support their ideas through word choice, sentence and paragraph structure, and other methods
- Building writing around strong central ideas or points of view; supporting the ideas with sound reasoning and evidence, precise word choices, smooth transitions, and different sentence structures
- Planning and conducting research projects that include several steps and use many credible and documented print and digital sources
- Analyzing the purpose of information presented in diverse media (e.g., print, TV, web) and evaluating its social, political, or commercial motives
- Presenting findings and claims to others, emphasizing key points with relevant evidence and sound reasoning, adapting speech to the audience and the formality of the setting, and responding to questions and comments with relevant observations and ideas
- Using strong, active verbs to create a clear picture for the reader (e.g., walk, skip, meander, lurch, limp)
- Interpreting figures of speech (e.g., irony, puns) and developing a large vocabulary of general academic words and phrases