Grade-Level Indicators
READING/WRITING


Grade Eight
Phonemic Awareness, Word Recognition and Fluency Standard
Acquisition of Vocabulary Standard
  Reading Process:Concepts of Print, Comprehension Strategies and Self-Monitoring Strategies Standard 
Informational, Technical, and Persuasive Text Standard
  Literary Text Standard

Writing Process
Writing Applications
Writing Conventions
Research
Communication: Oral and Visual

Phonemic Awareness, Word Recognition and Fluency

Fluency continues to develop past the primary grades. Readers increase their rate of oral reading to near conversational pace. They show their appropriate use of pauses, pitch, stress and intonation that they are reading in clauses and sentence units to support comprehension. They gain control over a wider, complex sight vocabulary and over longer syntactic structures, so that they are able to read progressively more demanding texts with greater ease. Silent reading becomes considerably faster than oral reading and becomes the preferred, more efficient way to process everyday texts.
This standard is a K-3 standard. Therefore, there are no benchmarks beyond third grade.
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Acquisition of Vocabulary
Students acquire vocabulary through exposure to language-rich situations, such as reading books and other texts and conversing with adults and peers. They use context clues, as well as direct explanations provided by others, to gain new words. They learn to apply word analysis skills to build and extend their own vocabulary. As students progress through the grades, they become more proficient in applying their knowledge of words (origins, parts, relationships, meanings) to acquire specialized vocabulary that aids comprehension.
Benchmark A. Use context clues and text structures to determine the meaning of new vocabulary.
1. Define unknown words through context clues and the author’s use of comparison, contrast and cause and effect.
Benchmark B. Examine the relationships of analogical statements to infer word meanings.
3. Identify the relationships of pairs of words in analogical statements (e.g., synonyms and antonyms) and infer word meanings from these relationships.
Benchmark C. Recognize the importance and function of figurative language.
2. Apply knowledge of connotation and denotation to determine the meaning of words.
4. Infer the literal and figurative meaning of words and phrases and discuss the function of figurative language, including metaphors, similes and idioms.
Benchmark D. Explain how different events have influenced and changed the English language.
5. Examine and discuss the ways that different events (e.g., cultural, political, social, technological, and scientific events) impact and change the English language.
Benchmark E. Apply knowledge of roots and affixes to determine the meanings of complex words and subject area vocabulary.
6. Use knowledge of Greek, Latin and Anglo-Saxon roots, prefixes and suffixes to understand complex words and new subject-area vocabulary (e.g., unknown words in science, mathematics and social studies).
Benchmark F. Use multiple resources to enhance comprehension of vocabulary.
7. Determine the meanings and pronunciations of unknown words by using dictionaries, thesauruses, glossaries, technology and textual features, such as definitional footnotes or sidebars.
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Reading Process: Concepts of Print, Comprehension Strategies and Self-Monitoring Strategies

Students develop and learn to apply strategies that help them to comprehend and interpret informational and literary texts. Reading and learning to read are problem solving processes that require strategies for the reader to make sense of written language and remain engaged with texts. Beginners develop basic concepts about print (e.g., that print holds meaning) and how books work (e.g., text organization). As strategic readers, students learn to analyze and evaluate texts to demonstrate their understanding of text. Additionally, students learn to self-monitor their own comprehension by asking and answering questions about the text, self-correcting errors and assessing their own understanding. They apply these strategies effectively to assigned and self-selected texts read in and out of the classroom.
Benchmark A. Apply reading comprehension strategies to understand grade- appropriate text.
1. Apply reading comprehension strategies, including making predictions, comparing and contrasting, recalling and summarizing and making inferences and drawing conclusions.
4. Use criteria to choose independent reading materials (e.g., personal interest, knowledge of authors and genres, or recommendations from others).
5. Independently read books for various purposes (e.g., for enjoyment, for literary experience, to gain information or to perform a task).
Benchmark B. Demonstrate comprehension of print and electronic text by responding to questions (e.g., literal, inferential, evaluative and synthesizing).
2. Answer literal, inferential, evaluative and synthesizing questions to demonstrate comprehension of grade-appropriate print texts and electronic and visual media.
Benchmark C. Use appropriate self-monitoring strategies for comprehension.
3. Monitor own comprehension by adjusting speed to fit the purpose, or by skimming, scanning, reading on, looking back, not taking or summarizing what has been read so far in text.
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Reading Applications: Informational, Technical and Persuasive Text

Students gain information from reading for purposes of learning about a subject, doing a job, making decisions and accomplishing a task. Students need to apply the reading process to various types of informational texts, including essays, magazines, newspapers, textbooks, instruction manuals, consumer and workplace documents, reference materials, multimedia and electronic resources. They learn to attend to text features, such as titles, subtitles and visual aids, to make predictions and build text knowledge. They learn to read diagrams, charts, graphs, maps and displays in text as sources of additional information. Students use their knowledge of text structure to organize content information, analyze it and draw inferences from it. Strategic readers learn to recognize arguments, bias, stereotyping and propaganda in informational text sources.
Benchmark A. Evaluate how features and characteristics make information accessible and usable and how structures help authors achieve their purposes.
1. Compare and contrast text features, including format and headers of various informational texts in terms of their structure and purpose.
2. Identify and use the organizational structure of a text, such as chronological, compare-contrast, cause-effect, problem-solution, and evaluate its effectiveness.
9. Distinguish the characteristics of consumer materials (e.g., warranties, product information, instructional materials), functional or workplace documents (e.g., job-related materials, memoranda, instructions) and public documents (e.g., speeches or newspaper editorials).
Benchmark B. Identify examples of rhetorical devices and valid and invalid inferences, and explain how authors use these devices to achieve their purposes and reach their intended audiences.
5. Assess the adequacy, accuracy and appropriateness of an author's details, identifying persuasive techniques (e.g., bandwagon, testimonial and emotional word repetition) and examples of bias and stereotyping.
8. Recognize how writes cite facts, draw inferences and present opinion in informational text.
Benchmark C. Analyze whether graphics supplement textual information and promote the author’s purpose.
4. Analyze information found in maps, charts, tables, graphs, diagrams, cutaways and overlays.
Benchmark D. Explain and analyze how an author appeals to an audience and develops an argument or viewpoint in text.
6. Identify the author's purpose and intended audience for the text.
7. Analyze an author's argument, perspective or viewpoint and explain the development of key points.
Benchmark E. Utilize multiple sources pertaining to a singular topic to critique the various ways authors develop their ideas (e.g., treatment, scope and organization).
3. Compare and contrast the treatment, scope and organization of ides from different sources on the same topic.
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Reading Applications: Literary Text

Students enhance their understanding of the human story by reading literary texts that represent a variety of authors, cultures and eras. They learn to apply the reading process to the various genres of literature, including fables, folk tales, short stories, novels, poetry and drama. They demonstrate their comprehension by describing and discussing the elements of literature (e.g., setting, character and plot), analyzing the author’s use of language (e.g., word choice and figurative language), comparing and contrasting texts, inferring theme and meaning and responding to text in critical and creative ways. Strategic readers learn to explain, analyze and critique literary text to achieve deep understanding.
Benchmark A. Analyze interactions between characters in literary text and how the interactions affect the plot.
1. Identify and explain various types of characters (e.g., flat, round dynamic, static) and how their interactions and conflicts affect the plot.
Benchmark B. Explain and analyze how the context of setting and the author’s choice of point of view impact a literary text.
2. Analyze the influence of setting in relation to other literary elements.
4. Compare and contrast different points of view (e.g., first person and third person limited, omniscient, objective and subjective), and explain how voice affects literary text.
Benchmark C. Identify the structural elements of the plot and explain how an author develops conflicts and plot to pace the events in literary text.
3. Explain how authors pace action and use subplots, parallel episodes and climax.
Benchmark D. Identify similar recurring themes across different works.
5. Identify and explain universal themes across different works by the same author and by different authors.
Benchmark E. Analyze the use of a genre to express a theme or topic.
6. Explain how an author's choice of genre affects the expression of theme or topic.
Benchmark F. Identify and analyze how an author uses figurative language, sound devices and literary techniques to shape plot, set meaning and develop tone.
7. Identify examples of foreshadowing and flashback in a literary text.
8. Explain ways in the author conveys mood and tone through word choice, figurative language, and syntax.
Benchmark G. Explain techniques used by authors to develop style.
9. Examine symbols used in literary texts.
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Writing Processes

Students’ writing develops when they regularly engage in the major phases of the writing process. The writing process includes the phases of prewriting, drafting, revising and editing and publishing. They learn to plan their writing for different purposes and audiences. They learn to apply their writing skills in increasingly sophisticated ways to create and produce compositions that reflect effective word and grammatical choices. Students develop revision strategies to improve the content, organization and language of their writing. Students also develop editing skills to improve writing conventions.
Benchmark A. Formulate writing ideas and identify a topic appropriate to the purpose and audience.
1. Generate writing ideas through discussions with others and from printed material, and keep a list of writing ideas.
3. Establish a thesis statement for informational writing or a plan for narrative writing.
4. Determine a purpose and audience and plan strategies (e.g., adapting focus, content structure and point of view) to address purpose and audience.
Benchmark B. Determine the usefulness of organizers and apply appropriate pre-writing tasks.
2. Conduct background reading, interviews or surveys when appropriate.
5. Use organizational strategies (e.g., notes and outlines) to plan writing.
Benchmark C. Use revision strategies to improve the style, variety of sentence structure, clarity of the controlling idea, logic, effectiveness of word choice and transitions between paragraphs, passages or ideas.
6. Organize writing with an effective and engaging introduction, body and a conclusion that summarizes, extends or elaborates on points or ideas in the writing.
7. Vary simple, compound and complex sentence structures.
8. Group related ideas into paragraphs, including topic sentences following paragraph form, and maintain a consistent focus reinforced by parallel structures across paragraphs.
9. Use precise language, action verbs, sensory details, colorful modifiers and style as appropriate to audience and purpose.
10. Use available technology to compose text.
11. Reread and analyze clarity of writing and consistency of point of view.
12. Add and delete information and details to better elaborate on a stated central idea and to more effectively accomplish purpose.
13. Rearrange words, sentences and paragraphs, and add transitional words and phrases to clarify meaning.
14. Use resources and reference materials (e.g., dictionaries and thesauruses) to select more effective vocabulary.
Benchmark D. Edit to improve sentence fluency, grammar and usage.
15. Proofread writing, edit to improve conventions (e.g., grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization) and identify and correct fragments and run-ons.
Benchmark E. Apply tools to judge the quality of writing.
16. Apply tools (e.g., rubric, checklist and feedback) to judge the quality of writing.
Benchmark F. Prepare writing for publication that is legible, follows an appropriate format and uses techniques such as electronic resources and graphics
17. Prepare for publication (e.g., for display or for sharing with others) writing that follows a manuscript form appropriate for the purpose, which could include such techniques as electronic resources, principles of design (e.g., margins, tabs, spacing and columns) and graphics (e.g., drawings, charts and graphs) to enhance the final product.
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Writing Applications

Students need to understand that various types of writing require different language, formatting and special vocabulary. Writing serves many purposes across the curriculum and takes various forms. Beginning writers learn about the various purposes of writing; they attempt and use a small range of familiar forms (e.g., letters). Developing writers are able to select text forms to suit purpose and audience. They can explain why some text forms are more suited to a purpose than others and begin to use content-specific vocabulary to achieve their communication goals. Proficient writers control effectively the language and structural features of a large repertoire of text forms. They deliberately choose vocabulary to enhance text and structure in their writing according to audience and purpose.
Benchmark A. Compose narratives that establish a specific setting, plot and a consistent point of view, and develop characters by using sensory details and concrete language.
1. Write narratives that:
a. sustain reader interest by pacing action and developing an engaging plot (e.g., tension and suspense);
b. use literary devices to enhance style and tone; and
c. create complex characters in a definite, believable setting.
6. Produce informal writings (e.g., journals, notes and poems) for various purposes.
Benchmark B. Write responses to literature that extend beyond the summary and support references to the text, other works, other authors or to personal knowledge.
2. Write responses to literature that organize an insightful interpretation around several clear ideas, premises or images and support judgments with specific references to the original text, to other texts, authors and to prior knowledge.
Benchmark C. Produce letters (e.g., business, letters to the editor, job applications) that follow the conventional style appropriate to the text, include appropriate details and exclude extraneous details and inconsistencies.
3. Write business letters, letters to the editor and job applications that:
a. address audience needs, stated purpose and context in a clear and efficient manner;
b. follow the conventional style appropriate to the text using proper technical terms;
c. include appropriate facts and details;
d. exclude extraneous details and inconsistencies; and
e. provide a sense of closure to the writing.
Benchmark D. Use documented textual evidence to justify interpretations of literature or to support a research topic.
4. Write informational essays or reports, including research, that:
a. pose relevant and tightly drawn questions that engage the reader;
b. provide a clear and accurate perspective on the subject;
c. create an organizing structure appropriate to the purpose, audience and context;
d. support the main ideas with facts, details, examples and explanations from sources; and
e. document sources and include bibliographies.
Benchmark E. Write a persuasive piece that states a clear position, includes relevant information and offers compelling evidence in the form of facts and details.
5. Write persuasive compositions that:
a. establish and develop a controlling idea;
b. support arguments with detailed evidence;
c. exclude irrelevant information; and
d. cite sources of information.
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 Writing Conventions

Students learn to master writing conventions through exposure to good models and opportunities for practice. Writing conventions include spelling, punctuation, grammar and other conventions associated with forms of written text. They learn the purposes of punctuation: to clarify sentence meaning and help readers know how writing might sound aloud. They develop and extend their understanding of the spelling system, using a range of strategies for spelling words correctly and using newly learned vocabulary in their writing. They grow more skillful at using the grammatical structures of English to effectively communicate ideas in writing and to express themselves.
Benchmark A. Use correct spelling conventions.
1. Use correct spelling conventions.
Benchmark B. Use correct punctuation and capitalization.
2. Use correct punctuation and capitalization.
Benchmark C. Demonstrate understanding of the grammatical conventions of the English language.
3. Use all eight parts of speech (e.g., noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective, conjunction, preposition, interjection).
4. Use clauses (e.g., main, subordinate) and phrases (e.g., gerund, infinitive, participial).
5. Use parallel structure to present items in a series and items juxtaposed for emphasis.
6. Use proper placement of modifiers.
7. Maintain the use of appropriate verb tenses.
8. Conjugate regular and irregular verbs in all tenses correctly.
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Research

Students define and investigate self-selected or assigned issues, topics and problems. They locate, select and make use of relevant information from a variety of media, reference and technological sources. Students use an appropriate form to communicate their findings.
Benchmark A. Formulate open-ended research questions suitable for investigation and adjust questions as necessary while research is conducted.
1. Compose open-ended questions for research, assigned or personal interest, and modify questions as necessary during inquiry and investigation.
Benchmark B. Evaluate the usefulness and credibility of data and sources.
2. Identify appropriate sources and gather relevant information from multiple sources (e.g., school library catalogs, online databases, electronic resources and Internet-based resources).
3. .Explain the usefulness and accuracy of sources by determining their validity (e.g., authority, accuracy, objectivity, publication date and coverage) and define primary and secondary sources.
Benchmark C. Organize information from various resources and select appropriate sources to support central ideas, concepts and themes.
4. Select an appropriate structure for organizing information in a systematic way (e.g., notes, outlines, charts, tables and graphic organizers).
5. Compile and organize the important information and select appropriate sources to support central ideas, concepts and themes.
Benchmark D. Use style guides to produce oral and written reports that give proper credit for sources (e.g., words, ideas, images and information) and include an acceptable format for source acknowledgement.
6. Integrate quotations and citations into written text to maintain a flow of ideas.
7. Use style guides to produce oral and written reports that give proper credit for sources and include an acceptable format for source acknowledgement.
Benchmark E. Communicate findings, reporting on the substance and processes orally, visually and in writing or through multimedia.
8. Use a variety of communication techniques, including oral, visual, written or multimedia reports, to present information that supports a clear position about the topic or research question and to maintain an appropriate balance between researched information and original ideas.
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Communication: Oral and Visual

Students learn to communicate effectively through exposure to good models and opportunities for practice. By speaking, listening and providing and interpreting visual images, they learn to apply their communication skills in increasingly sophisticated ways. Students learn to deliver presentations that effectively convey information and persuade or entertain audiences. Proficient speakers control language and deliberately choose vocabulary to clarify points and adjust presentations according to audience and purpose.
Benchmark A. Use a variety of strategies to enhance listening comprehension.
1. Apply active listening strategies (e.g., monitoring message for clarity, selecting and organizing essential information, noting cues such as changes in pace).
Benchmark B. Analyze the techniques used by speakers and media to influence an audience, and evaluate the effect this has on the credibility of a speaker or media message.
2. Identify and analyze the persuasive techniques (e.g., bandwagon, testimonial, glittering generalities, emotional word repetition and bait and switch) used in presentations and media messages.
3. Determine the credibility of the speaker (e.g., hidden agendas, slanted or biased material) and recognize fallacies of reasoning used in presentations and media messages.
Benchmark C. Evaluate the content and purpose of a presentation by analyzing the language and delivery choices made by a speaker.
4. Identify the speaker’s choice of language and delivery styles (e.g., repetition, appeal to emotion, eye contact) and how they contribute to meaning.
Benchmark D. Demonstrate an understanding of effective speaking strategies by selecting appropriate language and adjusting presentation techniques.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the rules of the English language and select language appropriate to purpose and audience.
6. . Adjust volume, phrasing, enunciation, voice modulation and inflection to stress important ideas and impact audience response.
7. Vary language choices as appropriate to the context of the speech.
Benchmark E. Give informational presentations that present ideas in a logical sequence, include relevant facts and details from multiple sources and use a consistent organizational structure.
8. Deliver informational presentations (e.g., expository, research) that:
a. demonstrate an understanding of the topic and present events or ideas in a logical sequence;
b. support the controlling idea or thesis with well-chosen and relevant facts, details, examples, quotations, statistics, stories and anecdotes;
c. include an effective introduction and conclusion and use a consistent organizational structure (e.g., cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution);
d. use appropriate visual materials (e.g., diagrams, charts, illustrations) and available technology; and
e. draw from multiple sources, including both primary and secondary sources, and identify sources used.
Benchmark F. Provide persuasive presentations that use varied speaking techniques and strategies and include a clear controlling idea or thesis.
10. Deliver persuasive presentations that:
a. establish and develop a logical and controlled argument;
b. include relevant evidence, differentiating between evidence and opinion to support a position and to address counter-arguments or listener bias; and
c. consistently use common organizational structures as appropriate (e.g., cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution).
Benchmark G. Give presentations using a variety of delivery methods, visual displays and technology.
9. Deliver formal and informal descriptive presentations that convey relevant information and descriptive details.

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