Seventh to Eighth Grade Mastery and Review Packet

To get a jumpstart on your first homework assignment for 8th grade language arts, here is a packet you can work on over the summer. The completed packet will be due

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Before you enter eighth grade, you are expected to have mastered all of the following concepts and skills. This is the foundation upon which eighth grade skills will be built, so the following skills will not be re-taught in eighth grade. If you can successfully complete the following problems and questions on your own, you have mastered this content and are on-target to begin eighth grade language arts.

Parts of Speech: Complete the chart below

POS / Abbrev / Definition/What it does / 3 Examples
in a sentence
noun
pronoun
adjective
adverb
verb
preposition
conjunction
interjection

Define and give three examples of each type of verb:

  • Helping
  • Action
  • Linking

What are the three articles? ______, ______, ______

Articles are what POS? ______

Identify the part of speech for the underlined word.

  • Jake will fish down by the lake early tomorrow. ______
  • We went to the fish fry last night. ______
  • Jessica bought three new fish for her tank. ______
  • The players were fielding the ball quite well today. ______
  • Jethro planted the fields with his mother. ______
  • The field marshal was looking for the runaway slave. ______
  • The child spelled her name wrong. ______
  • What will youname your new puppy? ______
  • She lost her name tag in the lobby. ______

Label the part of speech for each word in the following sentences:

  • Wow! The big dogs bark loudly and run quickly.
  • On my birthday, my mom bought me a cake.
  • Tough tests are given by mean teachers in English class.
  • I love the song on the radio.
  • She should have studied for her test on prepositions.

Underline the prepositional phrases. Label each word in the prepositional phrases in each sentence. (9 total)

  • For my birthday, I would like a cake with chocolate frosting.
  • Under normal conditions, the cat would eat the food from the fridge near the wall.
  • The squirrel was sitting with his friend among the leaves on the branch above the pond.

Literature:

Draw Freytag’s Pyramid. Label and define the seven parts of the pyramid.

Define each of these terms:

First person POV:

Third person limited POV:

Third person omniscient POV:

Third person objective POV:

Plot:

Theme:

Characterization (list the 4 methods):

1. 3.

2.4.

What are the four types of conflict? Define or explain each type:

1.

2.

3.

4.Editing

10 Comma Rules or “Comma”-ndments: This list is for reference and can be used on this page.

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  1. Appositive (renames what comes before it)
  2. Compound sentence
  3. Items in a list (3 or more)
  4. Multiple adjectives of equal rank
  5. Prepositional phrase at the beginning of the sentence (intro material)
  6. Instead of Parentheses (info like “I think” or “of course”)
  7. Interrupter (extra fact/detail)
  8. Special Situations (dates, locations, numbers)
  9. Direct Address
  10. Dialogue

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Place the comma(s) in the appropriate place(s) for each sentence. The number after the sentence tells you how many commas you need to insert. Write a word or two on the line to name the rule that tells you the sentence needs a comma (see 10 rules above).

  • Alyse Nicole and Jessica counted the papers for the librarian. (3) ______
  • On November 9 1994 I was born in Portland Oregon. (3) ______and ______
  • Mr. Kelly an eighth grade science teacher coaches volleyball. (2) ______
  • We will write poems in language arts and then we can read them at the coffee house. (1) ______
  • Yes I plan on attending. (1) ______
  • Matthew said “This is very intimidating.” (1) ______
  • Mom can I please stay to join the study group? (1) ______
  • During the summer I will be reviewing comma usage. (1) ______

Write a sentence using the following comma rule:

  1. Appositive
  1. Beginning with a prepositional phrase
  1. Direct address
  1. Compound sentence

Homophones

Use the correct there, their, or they’re to properly complete each sentence.

  • Please return the books to ______proper owners.
  • Will you walk ______with me after school?
  • If she agrees with the board, ______going to pass the proposal.
  • ______have been many acts of vandalism lately.
  • Where did ______dog go when it ran away?
  • Tonight, ______going shopping for the new furniture.

Use the correct form of each homophone to properly complete each sentence. You are expected to know how to properly use all the homophones on this page before you start 8th grade. Study!

  • No one believed that the dog could clap ______paws together. (its / it’s)
  • ______clearly going to rain today. (its/ it’s)
  • I haven’t decided ______I should put my bag. (where/ wear/ were)
  • We ______going to go shopping, but my mom said no. (where/ wear/ were)
  • If you don’t do ______LA summer packet, ______going to get in trouble. (your/ you’re)
  • No one is ______to talk ______during the test. (allowed/ aloud)
  • In some classes, I get ______while the teacher writes on the ______. (board/ bored)
  • We will ______study before that test. (defiantly/ definitely)
  • What ______did you get in the school play? (roll/ role)
  • I need a fresh ______of paper to write an essay about world ______. (peace/ piece)
  • First, I’m going to clean my room, and ______I’ll play outside. (than/ then)
  • My older brother is smarter ______he looks. (than/ then)

Poetry: Complete the chart:

Device / Definition / Example
simile
metaphor
personification
alliteration
onomatopoeia
end rhyme
internal rhyme
imagery
allusion
extended
metaphor / No Example Needed
Rhythm (meter)
No Example Needed

Identify poetic devices in the following poem.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.
Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.
Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

-Shel Silverstein

  1. How many stanzas are in the poem? ______
  2. How many lines are in the poem? ______
  3. Underline three (3) examples of alliteration.
  4. Put a box around two (2) examples of imagery.
  5. Label the rhyme scheme.
  6. Identify one example of personification.
All the World's a Stage

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

- by William Shakespeare (As You Like It)

  1. How many stanzas? ______How many lines? ______
  2. Put a box around three (3) similes.
  3. Which poetic device is used in line 1? ______
  4. Underline and label two (2) examples of alliteration.
  5. Give three line numbers that have enjambment: ______
  6. Give three line numbers that have caesura: ______

Beside the underlined line(s) write the poetic device being used.

Viva La Vida
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own ______
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes

Listen as the crowd would sing
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand______
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing ______
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield ______
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
It was the wicked and wild wind ______
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums______
People couldn't believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?
(Refrain)

- Coldplay

Write two sentences explaining what this song could be describing (there are multiple interpretations for

this poem).

Writing Process

List the steps of the writing process in order.

ConferencingDraftingRevising

EditingPublishingPrewriting

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1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6

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List the proper writing step in which the following occur.

  • ______BIG change
  • ______Change ideas into sentences
  • ______Use a red pen to find grammatical errors
  • ______NO errors
  • ______Praises – Questions – Suggestions
  • ______Brainstorming
  • ______CUPS (capitalization, usage, punctuation, spelling)
  • ______FATP2GO
  • ______Read your work to someone else
  • ______ADD (action, dialogue, details)
Taming of the Shrew: Write 5-10 sentences to summarize this play.

______

Shakespeare: Define or answer the question:
  1. Define Stratfordian

- List one argument for a Stratfordian

  1. Define Anti-Stratfordian

- List one argument for an Anti-Stratfordian

3. Define Comedy

4. Define Tragedy

5. Where was William Shakespeare born? ______

6. Who was his wife? ______

7. What personal tragedy did Shakespeare experience with his family?

______

  1. What are the names of Shakespeare’s acting company?

______and ______

  1. List three (3) plays that Shakespeare wrote. ______,

______, and ______

10. Who was ruling England during Shakespeare’s time? ______

11. What era is this time period called? ______

12. On the “stage” please

label upstage, downstage,

stage left, & stage right.

Audience

Thesis Statements:

Write a three-pronged thesis statement for each of the 2 questions below.

  1. What is the best class in 7th grade?
  1. What is the best sport to watch on TV?

Using the statement you wrote in #2 above, write a complete topic sentence for each prong.

Prong 1:

Prong 2:

Prong 3:

Fill in the blanks to make these thesis statements PARALLEL:

  • My mom is amazing because of her kindness, ______, and ______.
  • I like PTMS because it is safe, ______, and ______.
  • In physical education class, we run, ______, and ______.

MLA Heading: in the top LEFTcorner of your essays, what four lines do you type?

______

______

______

______

Works Cited:

This part is a challenge! Take ANY TWO books from your home and write Works Cited entries for those books by following the formula, rules, and example below.

Book #1 Works Cited Entry:

Book #2 Works Cited Entry:

8thGrade Language Arts Introductory Writing Assignment

For your first writing assignment as an eighth grader, you will generate an article about yourself. This article will help your teacher get to know your writing style and something interesting about you as a person. Use this sheet to prewrite.

*Draft by hand on a piece of linedpaper and attach your that draft and a final copy to this packet. You do not have to type it.

Content:

  • Choose ONE interesting thingabout yourselfas a focus (hobby, sport, trip you took, unique quality, accomplishment, etc.)
  • Include details to help your classmates and teacher appreciate the experience
  • Your article should include 3-4 HANDWRITTEN paragraphs (Paragraphs should be 4-8 sentences)
  • Include a title

F - Form is a personal essay. You will not need a thesis statement.

A – 8th grade teacher and classmates

T - ______

P – To introduce yourself to your teacher by telling about one interesting aspect of your life

8th Grade Accelerated Reader

The first AR due date is not until the end of October. However, some students like to read books over the summer. Keep these basic requirements in mind if you choose to read ahead:

  • Students are required to read 1-3 books and earn 15 points in 9 weeks. The books students choose can be any point value or book level, but the combined points EARNED after taking the digital AR tests must reach 15 points.
  • The AR computer test may ONLY be taken in the ELA classroom with the 8th grade ELA teacher. (This is different from 7th grade.) Tests taken in any other room (even the library) will receive NO CREDIT.
  • Students who earn 60% or higher earn points for the book. The points earned are proportional to the percent earned on the computer test.
  • Students who earn 59% or less on the computerized test have not demonstrated proficient comprehension of the book, and therefore, the score is 0 points earned. Students are NOT permitted to take a second test on the same book.

Books Students Cannot Use:

  • These books are part of the 8th grade curriculum, so these books are not permitted to count for AR: Unbroken, Night, The Cage, Goodnight Mr. Tom, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Incarceron
  • Books read previously for ELA 7, for AR at McMurray, or for any other grade are prohibited. AR is part of our school because it rewards students for practicing your reading and growing through books. Take this opportunity to find a new book, author, or series that you enjoy and read it.
  • Books that have been turned into movies are often removed from the AR test list. The following books are not permitted because of the popularity of the film version:

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  • Harry Potter series
  • Hunger Games series
  • Twilight series
  • The Mazerunner (first book not allowed)
  • Lightning Thief books 1-3
  • Divergent series
  • Diary of a WimpyKid series
  • Thirteen Reasons Why
  • Fault in Our Stars

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  • This list is NOT all-inclusive. Additional books may be removed from AR. Check with your ELA teacher if you are reading a book that has a film version.

Note: It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that:

  • the book chosen is on the AR list andhas an AR test.
  • the book is permitted by the teacher.
  • the book has not been tested previously.

Students can find out if a book has an AR test and how many points it is by checking arbookfind.com

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