Next Generation Learning Standards: Grade 8
Skills available for New York eighth-grade language arts standards
Strand
Print skill plan
8R
Literary and Informational Text
Key Ideas and Details
8R1 Cite textual evidence to strongly support an analysis of what the text says explicitly/implicitly and make logical inferences.
Theme
Text structure
Supporting details
Short stories
Text evidence in literary passages
Text evidence in informational passages
Text evidence in nonfiction books
8R1 Cite textual evidence to strongly support an analysis of what the text says explicitly/implicitly and make logical inferences.
Theme
Text structure
Supporting details
Short stories
Text evidence in literary passages
Text evidence in informational passages
Text evidence in nonfiction books
8R2 Determine one or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text; summarize a text.
Central idea
Theme
Supporting details
Central ideas in informational passages
Central ideas in nonfiction books
8R2 Determine one or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text; summarize a text.
Central idea
Theme
Supporting details
Central ideas in informational passages
Central ideas in nonfiction books
8R3 In literary texts, analyze how particular lines of dialogue or events propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision. In informational texts, analyze how individuals, events, and ideas are introduced, relate to each other, and are developed.
Nonfiction text relationships
Supporting details
Arguments
Analyze nonfiction passages
Analyze short stories
Analyze literary passages
8R3 In literary texts, analyze how particular lines of dialogue or events propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision. In informational texts, analyze how individuals, events, and ideas are introduced, relate to each other, and are developed.
Nonfiction text relationships
Supporting details
Arguments
Analyze nonfiction passages
Analyze short stories
Analyze literary passages
Craft and Structure
8R4 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, tone, and mood, including words with multiple meanings.
Vocabulary in context
Academic vocabulary
Multiple-meaning words
Word choice and usage
Tone
Figurative language
Word choice in literary passages
Vocabulary in context in nonfiction books
8R4 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, tone, and mood, including words with multiple meanings.
Vocabulary in context
Academic vocabulary
Multiple-meaning words
Word choice and usage
Tone
Figurative language
Word choice in literary passages
Vocabulary in context in nonfiction books
8R5 In literary texts, and informational texts, compare and contrast the structures of two or more texts in order to analyze how the differing structure of each text contributes to overall meaning, style, theme or central idea.
Nonfiction text structure
Development of ideas
Compare texts
8R5 In literary texts, and informational texts, compare and contrast the structures of two or more texts in order to analyze how the differing structure of each text contributes to overall meaning, style, theme or central idea.
Nonfiction text structure
Development of ideas
Compare texts
8R6 In literary texts, analyze how the differences between the point of view, perspectives of the characters, the audience, or reader create effects such as mood and tone. In informational texts, analyze how the author addresses conflicting evidence or viewpoints.
Author's purpose
Tone
Point of view
Arguments
Compare texts
8R6 In literary texts, analyze how the differences between the point of view, perspectives of the characters, the audience, or reader create effects such as mood and tone. In informational texts, analyze how the author addresses conflicting evidence or viewpoints.
Author's purpose
Tone
Point of view
Arguments
Compare texts
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
8R7 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different media-- text, audio, video, stage, or digital-- to present a particular subject or idea and analyze the extent to which a production remains faithful to or departs from the written text.
8R7 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different media-- text, audio, video, stage, or digital-- to present a particular subject or idea and analyze the extent to which a production remains faithful to or departs from the written text.
8R8 Trace and evaluate an argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient and recognizing when irrelevant evidence is introduced.
Development of ideas
Evidence and supporting details
Counterclaims
Logical fallacies
8R8 Trace and evaluate an argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient and recognizing when irrelevant evidence is introduced.
Development of ideas
Evidence and supporting details
Counterclaims
Logical fallacies
8R9 Choose and develop criteria in order to evaluate the quality of texts. Make connections to other texts, ideas, cultural perspectives, eras, and personal experiences.
8R9 Choose and develop criteria in order to evaluate the quality of texts. Make connections to other texts, ideas, cultural perspectives, eras, and personal experiences.
8W
Writing
Text Types and Purposes
8W1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
8W1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
8W1a: Introduce a precise claim, acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from a counterclaim, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.
8W1a: Introduce a precise claim, acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from a counterclaim, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.
8W1b: Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using credible sources while demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
Supporting evidence
Logical fallacies
8W1b: Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using credible sources while demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
Supporting evidence
Logical fallacies
8W1c: Use precise language and content-specific vocabulary to argue a claim.
Content-specific vocabulary
Word choice and usage
Persuasive strategies
8W1c: Use precise language and content-specific vocabulary to argue a claim.
Content-specific vocabulary
Word choice and usage
Persuasive strategies
8W1d: Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.
Conjunctions
Relative clauses
Transitions
8W1d: Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.
Conjunctions
Relative clauses
Transitions
8W1e: Provide a concluding statement or section that explains the significance of the argument presented.
8W1e: Provide a concluding statement or section that explains the significance of the argument presented.
8W1f: Maintain a style and tone appropriate to the writing task.
Author's purpose
Tone
Word choice and usage
8W1f: Maintain a style and tone appropriate to the writing task.
Author's purpose
Tone
Word choice and usage
8W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
8W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
8W2a: Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect.
Text structure
Organization
8W2a: Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect.
Text structure
Organization
8W2b: Develop a topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples; include formatting, graphics, and multimedia when useful to aid comprehension.
Text development and support
Plagiarism
Formatting
8W2b: Develop a topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples; include formatting, graphics, and multimedia when useful to aid comprehension.
Text development and support
Plagiarism
Formatting
8W2c: Use precise language and content-specific vocabulary to explain a topic.
Word choice and usage
Domain-specific vocabulary
8W2c: Use precise language and content-specific vocabulary to explain a topic.
Word choice and usage
Domain-specific vocabulary
8W2d: Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.
8W2d: Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.
8W2e: Provide a concluding statement or section that explains the significance of the information presented.
8W2e: Provide a concluding statement or section that explains the significance of the information presented.
8W2f: Establish and maintain a style appropriate to the writing task.
Tone and purpose
Word choice and usage
8W2f: Establish and maintain a style appropriate to the writing task.
Tone and purpose
Word choice and usage
8W3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective techniques, relevant descriptive details and clear sequencing.
8W3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective techniques, relevant descriptive details and clear sequencing.
8W3a: Engage the reader by establishing a point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters.
8W3a: Engage the reader by establishing a point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters.
8W3b: Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
Creative techniques
Point of view
Dialogue
8W3b: Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
Creative techniques
Point of view
Dialogue
8W3c: Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the relationships among experiences and events.
8W3c: Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the relationships among experiences and events.
8W3d: Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.
Descriptive details
Word choice and usage
8W3d: Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.
Descriptive details
Word choice and usage
8W3e: Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on what is experienced, observed, or resolved over the course of the narrative.
8W3e: Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on what is experienced, observed, or resolved over the course of the narrative.
8W4 Create a poem, story, play, art work, or other response to a text, author, theme or personal experience; explain divergences from the original text when appropriate.
8W4 Create a poem, story, play, art work, or other response to a text, author, theme or personal experience; explain divergences from the original text when appropriate.
8W5 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Apply grade 8 Reading standards to both literary and informational text, where applicable.
Informational texts
Literary texts
Compare texts
8W5 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Apply grade 8 Reading standards to both literary and informational text, where applicable.
Informational texts
Literary texts
Compare texts
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
8W6 Conduct research to answer questions, including self-generated questions, drawing on multiple sources, refocusing the inquiry when appropriate. Generate additional related questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.
8W6 Conduct research to answer questions, including self-generated questions, drawing on multiple sources, refocusing the inquiry when appropriate. Generate additional related questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.
8W7 Gather relevant information from multiple sources; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others; avoid plagiarism and follow a standard format for citation.
Analyze sources
Text evidence
Plagiarism
Citations
8W7 Gather relevant information from multiple sources; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others; avoid plagiarism and follow a standard format for citation.
Analyze sources
Text evidence
Plagiarism
Citations
8L
Language
Conventions of Academic English/Language for Learning
8L1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of academic English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
8L1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of academic English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
8L1a: Ensure that pronouns are in the proper case (subjective, objective, and possessive).
Pronouns and antecedents
Subject and object pronouns
Personal and reflexive pronouns
Relative pronouns
8L1a: Ensure that pronouns are in the proper case (subjective, objective, and possessive).
Pronouns and antecedents
Subject and object pronouns
Personal and reflexive pronouns
Relative pronouns
8L1b: Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person.
8L1b: Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person.
8L1c: Recognize and correct pronouns that have unclear or ambiguous antecedents.
8L1c: Recognize and correct pronouns that have unclear or ambiguous antecedents.
8L1d: Explain the function of phrases and clauses in general, as well as in specific sentences.
Complete sentences
Phrases and clauses
Verbals
Prepositional phrases
8L1d: Explain the function of phrases and clauses in general, as well as in specific sentences.
Complete sentences
Phrases and clauses
Verbals
Prepositional phrases
8L1e: Place phrases and clauses within a sentence, recognizing and correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers.
Relative clauses
Modifiers
8L1e: Place phrases and clauses within a sentence, recognizing and correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers.
Relative clauses
Modifiers
8L1f: Use simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences to signal differing relationships among ideas.
Conjunctive adverbs
Sentence variety
Sentences, fragments, and run-ons
Correlative conjunctions
Clauses
8L1f: Use simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences to signal differing relationships among ideas.
Conjunctive adverbs
Sentence variety
Sentences, fragments, and run-ons
Correlative conjunctions
Clauses
8L1g: Explain the function of verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives).
8L1g: Explain the function of verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives).
8L1h: Form and use verbs in the active and passive voice.
8L1h: Form and use verbs in the active and passive voice.
8L1i: Recognize and correct inappropriate verb shifts.
8L1i: Recognize and correct inappropriate verb shifts.
8L2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of academic English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
8L2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of academic English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
8L2a: Use punctuation (commas, parentheses, dashes, hyphens) to clarify and enhance writing.
Punctuation
Commas
Semicolons
Dashes
Hyphens
8L2a: Use punctuation (commas, parentheses, dashes, hyphens) to clarify and enhance writing.
Punctuation
Commas
Semicolons
Dashes
Hyphens
8L2b: Use punctuation (comma, ellipsis, dash) to indicate a pause or break.
8L2b: Use punctuation (comma, ellipsis, dash) to indicate a pause or break.
8L2c: Use an ellipsis to indicate an omission.
8L2c: Use an ellipsis to indicate an omission.
Knowledge of Language
8L3 Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
8L3 Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
8L3a: Use verbs in the active and passive voice and in the conditional and subjunctive mood to achieve particular effects (e.g., emphasizing the actor or the action; expressing uncertainty or describing a state contrary to fact).
8L3a: Use verbs in the active and passive voice and in the conditional and subjunctive mood to achieve particular effects (e.g., emphasizing the actor or the action; expressing uncertainty or describing a state contrary to fact).
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
8L4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
8L4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
8L4a: 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.
Synonyms and antonyms
Multiple-meaning words
Vocabulary in context
Domain-specific vocabulary
Figurative language
8L4a: 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.
Synonyms and antonyms
Multiple-meaning words
Vocabulary in context
Domain-specific vocabulary
Figurative language
8L4b: Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede, secede).
Greek and Latin roots
Prefixes
Suffixes
Spelling
8L4b: Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede, secede).
Greek and Latin roots
Prefixes
Suffixes
Spelling
8L4c: Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.
Reference skills
Dictionary skills
Thesaurus skills
8L4c: Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.
Reference skills
Dictionary skills
Thesaurus skills
8L4d: 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).
8L4d: 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).
8L5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
8L5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
8L5a: Interpret figures of speech including irony and puns in context.
8L5a: Interpret figures of speech including irony and puns in context.
8L5b: Use the relationship between particular words to better understand each of the words.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Shades of meaning
Analogies
Related words
8L5b: Use the relationship between particular words to better understand each of the words.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Shades of meaning
Analogies
Related words
8L5c: Distinguish among the connotations of words with similar denotations (e.g., bullheaded, willful, firm, persistent, resolute).
Connotation and denotation
Word choice and usage
8L5c: Distinguish among the connotations of words with similar denotations (e.g., bullheaded, willful, firm, persistent, resolute).
Connotation and denotation
Word choice and usage
8L6 Acquire and accurately use general academic and content-specific words and phrases; apply vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
Prefixes
Suffixes
Greek and Latin roots
Vocabulary in context
Domain-specific vocabulary
Word choice and usage
8L6 Acquire and accurately use general academic and content-specific words and phrases; apply vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
Prefixes
Suffixes
Greek and Latin roots
Vocabulary in context
Domain-specific vocabulary
Word choice and usage