Grade 8 ELA Kentucky Standards

Composition

Compose arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

Compose arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.

Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish opposing claim(s) and counter/refute them, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.

Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish opposing claim(s) and counter/refute them and organize the reasons and evidence logically.

Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.

Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.

Use transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons and evidence.

Use transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons and evidence.

Establish and maintain a task appropriate writing style.

Establish and maintain a task-appropriate writing style.

Provide a concluding statement or section that supports the argument presented.

Provide a concluding statement or section that supports the argument presented.

With some guidance, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, re-writing or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.

With some guidance, 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.

Compose informative and/or explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization and analysis of relevant content.

Compose informative and/or explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization and analysis of relevant content.

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.

Introduce a topic clearly; organize ideas, concepts and information into broader categories; include formatting, graphics and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

Introduce a topic clearly; organize ideas, concepts and information into broader categories; include formatting, graphics and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

Develop the topic with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations or other information and examples.

Develop the topic with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations or other information and examples.

Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.

Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.

Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.

Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.

Establish and maintain a formal style.

Establish and maintain a formal style.

Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.

Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.

With some guidance, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, re-writing or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.

With some guidance, 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.

Use narratives strategically in other modes of writing, utilizing effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured sequences for an intended purpose.

Use narratives strategically in other modes of writing, utilizing effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured sequences for an intended purpose.intended purpose.

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.

Engage the reader by setting out a problem, situation or observation, establishing a point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; create a smooth progression of experiences or events.

Engage the reader by setting out a problem, situation or observation, establishing a point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; create a smooth progression of experiences or events.

Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description and reflection, to develop experiences, events and/or characters.

Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description and reflection, to develop experiences, events and/or characters.

Use a variety of transitions to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another and show the relationships among experiences and events.

Use a variety of transitions to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another and show the relationships among experiences and events.

Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.

Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.

Provide a conclusion that connects the narrative's relevance to the intended purpose of the writing.

Provide a conclusion that connects the narrative’s relevance to the intended purpose of the writing.

With guidance, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting or trying a new approach.

With guidance, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting or trying a new approach.

Use digital resources to create and publish products as well as to interact and collaborate with others; cite sources using MLA or APA format.

Use digital resources to create and publish products as well as to interact and collaborate with others; cite sources using MLA or APA format.

Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating new avenues for inquiry.

Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating new avenues for inquiry.

Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and, in order to reflect, analyze or complete short re-search projects, quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism by providing in-text and bibliographic MLA or APA citation.

Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and, in order to reflect, analyze or complete short research projects, quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism by providing in-text and bibliographic MLA or APA citation.

Compose routinely over extended time frames and shorter time frames for a variety of tasks, purposes and audiences.

Compose routinely over extended time frames and shorter time frames for a variety of tasks, purposes and audiences.

Language

In both written and oral expression:

In both written and oral expression:

Identify verbals correctly based on their intended function.

Identify verbals correctly based on their intended function.

Demonstrate appropriate use of verbs in the active and passive voice.

Demonstrate appropriate use of verbs in the active and passive voice.

Demonstrate appropriate use of verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional and subjunctive mood, while recognizing and correcting inappropriate shifts.

Demonstrate appropriate use of verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional and subjunctive mood, while recognizing and correcting inappropriate shifts.

When writing:

When writing:

Demonstrate appropriate use of punctuation to indicate a pause or break.

Demonstrate appropriate use of punctuation to indicate a pause or break.

Demonstrate appropriate use of an ellipsis to indicate an omission.

Demonstrate appropriate use of an ellipsis to indicate an omission.

Demonstrate appropriate use of strategies and resources (print and electronic) to identify and correct spelling errors.

Demonstrate appropriate use of strategies and resources (print and electronic) to identify and correct spelling errors.

Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading or listening.

Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading or listening.

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).

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).

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies.

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array 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 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 Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word.

Use Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word.

Consult print and digital reference materials to find the pronunciation and determine or clarity the precise meaning of key words and phrases.

Consult print and digital reference materials to find the pronunciation and determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases.

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.

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.

Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

Interpret figurative language, including but not limited to irony, in context.

Interpret figurative language, including but not limited to irony, in context.

Use the relationship between particular words to better understand each of the words.

Use the relationship between particular words to better understand each of the words.

Distinguish among the connotations of words with similar denotations.

Distinguish among the connotations of words with similar denotations.

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Range of Writing

Knowledge of Language

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Reading Standards for Literature

Key Ideas and Details

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Text Types and Purpose

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Production and Distribution

Conventions of General American English

Craft and Structure

Craft and Structure

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Key Ideas and Details

Text Types and Purpose

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Knowledge of Language

Craft and Structure

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Key Ideas and Details

Conventions of Standard English

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Range of Writing

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Language

Production and Distribution

Craft and Structure

Text Types and Purposes

Composition

Reading Standards for Informational Text

Key Ideas and Details

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Reading Standards for Informational Text

Cite relevant textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

Cite relevant textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

By the end of the year, flexibly use a variety of comprehension strategies (i.e., questioning, monitoring, visualizing, inferencing, summarizing, synthesizing, using prior knowledge, determining importance) to read, comprehend, and analyze grade-level appropriate, complex informational texts independently and proficiently.

Routinely and flexibly develop and apply background knowledge along with a variety of comprehension strategies to understand and analyze grade-appropriate, complex informational text independently.

Determine central ideas of a text, and analyze how they are developed through relationships of key details, citing textual evidence, paraphrasing or summarizing.

Determine central ideas of a text, and analyze how they are developed through relationships of key details, citing textual evidence, paraphrasing or summarizing.

Analyze how an author uses comparisons, analogies or categories to make connections among and distinctions between ideas over the course of a text.

Analyze how an author uses comparisons, analogies or categories to make connections among and distinctions between ideas over the course of a text.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Determine an author's perspective and purpose in a text, and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.

Determine an author’s perspective and purpose in a text, and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using print and non-print formats for presenting particular topics or ideas.

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using print and non-print formats for presenting particular topics or ideas.

Identify 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.

Identify 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.

Analyze two or more texts with conflicting information on the same topic and identify where the texts disagree in fact or interpretation.

Analyze two or more texts with conflicting information on the same topic and identify where the texts disagree in fact or interpretation.

Reading Standards for Literature

Cite relevant textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

Cite relevant textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

By the end of the year, flexibly use a variety of comprehension strategies (i.e., questioning, monitoring, visualizing, inferencing, summarizing, synthesizing, using prior knowledge, determining importance) to read, comprehend and analyze grade-level appropriate, complex literary texts independently and proficiently.

Routinely and flexibly develop and apply background knowledge along with a variety of comprehension strategies to understand and analyze grade-appropriate, complex literary text independently.

Determine themes of a text, and analyze how they are developed through relationships of characters, setting and plot, citing textual evidence, paraphrasing or summarizing.

Determine themes of a text, and analyze how they are developed through relationships of characters, setting and plot, citing textual evidence, paraphrasing or summarizing.

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.

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.

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 but not limited to analogies or allusions to other texts.

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 but not limited to analogies or allusions to other texts.

Compare/contrast the structure of two or more texts, and analyze how the differing structure of each text contributes to its meaning and style.

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.

Analyze characters' and readers' perspectives and how the differences create effects, including but not limited to suspense, humor and empathy.

Analyze characters’ and readers’ perspectives and how the differences create effects, including but not limited to suspense, humor and empathy.

Analyze the extent to which a filmed/live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating choices made by the director or actors.

Analyze the extent to which a filmed/live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating choices made by the director or actors.

Not applicable to literature.

Not applicable to literature

Analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on themes, patterns of events or character types from myths, traditional stories or religious works, including describing how the material is rendered new.

Analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on themes, patterns of events or character types from myths, traditional stories or religious works, including describing how the material is rendered new.