Florida State Standards for Language Arts: Grade 8
FL.LA.8.1.5. Reading Process - Fluency: The student demonstrates the ability to read grade level text orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression.
LA.8.1.5.1 The student will adjust reading rate based on purpose, text difficulty, form, and style.
FL.LA.8.1.6. Reading Process - Vocabulary Development: The student uses multiple strategies to develop grade appropriate vocabulary.
LA.8.1.6.1 The student will use new vocabulary that is introduced and taught directly;
LA.8.1.6.2 The student will listen to, read, and discuss familiar and conceptually challenging text;
LA.8.1.6.3 The student will use context clues to determine meanings of unfamiliar words;
LA.8.1.6.4 The student will categorize key vocabulary and identify salient features;
LA.8.1.6.5 The student will relate new vocabulary to familiar words;
LA.8.1.6.6 The student will distinguish denotative and connotative meanings of words;
LA.8.1.6.7 The student will identify and understand the meaning of conceptually advanced prefixes, suffixes, and root words;
LA.8.1.6.8 The student will identify advanced word/phrase relationships and their meanings;
LA.8.1.6.9 The student will determine the correct meaning of words with multiple meanings in context;
LA.8.1.6.10 The student will determine meanings of words, pronunciation, parts of speech, etymologies, and alternate word choices by using a dictionary, thesaurus, and digital tools; and
LA.8.1.6.11 The student will identify the meaning of words and phrases derived from Anglo-Saxon, Greek, and Latin mythology.
FL.LA.8.1.7. Reading Process - Reading Comprehension: The student uses a variety of strategies to comprehend grade level text.
LA.8.1.7.1 The student will use background knowledge of subject and related content areas, prereading strategies, graphic representations, and knowledge of text structure to make and confirm complex predictions of content, purpose, and organization of a reading sele
LA.8.1.7.2 The student will analyze the authors purpose and/or perspective in a variety of texts and understand how they affect meaning;
LA.8.1.7.3 The student will determine the main idea or essential message in grade-level or higher texts through inferring, paraphrasing, summarizing, and identifying relevant details;
LA.8.1.7.4 The student will identify cause-and-effect relationships in text;
LA.8.1.7.5 The student will analyze a variety of text structures (e.g., comparison/contrast, cause/effect, chronological order, argument/support, lists) and text features (main headings with subheadings) and explain their impact on meaning in text;
LA.8.1.7.6 The student will analyze and evaluate similar themes or topics by different authors across a variety of fiction and nonfiction selections;
LA.8.1.7.7 The student will compare and contrast elements in multiple texts (e.g., setting, characters, problems); and
LA.8.1.7.8 The student will use strategies to repair comprehension of grade-appropriate text when self-monitoring indicates confusion, including but not limited to rereading, checking context clues, predicting, note-making, summarizing, using graphic and semantic or
FL.LA.8.2.1. Literary Analysis - Fiction: The student identifies, analyzes, and applies knowledge of the elements of a variety of fiction and literary texts to develop a thoughtful response to a literary selection.
LA.8.2.1.1 The student will identify, analyze, and compare the characteristics of various genres (e.g., poetry, fiction, short story, dramatic literature) as forms chosen by an author to accomplish a purpose;
LA.8.2.1.2 The student will locate and analyze elements of characterization, setting, and plot, including rising action, conflict, resolution, theme, and other literary elements as appropriate in a variety of fiction;
LA.8.2.1.3 The student will locate various literary devices (e.g., sound, meter, figurative and descriptive language), graphics, and structure and analyze how they contribute to mood and meaning in poetry;
LA.8.2.1.4 The student will identify and analyze universal themes and symbols across genres and historical periods, and explain their significance;
LA.8.2.1.5 The student will develop an interpretation of a selection and support through sustained use of examples and contextual evidence;
LA.8.2.1.6 The student will compare literary texts that express a universal theme, providing textual evidence (e.g., examples, details, quotations) as support for the identified theme;
LA.8.2.1.7 The student will locate and analyze an author's use of allusions and descriptive, idiomatic, and figurative language in a variety of literary text, identifying how word choice is used to appeal to the reader's senses and emotions, providing evidence from
LA.8.2.1.8 The student will explain how ideas, values, and themes of a literary work often reflect the historical period in which it was written;
LA.8.2.1.9 The student will describe changes in the English language over time, and support these descriptions with examples of literary texts; and
LA.8.2.1.10 The student will use interest and recommendation of others to select a balance of age and ability appropriate fiction materials to read (e.g., novels, historical fiction, mythology, poetry) to expand the core foundation of knowledge necessary to function
FL.LA.8.2.2. Literary Analysis - Non-Fiction: The student identifies, analyzes, and applies knowledge of the elements of a variety of non-fiction, informational, and expository texts to demonstrate an understanding of the information presented.
LA.8.2.2.1 The student will locate, use, and analyze specific information from organizational text features (e.g., table of contents, headings, captions, bold print, italics, glossaries, indices, key/guide words);
LA.8.2.2.2 The student will synthesize and use information from the text to state the main idea or provide relevant details;
LA.8.2.2.3 The student will organize information to show understanding or relationships among facts, ideas, and events (e.g., representing key points within text through charting, mapping, paraphrasing, summarizing, or comparing/contrasting);
LA.8.2.2.4 The student will identify and analyze the characteristics of a variety of types of text (e.g., reference works, reports, technical manuals, newspapers, magazines, biographies, periodicals, procedures, instructions, practical/functional texts); and
LA.8.2.2.5 The student will use interest and recommendation of others to select a variety of age and ability appropriate nonfiction materials (e.g., biographies and topical areas, such as science, music, art, history, sports, current events) to expand the core knowl
FL.LA.8.3.1. Writing Process - Pre-Writing: The student will use prewriting strategies to generate ideas and formulate a plan.
LA.8.3.1.1 The student will prewrite by generating ideas from multiple sources (e.g., prior knowledge, discussion with others, writers notebook, research materials, or other reliable sources) based upon teacher-directed topics and personal interests;
LA.8.3.1.2 The student will prewrite by making a plan for writing that addresses purpose, audience, main idea, logical sequence, and time frame for completion; and
LA.8.3.1.3 The student will prewrite by using organizational strategies and tools (e.g., technology, spreadsheet, outline, chart, table, graph, Venn Diagram, web, story map, plot pyramid) to develop a personal organizational style.
FL.LA.8.3.2. Writing Process - Drafting: The student will write a draft appropriate to the topic, audience, and purpose.
LA.8.3.2.1 The student will draft writing by developing ideas from the prewriting plan using primary and secondary sources appropriate to the purpose and audience;
LA.8.3.2.2 The student will draft writing by establishing a logical organizational pattern with supporting details that are substantial, specific, and relevant; and
LA.8.3.2.3 The student will draft writing by analyzing language techniques of professional authors (rhythm, varied sentence structure) to develop a personal style, demonstrating a command of language with freshness of expression.
FL.LA.8.3.3. Writing Process - Revising: The student will revise and refine the draft for clarity and effectiveness.
LA.8.3.3.1 The student will revise by evaluating the draft for development of ideas and content, logical organization, voice, point of view, word choice, and sentence variation;
LA.8.3.3.2 The student will revise by creating clarity and logic by maintaining central theme, idea, or unifying point and developing relationships among ideas;
LA.8.3.3.3 The student will revise by creating precision and interest by elaborating ideas through supporting details (e.g., facts, statistics, expert opinions, anecdotes), a variety of sentence structures, creative language devices, and modifying word choices using
LA.8.3.3.4 The student will revise by applying appropriate tools or strategies to evaluate and refine the draft (e.g., peer review, checklists, rubrics).
FL.LA.8.3.4. Writing Process - Editing for Language Conventions: The student will edit and correct the draft for standard language conventions.
LA.8.3.4.1 The student will edit for correct use of spelling, using spelling rules, orthographic patterns, generalizations, knowledge of root words, prefixes, suffixes, and knowledge of Greek and Latin root words and using a dictionary, thesaurus, or other resources
LA.8.3.4.2 The student will edit for correct use of capitalization, including names of academic courses (e.g., Algebra I) and proper adjectives (e.g., German shepherd, Italian restaurant);
LA.8.3.4.3 The student will edit for correct use of punctuation, including commas, colons, semicolons, quotation marks, and apostrophes;
LA.8.3.4.4 The student will edit for correct use of the eight parts of speech (noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective, conjunction, preposition, interjection), regular and irregular verbs, and pronoun agreement; and
LA.8.3.4.5 The student will edit for correct use of subject/verb agreement, noun/pronoun agreement.
FL.LA.8.3.5. Writing Process - Publishing: The student will write a final product for the intended audience.
LA.8.3.5.1 The student will prepare writing using technology in a format appropriate to audience and purpose (e.g., manuscript, multimedia);
LA.8.3.5.2 The student will use elements of spacing and design for graphics (e.g., tables, drawings, charts, graphs) when applicable to enhance the appearance of the document; and
LA.8.3.5.3 The student will share the writing with the intended audience.
FL.LA.8.4.1. Writing Applications - Creative: The student develops and demonstrates creative writing.
LA.8.4.1.1 The student will write narrative accounts with an engaging plot (including rising action, conflict, suspense, climax, falling action and resolution), and that use a range of appropriate strategies and specific narrative action (e.g., dialogue, movement, g
LA.8.4.1.2 The student will write a variety of expressive forms (e.g., realistic fiction, one-act play, suspense story, poetry) that according to the type of writing employed, incorporate figurative language, rhythm, dialogue, characterization, plot, and appropriate
FL.LA.8.4.2. Writing Applications - Informative: The student develops and demonstrates technical writing that provides information related to real-world tasks.
LA.8.4.2.1 The student will write in a variety of informational/expository forms (e.g., summaries, procedures, instructions, experiments, rubrics, how-to manuals, assembly instructions);
LA.8.4.2.2 The student will record information (e.g., observations, notes, lists, charts, legends) related to a topic, including visual aids to organize and record information, as appropriate, and attribute sources of information;
LA.8.4.2.3 The student will write specialized informational/expository essays (e.g., process, description, explanation, comparison/contrast, problem/solution) that include a thesis statement, supporting details, an organizational structure particular to its type, an
LA.8.4.2.4 The student will write a variety of informal communications (e.g., friendly letters, thank-you notes, messages) and formal communications (e.g., conventional business letters, invitations) that follow a format and that have a clearly stated purpose and th
LA.8.4.2.5 The student will write detailed directions to unfamiliar locations using cardinal and ordinal directions, landmarks, streets, and distances, and create an accompanying map.
FL.LA.8.4.3. Writing Applications - Persuasive: The student develops and demonstrates persuasive writing that is used for the purpose of influencing the reader.
LA.8.4.3.1 The student will write persuasive text (e.g., advertisement, speech, essay, public service announcement) that establishes and develops a controlling idea, and supports arguments for the validity of the proposed idea with detailed evidence; and
LA.8.4.3.2 The student will include persuasive techniques (e.g., word choice, repetition, emotional appeal, hyperbole, appeal to authority, celebrity endorsement, rhetorical question, irony, symbols, glittering generalities, card stacking).
FL.LA.8.5.1. Communication - Penmanship: The student engages in the writing process and writes to communicate ideas and experiences.
LA.8.5.1.1 The student will use fluent and legible handwriting skills.
FL.LA.8.5.2. Communication - Listening and Speaking: The student effectively applies listening and speaking strategies.
LA.8.5.2.1 The student will demonstrate effective listening skills and behaviors for a variety of purposes, and demonstrate understanding by paraphrasing and/or summarizing;
LA.8.5.2.2 The student will use effective listening and speaking strategies for informal and formal discussions, connecting to and building on the ideas of a previous speaker and respecting the viewpoints of others when identifying bias or faulty logic;
LA.8.5.2.3 The student will select and use a variety of creative oral language techniques for clarity and effect (e.g., connotation, denotation, hyperbole, understatement);
LA.8.5.2.4 The student will research, organize, and effectively deliver speeches to entertain, inform, and persuade; and
LA.8.5.2.5 The student will demonstrate language choices, body language, eye contact, gestures, and appropriate use of graphics and available technology.
FL.LA.8.6.1. Information and Media Literacy - Informational Text: The student comprehends the wide array of informational text that is part of our day to day experiences.
LA.8.6.1.1 The student will explain how text features (e.g., charts, maps, diagrams, sub-headings, captions, illustrations, graphs) aid the reader's understanding;
LA.8.6.1.2 The student will use information from a variety of consumer (e.g., warranties, instructional manuals), workplace (e.g., applications, contracts) and other documents to explain a situation and justify a decision; and
LA.8.6.1.3 The student will create a technical manual or solve a problem.
FL.LA.8.6.2. Information and Media Literacy - Research Process: The student uses a systematic process for the collection, processing, and presentation of information.
LA.8.6.2.1 The student will select a topic and develop a search plan with multiple research strategies, and apply evaluative criteria (e.g., scope and depth of content, authority, reputation of author/publisher, objectivity, freedom from bias) to assess appropriaten
LA.8.6.2.2 The student will assess, organize, synthesize, and evaluate the validity and reliability of information in text, using a variety of techniques by examining several sources of information, including both primary and secondary sources;
LA.8.6.2.3 The student will write an informational report that includes a focused topic, appropriate facts and relevant details, a logical sequence, a concluding statement, and a list of sources used; and
LA.8.6.2.4 The student will understand the importance of legal and ethical practices, including laws regarding libel, slander, copyright, and plagiarism in the use of mass media and digital sources, know the associated consequences, and comply with the law.
FL.LA.8.6.3. Information and Media Literacy - Media Literacy: The student develops and demonstrates an understanding of media literacy as a life skill that is integral to informed decision making.
LA.8.6.3.1 The student will analyze ways that production elements (e.g., graphics, color, motion, sound, digital technology) affect communication across the media;
LA.8.6.3.2 The student will demonstrate the ability to select and ethically use print and nonprint media appropriate for the purpose, occasion, and audience to develop into a formal presentation; and
LA.8.6.3.3 The student will distinguish between propaganda and ethical reasoning strategies in print and nonprint media.
FL.LA.8.6.4. Information and Media Literacy - Technology: The student develops the essential technology skills for using and understanding conventional and current tools, materials and processes.
LA.8.6.4.1 The student will use appropriate available technologies to enhance communication and achieve a purpose (e.g., video, digital technology); and
LA.8.6.4.2 The student will evaluate and apply digital tools (e.g., word, processing, multimedia authoring, web tools, graphic organizers) to publications and presentations.