Grade 8

Other West Virginia English Language Arts sets

• Grade K
• Grade 1
• Grade 2
• Grade 3
• Grade 4
• Grade 5
• Grade 6
• Grade 7
• Creative Writing and Reading
• Grade 9
• Grade 10
• Grade 11
• Grade 12

Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the literary text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.ELA.8.1

Determine a theme or central idea of a literary text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.ELA.8.2

Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.ELA.8.3

Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the informational text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.ELA.8.4

Determine a central idea of an informational text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.ELA.8.5

Analyze how an informational text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events.ELA.8.6

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a literary 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.8.7

Compare and contrast the structure of two or more literary texts and analyze how the differing structure of each text contributes to its meaning and style.ELA.8.8

Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader create such effects as suspense or humor in a literary text.ELA.8.9

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in an informational 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.8.10

Analyze in detail the structure of a specific paragraph in an informational text, including the role of particular sentences in developing and refining a key concept.ELA.8.11

Determine an author's point of view or purpose in an informational text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.ELA.8.12

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.8.13

Analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on themes, patterns of events, or character types from myths, traditional stories, or religious works, including describing how the material is transformed in the modern work.ELA.8.14

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums to present a particular topic or idea.ELA.8.15

Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in an informational text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.ELA.8.16

Analyze a case in which two or more informational texts provide conflicting information on the same topic and identify where the texts disagree on matters of fact or interpretation.ELA.8.17

By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary texts at the high end of grades 6-8 text complexity range independently and proficiently.ELA.8.18

By the end of the year, read and comprehend informational texts at the high end of the grades 6-8 text complexity range independently and proficiently.ELA.8.19

Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.<ul><li>Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.</li><li>Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.</li><li>Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.</li><li>Establish and maintain a formal style.</li><li>Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.</li></ul>ELA.8.20

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.<ul><li>Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concept s, and information into broader categories; include formatting, graphics, and multimedia when useful to aid comprehension.</li><li>Develop the topic with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.</li><li>Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.</li><li>Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.</li><li>Establish and maintain a formal style.</li><li>Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.</li></ul>ELA.8.21

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.<ul><li>Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.</li><li>Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.</li><li>Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the relationships among experiences and events.</li><li>Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.</li><li>Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events.</li></ul>ELA.8.22

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.ELA.8.23

With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, or editing to demonstrate command of the Language standards up to and including grade 8, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.ELA.8.24

Use technology to produce and publish writing, present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently, and interact and collaborate with others.ELA.8.25

Conduct short research projects to answer a question, including a self-generated question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.ELA.8.26

Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation (MLA or APA).ELA.8.27

Draw evidence from literary or informational texts and apply grade-level Reading standards to support analysis, reflection, and research.ELA.8.28

Write routinely over extended time frames for research, reflection, and/or revision and shorter time frames for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.ELA.8.29

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners including one-on-one, small groups, and teacher-led discussions on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing ideas clearly.ELA.8.30

Analyze the purpose of information presented in digital, print, and non-print media and evaluate the motives behind its presentation.ELA.8.31

Delineate a speaker's argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and relevance and sufficiency of the evidence; identify when irrelevant evidence is introduced.ELA.8.32

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.8.33

Integrate digital media and visuals into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and add interest.ELA.8.34

Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of grade 8 Language standards, as well as formal English, when indicated or appropriate.ELA.8.35

Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.ELA.8.36

Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.ELA.8.37

Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.ELA.8.38

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words or phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.ELA.8.39

Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.ELA.8.40

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.8.41

Acquire and accurately use grade-appropriate library and book terms.LM.6-8.1

Demonstrate understanding that the library is arranged in a system based on alphabetical and numerical order by searching an online catalog and making personal selections independently and efficiently.LM.6-8.2

Demonstrate understanding of the process of selecting, checking out, and returning library materials.LM.6-8.3

Explore advanced search strategies to find materials on topics of personal and academic interest using a variety of databases or an online public access catalog.LM.6-8.4

Identify and craft solutions to problems within the school and/or community using libraries and librarians as resources for free and open access to information.LM.6-8.5

Explain reason(s) for selecting specific works from a variety of genres and form at s, including print, non-print, and digital.LM.6-8.6

Apply a variety of tools and strategies to navigate personal and academic reading tasks.LM.6-8.7

Independently identify and explore career options of personal interest and answer self-generated questions using a variety of print, non-print, and digital resources.LM.6-8.8

Gather relevant information from multiple sources to answer questions, record and organize information in an effective manner; validate sources based on relevancy, appropriateness, currency, authority, and bias.LM.6-8.9

Act on the feedback of others, solicited and unsolicited, asking clarifying questions when needed to make adjustments or improvements on a selection, product, or approach.LM.6-8.10

Craft and deliver constructive feedback including clarifying questions to help others make adjustments or improvements on a selection , product, or approach.LM.6-8.11

Construct and answer questions related to diverse cultures using library resources to participate in collaborative small or whole group discussions.LM.6-8.12

Explain and demonstrate understanding of the importance of safe, legal and responsible use of technology and identify potential consequences of unethical, unsafe, and inappropriate behavior.LM.6-8.13

Respectfully acknowledge ownership of work created by self and others following a standard format for citation (MLA or APA) independently or using online tools.LM.6-8.14

Demonstrate understanding of copyright and fair use, licensing, and acceptable use for personal and academic usesLM.6-8.15

Acknowledge and respect the rights of others (locally and globally) to express their views and perspectives and have free access to information through library materials.LM.6-8.16