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GRADE 8
The Penn-Delco School District’s Secondary Language Arts Curriculum is based on the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.
A. Students in Grade 8 who meet the reading standards are able to:
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Locate appropriate texts for an assigned purpose.
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Use knowledge of root words, context clues and glossaries to understand vocabulary.
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Identify basic facts and ideas in texts through recall, asking questions, rereading, predicting, visualizing, and clarifying through discussions.
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Expand reading vocabulary by identifying idioms and words with literal and figurative meanings.
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Demonstrate after reading understanding and interpretations of both fiction and non-fiction text by citing evidence, comparing and contrasting, making extensions and analyzing positions.
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Demonstrate fluency by reading aloud with accuracy, self correcting mistakes, using appropriate flow and pronunciation.
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Differentiate between fact and opinion and essential and nonessential information.
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Draw inferences based on a variety of information sources.
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Evaluate text organization and content to determine author’s purpose and effectiveness.
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Read works of literature and analyze using literary elements, including characterization, setting, plot, point of view, tone and style.
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Analyze literary devices including rhyme, rhythm, meter, alliteration, hyperbole, personification, metaphor, simile and illusion.
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Identify various poetic forms.
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Analyze drama to determine reasons for a character’s actions.
B. Students in Grade 8 who meet the writing standards are able to:
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Write original short stories, poems and plays,
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Write multi-paragraph informational pieces including letters, directions, reports, essays, articles and interviews.
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Write persuasive pieces with a clearly stated opinion, detailed support and counter argument.
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Write with a distinct focus, well developed content, logical organization and smooth transitions.
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Demonstrate understanding of stylistic aspects of writing by using varied sentences, precise word choice, tone and voice.
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Revise writing after rethinking the logic of organization and rechecking the central idea, content, paragraph development, details, style, tone and word choice.
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Edit writing using the conventions of language including correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation and sentence structure.
C. Students in Grade 8 who meet the speaking and listening standards are able to:
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Listen to others, analyze the information and take notes when necessary.
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Relate listened to selection to prior knowledge, predict outcomes, summarize events and identify new words and concepts.
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Speak using complete sentences and accurate pronunciation.
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Adjust volume to purpose and audience and adjust pace to convey meaning.
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Contribute to discussions with relevant comments and respond appropriately.
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Participate in both large and small discussions and presentations.
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Conduct interviews
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Participate in informal debates.
D. Students who meet the characteristics and functions of the English language standard are able to:
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Describe the origins and meanings of foreign words commonly used in the English language.
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Analyze the role and place of standard American English in speech, writing and literature.
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Identify new words added to the English language over time and those that have evolved in meaning.
E. Students in Grade 8 who meet the research standard are able to:
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Locate information from a variety of sources and evaluate the sources.
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Use traditional and electronic sources.
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Organize, summarize and present the information found through the research.
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