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Nutley Public Schools

Language Arts Literacy

Grade 8

Unit 1
Coming of Age
Summary and Rationale
In this unit, students will understand the importance of identifying and following a specific theme through a variety of literary genres. Such may include non-fiction, science fiction, memoires, plays, short stories, poetry, or novels. Students will recognize, analyze and make connections to the theme: “Coming of Age”. The unit will require students to make meaningful connections to the theme as they compare characters, personal journeys, growth and the impact it has on other characters while relating such to their own personal experiences, current events, other literary texts and pop culture. In addition, students will examine and evaluate an author’s mood, tone, point of view and rationale in all literary pieces. Building on prior knowledge/experience and basic reasoning skills, students will identify the growth of a character(s) throughout a literary text while exercising reading comprehension skills including, but not limited to: analyzing and responding to the text, synthesizing a variety of ideas, and incorporating additional insight as they examine their role in society, history, life and culture. Student growth may be measured through a variety of questioning methods/assessments, including, but not limited to: multiple choice questions, open-ended questions, oral discussion, persuasive essay writing, online blogging and free writing/journal responses.
Recommended Pacing
Marking Period 1
10 weeks
September – November
Standards
Reading: Literature
RL.8.1 / Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
RL.8.2 / Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.
RL.8.3 / Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
RL.8.4 / Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
RL.8.5 / Compare and contrast the structure of two or more texts and analyze how the differing structure of each text contributes to its meaning and style.
RL.8.6 / Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader (e.g., created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor.
RL.8.7 / Analyze the extent to which a filmed or live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating the choices made by the director or actors.
RL.8.9 / Analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on themes, patterns of events, or character types from myths, traditional stories, or religious works such as the Bible, including describing how the material is rendered new.
Reading: Informational Text
RI.8.1 / Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
RI.8.2 / Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
RI.8.3 / Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (e.g., through comparisons, analogies, or categories).
RI.8.4 / Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
RI.8.5 / Analyze in detail the structure of a specific paragraph in a text, including the role of particular sentences in developing and refining a key concept.
RI.8.6 / Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.
Writing
W.8.1 / Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
W.8.2 / Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
W.8.4 / Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
W.8.5 / With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.
W.8.6 / Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
W.8.9 / Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
W.8.10 / Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Speaking and Listening
SL.8.1 / Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
SL.8.2 / Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g., social, commercial, political) behind its presentation.
SL.8.3 / Delineate a speaker’s argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and relevance and sufficiency of the evidence and identifying when irrelevant evidence is introduced.
SL.8.4 / Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with relevant evidence, sound valid reasoning, and well-chosen details; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
SL.8.5 / Integrate multimedia and visual displays into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and add interest.
SL.8.6 / Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate. (See grade 8 Language standards 1 and 3 here for specific expectations.)
Language
L.8.1 / Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
L.8.2 / Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
L.8.3 / Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
L.8.4 / Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words or phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
  • Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word’s position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
  • Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede, secede).
  • Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.
  • Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary).

L.8.5 / Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
  • Interpret figures of speech (e.g. verbal irony, puns) in context.
  • Use the relationship between particular words to better understand each of the words.
  • Distinguish among the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations (definitions).

L.8.6 / Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
Interdisciplinary Connections
Standard
In progress based on Middle School Model initiatives…
Integration of Technology
Standard
CPI # / Cumulative Progress Indicator (CPI)
Instructional Focus
Enduring Understandings
Public speaking will assist in the maturation of students as contributing members of society.
Analyzing literature helps students to develop and refine critical thinking skills.
Life lessons are gleaned from literature and history.
Written expression is a valuable form of communication and directly influences verbal communication.
Authors use specific writing styles and strategies to convey meaning and purpose to the reader, thus helping the reader to make personal, societal, and/or historic connections to literature.
The connection between life’s and literature’s lessons can not only improve the quality of students’ lives, but also the quality of life of those they interact within society.
Moral, social, and intellectual advancement cannot be achieved without reflection.
Literature can be an agent of social change.
Figurative language has a significant impact on the reader’s mind and comprehension.
Poetry prose (rhyme scheme and structure) can possess symbolic meaning.
Essential Question
How can I develop good public speaking skills?
How do book reports and literary analysis differ?
How does vocabulary acquisition and usage impact me on a daily basis?
How does an author’s use of literary elements (point of view, character development, flashback, etc.) in fictional writing affect a reader’s comprehension?
How do I bring to bear my life experiences on what I read?
How do specific writing purposes (persuasion, exposition, analysis) appear in one’s life on a daily basis?
How does prose contribute to a poem’s meaning or message?
How does society and culture impact literature?
How does literature impact society and culture?
Evidence of Learning (Assessments)
Daily Exit Passes
Book Talk Presentations
Daily Grammar/Editing Sentences
Persuasive Essays
Open-Ended Responses
Novel Quizzes and/or Tests
Literary/Theme Analysis Paper
Projects/Presentations
Vocabulary Tests
Weekly Class Forum/Blog Postings
Class Discussions
*** Common Assessment #1 – Persuasive Essay (used as a diagnostic assessment)
Assessment Date – Late October / Early November (end of 1st MP)
Objectives
Students will know or learn:
  • The elements of plot (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution)
  • Literary devices (characterization, conflict, point of view, flashback, foreshadowing, setting, mood, tone, etc) and figurative language
  • Good public speaking skills
  • Close-reading strategies for informational texts and other non-fiction genres
  • Formal writing response format for open-ended writing
  • Selection of a topic choice/stance based on strength of argument
  • Development of supporting evidence for their chosen stance
  • Getting the reader’s attention
  • Supporting an opinion with a variety of connections (personal, literature-based, historic, societal, etc.)
  • How to conclude a thought/opinion/argument
  • How the author uses tone to impact the reader’s mood
  • How to interpret theme from a work and analyze it through writing
  • The historical and/or societal significance related to the novel and the author’s influence/inspiration
  • How to respond to an open-ended question for a variety of texts
  • How symbolism and theme correlate and work to improve the reader’s understanding of character and plot events
  • Pertinent and related vocabulary, including terms of historical/societal significance
Students will be able to:
  • Analyze literature (fiction and non-fiction) and the author’s use of plot and other literary devices
  • Respond to literary analysis-based questions and utilize the text as support for their responses
  • Deliver an oral presentation on literature utilizing note cards for key points and demonstrating good public speaking skills
  • Make connections across generations between non-fiction texts and their own lives
  • Identify key concepts and ideas within informational texts and other non-fiction genres
  • Formulate responses to non-fiction literature-based questions and utilize relevant text-evidence as support
  • Brainstorm possible arguments/ideas to support their stances/opinions
  • Effectively develop and convey purpose through writing to the reader
  • Utilize proper grammar mechanics and usage in writing
  • Vary sentence structure and word choice/vocabulary
  • Engage in the writing process (planning, writing, revising/editing, producing)
  • Utilize grade-level and above grade-level vocabulary
  • Identify and explain the central conflict of a story
  • Analyze an author’s methods of characterization so as to draw connections with main characters
  • Determine the mood of a story and speculate as to the impact it has on a reader’s comprehension
  • Formulate logical and text-supported responses to narrative-based literature and text questions.
  • Identify and analyze the deeper meaning behind an author’s use of literary-based symbols and determine the impact they have on the text’s meaning and the author’s purpose

Integration
Technology Integration
Writing Integration
Suggested Resources
Summer Reading Presentation Handout and Guide
Summer Reading Presentation Rubric
Viva New Jersey
Stop the Sun
A Shot at It
The Diary of Anne Frank
Back There
The New Colossus
Chinese Hot Pot
Dreams
I, Too
Dream Keeper
Keepsakes
Corretta and Edythe
In Balance with Nature
The Gettysburg Address
A Spirit Unshackled
Kin
Camouflage
Jane Addams
A Summer to Die
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Secret Life of Bees
Frankenstein
Homecoming
One Fat Summer
Oliver Twist
Invitation to the Game
The Yearling

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Nutley Public Schools

Language Arts Literacy

Grade 8

Unit 2
Social Issues
Summary and Rationale
In this unit, students will understand the importance of identifying and following a specific theme through a variety of literary genres. Such may include non-fiction, science fiction, memoires, plays, short stories, poetry, or novels. Students will recognize, analyze and make connections to the theme: “Social Issues”. The unit will require students to make meaningful connections to the theme as they identify, explore, and analyze current and past real world social issues in connection to the literature and writing. In addition, students will examine and evaluate an author’s mood, tone, point of view and rationale in all literary pieces, as it relates to the theme. Building on prior knowledge/experience and basic reasoning skills, students will identify the impact that literature has on society and history, and vice versa, while exercising reading comprehension skills including, but not limited to: analyzing and responding to the text, synthesizing a variety of ideas, and incorporating additional insight as they examine their role in society, history, life and culture. Student growth may be measured through a variety of questioning methods/assessments, including, but not limited to: multiple choice questions, open-ended questions, oral discussion, persuasive and expository essay writing, research-based projects and writing, online blogging and free writing/journal responses.
Recommended Pacing
Marking Period 2
10 weeks
November – January
Standards
Reading: Literature
RL.8.1 / Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
RL.8.2 / Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.
RL.8.3 / Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
RL.8.4 / Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
RL.8.5 / Compare and contrast the structure of two or more texts and analyze how the differing structure of each text contributes to its meaning and style.
RL.8.6 / Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader (e.g., created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor.
RL.8.7 / Analyze the extent to which a filmed or live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating the choices made by the director or actors.
RL.8.9 / Analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on themes, patterns of events, or character types from myths, traditional stories, or religious works such as the Bible, including describing how the material is rendered new.
Reading: Informational Text
RI.8.1 / Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
RI.8.2 / Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
RI.8.3 / Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (e.g., through comparisons, analogies, or categories).
RI.8.4 / Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
RI.8.5 / Analyze in detail the structure of a specific paragraph in a text, including the role of particular sentences in developing and refining a key concept.
RI.8.6 / Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.
RI.8.7 / Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums (e.g., print or digital text, video, multimedia) to present a particular topic or idea.
RI.8.8 / Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.
RI.8.9 / Analyze a case in which two or more texts provide conflicting information on the same topic and identify where the texts disagree on matters of fact or interpretation.