8th Grade ELA (Iowa Core)

Reading Literature (RL)

• RL.8.1 Choose the evidence that best supports analysis of what a text states and implies.
• RL.8.2 Analyze how a literary text develops.
  • a. Identify a theme and trace its growth, including its links to characters, setting and plot.
  • b. Write an objective summary that includes the theme and how it ties to other story elements.
• RL.8.3 Analyze how lines of dialogue or events move the action, reveal character or prompt decisions.
• RL.8.4 Work out word and phrase meanings, including figurative and connotative ones, and how word choice, analogy and allusion affect meaning and tone.
• RL.8.5 Compare the structures of two or more texts and how each structure shapes meaning and style.
• RL.8.6 Analyze how gaps between what characters and readers know, as in dramatic irony, create suspense or humor.
• RL.8.7 Judge how closely a filmed or staged version follows or departs from the text, assessing the director's or actors' choices.
• RL.8.9 Analyze how modern fiction borrows themes, plot patterns or character types from myths, traditional tales or religious works and makes them new.
• RL.8.10 Read and understand literature at the top of the grade 6–8 band on their own by year end.

Reading Informational Text (RI)

• RI.8.1 Choose the evidence that best supports analysis of what a text states and implies.
• RI.8.2 Analyze how an informational text develops.
  • a. Identify a central idea and trace its growth, including its link to supporting ideas.
  • b. Fold central ideas and their links into an objective summary.
• RI.8.3 Analyze how a text connects and distinguishes people, ideas or events, e.g. by comparison or analogy.
• RI.8.4 Work out figurative, connotative and technical meanings and how word choice, analogy and allusion affect meaning and tone.
• RI.8.5 Analyze in detail how a paragraph is built, including how sentences develop and sharpen a key concept.
• RI.8.6 Identify the author's viewpoint or purpose and how the author handles opposing evidence or views.
• RI.8.7 Weigh the pros and cons of presenting a topic in print, digital, video or multimedia form.
• RI.8.8 Trace and judge an argument's reasoning and evidence, noticing when irrelevant evidence is brought in.
• RI.8.9 Analyze where two or more texts on a topic disagree on facts or interpretation.
• RI.8.10 Read and understand literary nonfiction at the top of the grade 6–8 band on their own by year end.

Writing (W)

• W.8.1 Write arguments that back claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
  • a. State the claim, set it apart from opposing claims and order reasons and evidence logically.
  • b. Support the claim with logical reasoning and accurate, credible evidence, showing grasp of the topic.
  • c. Use linking words and clauses for cohesion among claims, counterclaims, reasons and evidence.
  • d. Keep a tone and style suited to the task and readers.
  • e. End with a closing statement or section that grows out of and backs the argument.
• W.8.2 Write informative pieces that explore a topic and present ideas and information through chosen, organized, analyzed content.
  • a. Introduce the topic with a preview, group ideas into broader categories and add headings, graphics or media when useful.
  • b. Develop the topic with well-chosen facts, definitions, details, quotations and examples.
  • c. Use varied transitions for cohesion and to make links between ideas clear.
  • d. Use precise and subject-specific vocabulary.
  • e. Keep a formal style.
  • f. End with a closing statement or section that grows out of and backs the explanation.
• W.8.3 Write narratives of real or imagined events with effective technique, descriptive detail and a clear order of events.
  • a. Set the scene and point of view, introduce narrator or characters, and order events naturally.
  • b. Use dialogue, pacing, description and reflection to develop events and characters.
  • c. Use varied transitions to show order, shifts in time or setting, and links between events.
  • d. Use precise words, descriptive detail and sensory language to capture the action.
  • e. End with a conclusion that grows out of the events and reflects on them.
• W.8.4 Produce clear, coherent writing whose development, organization and style fit the task, purpose and audience.
• W.8.5 With some help from peers and adults, strengthen writing by planning and revising, focusing on how well it serves purpose and audience.
• W.8.6 Use technology and varied media to publish and collaborate, showing links between ideas efficiently and citing sources.
• W.8.7 Do short research projects on a given or self-chosen question from several sources, raising further questions to explore.
• W.8.8 Gather information from print and digital sources with good search terms, judge credibility and accuracy, and cite in a standard format without plagiarism.
• W.8.9 Draw on evidence from literature or informational texts to back up analysis, reflection and research.
  • a. Apply grade 8 literature reading standards in writing.
  • b. Apply grade 8 literary nonfiction reading standards in writing.
• W.8.10 Write regularly over long and short time frames for many subject-specific tasks, purposes and audiences.

Speaking and Listening (SL)

• SL.8.1 Join many kinds of discussion on grade 8 topics and texts, adding to others' ideas and voicing their own clearly.
  • a. Arrive prepared and use evidence from that preparation to probe and reflect on ideas.
  • b. Follow agreed rules for discussion and decisions, track goals and deadlines, and assign roles as needed.
  • c. Ask questions that link several speakers' ideas and reply with relevant evidence and observations.
  • d. Take in new information and defend or change their views based on the evidence.
• SL.8.2 Analyze why information is presented in varied media and judge the social, commercial or political motives behind it.
• SL.8.3 Trace a speaker's argument, judge its reasoning and evidence, and notice when irrelevant evidence is added.
• SL.8.4 Present claims and findings in a focused, coherent way with relevant evidence, sound reasoning and well-chosen detail.
• SL.8.5 Build multimedia and visual displays into presentations to clarify, strengthen claims and add interest.
• SL.8.6 Adjust speech to the context, using formal English when called for, with good eye contact, volume and clear pronunciation.

Language (L)

• L.8.1 Show control of standard English grammar and usage in speech and writing.
  • a. Explain what gerunds, participles and infinitives do, generally and in given sentences.
  • b. Form and use active and passive voice.
  • c. Form and use verbs in indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional and subjunctive moods.
  • d. Spot and fix unwanted shifts in voice and mood.
• L.8.2 Show control of capital letters, punctuation and spelling in writing.
  • a. Show a pause or break with a comma, ellipsis or dash.
  • b. Show an omission with an ellipsis.
  • c. Spell correctly, checking references when needed.
• L.8.3 Apply knowledge of language and conventions when writing, speaking, reading or listening.
  • a. Use voice and mood for effect, e.g. to stress the actor or express something contrary to fact.
• L.8.4 Figure out new and multiple-meaning words met in grade 8 reading and content, using several strategies.
  • a. Use sentence or paragraph context and a word's role as clues.
  • b. Use familiar Greek or Latin word parts as clues to meaning.
  • c. Use general and specialized references for pronunciation, exact meaning or part of speech.
  • d. Check a guessed meaning in context or in a reference.
• L.8.5 Show understanding of figurative language, word relationships and small differences in meaning.
  • a. Interpret verbal irony and puns in context.
  • b. Use the relationships between words to understand each one better.
  • c. Tell apart the connotations of words with similar definitions.
• L.8.6 Learn and correctly use grade-level academic and subject words, building vocabulary when a word matters for understanding.