Grade 8 English (North Carolina SCOS)

Reading Standards for Literature (RL)

• RL.8.1 Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports analysis and inferences.
• RL.8.2 Work out a theme and analyze its development, including its links to characters, setting, and plot.
• RL.8.3 Analyze how dialogue or incidents move the action, reveal character, or prompt decisions.
• RL.8.4 Analyze how word choices, including analogies and allusions, shape meaning and tone.
• RL.8.5 Compare and contrast the structures of two texts and how structure adds to meaning.
• RL.8.6 Analyze how differing points of view of characters and reader create suspense or humor.
• RL.8.7 Analyze how faithfully a filmed or live production follows the text or script.
• RL.8.9 Analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on myths, traditional stories, or religious works.
• RL.8.10 Read grade 8 literature at the high end of the grades 6–8 band independently for sustained periods.

Reading Standards for Informational Text (RI)

• RI.8.1 Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports analysis and inferences.
• RI.8.2 Find a central idea, analyze its development, and relate it to supporting ideas.
• RI.8.3 Analyze how a text connects and distinguishes individuals, ideas, or events.
• RI.8.4 Analyze how word choices, including analogies and allusions, shape meaning and tone.
• RI.8.5 Analyze in detail the structure of a paragraph and the role of particular sentences.
• RI.8.6 Work out an author's point of view or purpose and how the author answers conflicting evidence.
• RI.8.7 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different media for presenting a topic.
• RI.8.8 Outline and evaluate an argument, judging reasoning and evidence and spotting irrelevant evidence.
• RI.8.9 Analyze a case in which texts give conflicting information and identify where they disagree.
• RI.8.10 Read grade 8 informational texts at the high end of the grades 6–8 band independently.

Writing Standards (W)

• W.8.1 Write arguments supporting claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
• W.8.1a Organize ideas around a topic to plan writing.
• W.8.1b Introduce claims, distinguish them from counterclaims, and organize reasons and evidence logically.
• W.8.1c Support claims with logical reasoning and relevant evidence from credible sources.
• W.8.1d Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion among claims, counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.
• W.8.1e Establish and keep a formal style.
• W.8.1f Give a concluding statement or section that supports the argument.
• W.8.1g With some guidance, revise, edit, rewrite, or try a new approach.
• W.8.2 Write informative texts that convey complex ideas through well-chosen, organized content.
• W.8.2a Organize ideas around a topic to plan writing.
• W.8.2b Introduce a topic with a preview and organize ideas into broader categories, with graphics where useful.
• W.8.2c Develop the topic with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, details, quotations, or examples.
• W.8.2d Use suitable and varied transitions to create cohesion.
• W.8.2e Use precise language and subject-specific vocabulary.
• W.8.2f Establish and keep a formal style.
• W.8.2g Give a concluding statement or section that supports the explanation.
• W.8.2h With some guidance, revise, edit, rewrite, or try a new approach.
• W.8.3 Write narratives with relevant descriptive details and well-structured event sequences.
• W.8.3a Organize ideas around a topic to plan writing.
• W.8.3b Set the context and point of view, introduce a narrator or characters, and order events logically.
• W.8.3c Use narrative techniques such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection.
• W.8.3d Use varied transitions to show sequence, shifts in time or setting, and relationships among events.
• W.8.3e Use precise words, descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action.
• W.8.3f Give a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the events narrated.
• W.8.3g With some guidance, revise and edit with attention to purpose and audience.
• W.8.4 Use digital tools to produce and publish writing, show relationships between ideas, and work with others.
• W.8.5 Carry out short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources.
• W.8.6 Gather information from several sources with search terms, judge credibility, and cite in a standard format.

Speaking and Listening Standards (SL)

• SL.8.1 Take part in a range of discussions on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas.
• SL.8.1a Come prepared and refer to evidence to probe and reflect on ideas.
• SL.8.1b Follow rules for discussions and decision-making, track deadlines, and define roles.
• SL.8.1c Ask questions that connect several speakers' ideas and respond with evidence and observations.
• SL.8.1d Acknowledge new information and qualify or justify views in light of the evidence.
• SL.8.2 Analyze the purpose of information presented in different media and judge the motives behind it.
• SL.8.3 Outline a speaker's argument, judge reasoning and evidence, and spot irrelevant evidence.
• SL.8.4 Present claims and findings in a focused way with relevant evidence, sound reasoning, and good detail.
• SL.8.5 Integrate multimedia and visual displays to clarify information, strengthen claims, and add interest.

Language Standards (L)

• L.8.1 Use grade 8 grammar: verbals, voice and mood, pronoun case, modifiers, and complete sentences.
• L.8.2 Use grade 8 capitalization, punctuation (commas with nonrestrictive elements, semicolons, colons, hyphens), and spelling.
• L.8.3 Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
• L.8.3a Use active and passive voice and conditional mood for particular effects.
• L.8.4 Work out unknown and multiple-meaning words using context, word parts, relationships, and references.
• L.8.5 Show understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances.
• L.8.5a Interpret figures of speech in context.
• L.8.5b Tell apart the connotations of words with similar meanings.
• L.8.6 Use grade-level academic and subject-specific vocabulary accurately and build word knowledge.