8th grade ELA begins with reviewing basic reading and writing skills that carry on throughout the year. Students move into informational reading, learning about text structures and strategies to break down informational texts. Students also will gain a foundation in argumentative writing structure, focusing on writing claim statements, basing arguments on researched evidence, and building thorough commentary to explain their evidence and support their claims. Though they explore different forms of argumentative writing, students will build off these core concepts at the heart of argumentative writing.
Throughout the semester, students will also explore higher level reading and writing units. They will focus on citing evidence and evaluating credible informational texts. In narrative reading, students will learn various reading strategies, explore author’s decisions, develop a sound understanding of how to identify themes and how to write about them, and they will review a variety of story elements and narrative perspectives. In narrative writing, students will explore different writing techniques and strategies, as well as experiment with different points of view and different genres.
Throughout the semester, students will also explore higher level reading and writing units. They will focus on citing evidence and evaluating credible informational texts. In narrative reading, students will learn various reading strategies, explore author’s decisions, develop a sound understanding of how to identify themes and how to write about them, and they will review a variety of story elements and narrative perspectives. In narrative writing, students will explore different writing techniques and strategies, as well as experiment with different points of view and different genres.