In the Grade 8 English curriculum, students explore the concepts of justice, tolerance and adversity through discussions of characters, conflicts, and themes in varying genres of literary works. As students read, analyze, and respond to these central concepts in novels, short stories, and non-fiction texts, they gain insight into their lives and the world around them.
The goal of English 8 is to continue to increase students' skills in the following areas: vocabulary usage, decoding, literary analysis, formal, thesis-based writing, as well as informal writing. Within these units, students work both individually and collaboratively to sharpen their creativity, leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills while, at the same time, infusing the self-directed learning requirements demanded of 21st-century learners. The literary selections of English 8 include short stories, poetry, non-fiction, and novels. Novels may include, but are not limited to, Trouble by Gary Schmidt, The Call of the Wild by Jack London, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Pearl by John Steinbeck. Also, students are introduced to their first Shakespearean play, the comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream. An annual live performance of the play is sponsored by the HPTA. From these texts, students analyze and evaluate the elements of fiction. Formal student writing involves thesis-based research and thesis-based literary analysis.
Examination of word choice, sentence variety, and paragraph structure strengthens communication skills. In addition to rules of usage, punctuation, and spelling, students continue to refine their skills in providing textual evidence while developing an awareness of voice and audience in their writing.
Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes: