Virginia Standards of Learning -- Eighth Grade English


    The eighth-grade student will learn and apply interviewing techniques.
    The student will plan, draft, revise, and edit writing, with emphasis on narratives, exposition, and persuasion.
    Students will apply reading and writing skills in all subjects, such as communicating results of scientific experiments, reading and describing the relationship between subsets of the real number system, or describing the characteristics and contributions of early civilizations.
    The student will become a skillful interpreter of the persuasive strategies used in mass media. The student will continue to develop an appreciation for literature through a study of literary elements contained in classic works as well as contemporary selections.
    The student will describe themes or inferred main ideas, interpret cause- effect relationships, and draw conclusions from a variety of literary selections.


Oral Language

8.1 The student will use interviewing techniques to gain information.
    * Prepare and ask relevant questions for the interview.
    * Make notes of responses.
    * Compile and report responses.
    * Evaluate the effectiveness of the interview.
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Reading/Literature

8.2 The student will apply knowledge of word origins, derivations, and idioms and will use analogies, metaphors, and similes to extend vocabulary development.

8.3 The student will apply knowledge of the characteristics and elements of various literary forms, including short stories, essays, speeches, lyric and narrative poems, plays, and novels.
    * Explain the use of symbols and figurative language.
    * Describe inferred main ideas or themes.
    * Describe cause-effect relationships and their impact on plot.
    * Describe how authors use characters, point of view, and tone to create meaning.
    * Compare and contrast the use of the poetic elements of word choice, dialogue, rhyme, rhythm, and voice.
    * Explain how a literary selection can expand or enrich personal viewpoints or experiences.
8.4 The student will comprehend what is read from a variety of sources.
    * Draw on background knowledge and knowledge of text structure to understand selections.
    * Analyze details for relevance and accuracy.
    * Read and follow instructions to assemble a model or simple structure.
    * Evaluate and synthesize information to apply in written and oral presentations.
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Writing

8.5 The student will write in a variety of forms, including narrative, expository and persuasive writings.
    * Use prewriting strategies to generate and organize ideas.
    * Focus on elaboration and organization.
    * Select specific vocabulary and information.
    * Use standard sentence formation, eliminating comma splices and other nonstandard forms of sentences that distract readers.
    * Revise writing for word choice, appropriate organization, consistent point of view, and transitions among paragraphs.
    * Edit final copies to ensure correct use of pronoun case, verb tense inflections, and adjective and adverb comparisons.
    * Edit final copies to ensure correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and format.
    * Use available technology.
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Research

    8.6 The student will analyze mass media messages.
    * Identify the persuasive technique being used.
    * Describe the possible cause-effect relationships between mass media coverage and public opinion trends.
    * Evaluate advertisements, editorials, and feature stories for relationships between intent and factual content.
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Computer/Technology Standards by the End of Grade Eight

Computer/Technology skills are essential components of every student's education.
In order to maximize opportunities for students to acquire necessary skills for academic success, the teaching of these skills should be the shared responsibility of teachers of all disciplines.

Minimum skills that students should acquire by the end of Grade 8 include the following:
C/T8.1 The student will communicate through application software.
    * Compose and edit a multipage document at the keyboard, using word processing skills and the writing process steps.
    * Communicate spreadsheets by entering data and setting up formulas, analyzing data, and creating graphs or charts to visually represent data.
    * Communicate with databases by defining fields and entering data, sorting, and producing reports in various forms.
    * Use advanced publishing software, graphics programs, and scanners to produce page layouts.
    * Integrate databases, graphics, and spreadsheets into word-processed documents.

C/T8.2 The student will communicate through networks and telecommunication.

    * Use local and worldwide network communication systems.
    * Develop hypermedia _home page_ documents that can be accessed by worldwide networks.
C/T8.3 The student will have a basic understanding of computer processing, storing, retrieval, and transmission technologies and a practical appreciation of the relevant advantages and disadvantages of various processing, storage, retrieval, and transmission technologies.

C/T8.4 The student will process, store, retrieve, and transmit electronic information.

    * Use search strategies to retrieve electronic information.
    * Use electronic encyclopedias, almanacs, indexes, and catalogs to retrieve and select relevant information.
    * Use laser discs with a computer in an interactive mode.
    * Use local and wide-area networks and modem-delivered services to access and retrieve information from electronic databases.
    * Use databases to perform research.
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