Maryland State Standards for Language Arts: Grade 8

MD.1.0. General Reading Processes: Fluency: Students will read orally with accuracy and expression at a rate that sounds like speech.

1.C.1. Fluency: Read orally at an appropriate rate

1.C.1.a. Read familiar and independent level text at a rate that is conversational and consistent

1.C.1.b. Read instructional level text that is challenging yet manageable

1.C.2. Fluency: Read grade-level text with both high accuracy and appropriate pacing, intonation, and expression

1.C.2.a. Apply knowledge of word structures and patterns to read with automaticity

1.C.2.b.1. Demonstrate appropriate use of phrasing: Attend to sentence patterns and structures that signal meaning in text

1.C.2.b.2. Demonstrate appropriate use of phrasing: Use pacing and intonation (emphasis on certain words) to convey meaning and expression

1.C.2.b.3. Demonstrate appropriate use of phrasing: Use punctuation cues to guide meaning and expression

1.C.2.b.4. Demonstrate appropriate use of phrasing: Adjust intonation and pitch (rise and fall of spoken voice) appropriately

1.C.2.c. Increase sight words read fluently

1.D.1. Vocabulary: Develop and apply vocabulary through exposure to a variety of texts

1.D.1.a. Acquire new vocabulary through listening to, independently reading, and discussing a variety of literary and informational texts

1.D.1.b. Discuss words and word meanings daily as they are encountered in text, instruction, and conversation

1.D.2. Vocabulary: Apply and refine a conceptual understanding of new words

1.D.2.a. Classify and categorize increasingly complex words

1.D.2.b. Explain relationships between and among words

1.D.3. Vocabulary: Understand, acquire, and use new vocabulary

1.D.3.a. Use context to determine the meanings of words

1.D.3.b. Use word structure to determine the meaning of words

1.D.3.c. Select and use resources to confirm definitions and gather further information about words

1.D.3.d. Use new vocabulary in speaking and writing to gain and extend content knowledge and clarify expression

1.E.1. General Reading Comprehension: Apply and refine comprehension skills through exposure to a variety of texts, including traditional print and electronic texts

1.E.1.a. Listen to critically, read, and discuss texts representing diversity in content, culture, authorship, and perspective, including areas, such as race, gender, disability, religion, and socio-economic background

1.E.1.b. Read a minimum of 25 self-selected and/or assigned books or book equivalents representing various genres

1.E.1.c. Discuss reactions to and ideas/information gained from reading experiences with adults and peers in both formal and informal situations

1.E.2. General Reading Comprehension: Use strategies to prepare for reading (before reading)

1.E.2.a. Select and apply appropriate strategies to prepare for reading the text

1.E.3. General Reading Comprehension: Use strategies to make meaning from text (during reading)

1.E.3.a. Select and apply appropriate strategies to make meaning from text during reading

1.E.4. General Reading Comprehension: Use strategies to demonstrate understanding of the text (after reading)

1.E.4.a. Identify and explain the main idea or argument

1.E.4.b. Identify and explain information directly stated in the text

1.E.4.c. Draw inferences and/or conclusions and make generalizations

1.E.4.d. Confirm, refute, or make predictions and form new ideas

1.E.4.e. Summarize or paraphrase

1.E.4.f. Connect the text to prior knowledge or personal experience

MD.2.0. Comprehension of Informational Text: Students will read, comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate informational text.

2.A.1. Comprehension of Informational Text: Apply and refine comprehension skills by selecting, reading, and analyzing a variety of print and electronic informational texts

2.A.1.a. Read, use, and identify the characteristics of primary and secondary sources of academic information

2.A.1.b. Read, use, and identify the characteristics of workplace and other real-world documents

2.A.1.c. Select and read to gain information from personal interest materials, such as books, pamphlets, how-to manuals, magazines, web sites, and other online materials

2.A.2. Comprehension of Informational Text: Analyze text features to facilitate and extend understanding of informational texts

2.A.2.a. Analyze print features that contribute to meaning

2.A.2.b. Analyze graphic aids that contribute to meaning

2.A.2.c. Analyze informational aids that contribute to meaning

2.A.2.d. Analyze organizational aids that contribute to meaning

2.A.2.e. Analyze online features that contribute to meaning

2.A.2.f. Analyze the relationship between the text features and the content of the text as a whole

2.A.3. Comprehension of Informational Text: Apply knowledge of organizational patterns of informational text to facilitate understanding and analysis

2.A.3.a. Analyze the organizational patterns of texts

2.A.3.b. Analyze the contribution of the organizational pattern

2.A.3.c. Analyze shifts in organizational patterns

2.A.3.d. Use organizational structure to locate specific information

2.A.4. Comprehension of Informational Text: Analyze important ideas and messages in informational texts

2.A.4.a. Analyze the author's/text's purpose and intended audience

2.A.4.b. Analyze the author's argument, viewpoint, or perspective

2.A.4.c. State and support main ideas and messages

2.A.4.d. Summarize or paraphrase

2.A.4.e. Identify and explain information not related to the main idea

2.A.4.f. Analyze relationships between and among ideas

2.A.4.g. Synthesize ideas from text

2.A.4.h. Explain the implications of the text or how someone might use the text

2.A.4.i. Connect the text to prior knowledge or experience

2.A.5. Comprehension of Informational Text: Analyze purposeful use of language

2.A.5.a. Analyze specific word choice that contributes to the meaning and/or creates style

2.A.5.b. Analyze specific language choices to determine tone

2.A.5.c. Analyze the appropriateness of tone

2.A.5.d. Analyze repetition and variation of specific words and phrases that contribute to meaning

2.A.6. Comprehension of Informational Text: Read critically to evaluate informational text

2.A.6.a. Analyze the extent to which the text or texts fulfill the reading purpose

2.A.6.b. Analyze the extent to which the structure and features of the text clarify the purpose and the information

2.A.6.c. Analyze the text and its information for reliability

2.A.6.d. Analyze the author's argument or position for clarity and/or bias

2.A.6.e. Analyze additional information that would clarify or strengthen the author's argument or viewpoint

2.A.6.f. Analyze the effectiveness of persuasive techniques to sway the reader to a particular point of view

2.A.6.g. Analyze the effect of elements of style on meaning

MD.3.0. Comprehension of Literary Text: Students will read, comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate literary texts.

3.A.1. Comprehension of Literary Text: Refine comprehension skills by reading and analyzing a variety of self-selected and assigned literary texts

3.A.1.a. Listen to critically, read, and discuss a variety of literary texts representing diverse cultures, perspectives, ethnicities, and time periods

3.A.1.b. Listen to critically, read and discuss a variety of literary forms and genres

3.A.2. Comprehension of Literary Text: Analyze and evaluate text features to facilitate and extend understanding of literary texts

3.A.2.a. Analyze text features that contribute to meaning

3.A.3. Comprehension of Literary Text: Analyze and evaluate elements of narrative texts to facilitate understanding and interpretation

3.A.3.a. Distinguish among types of narrative texts

3.A.3.b. Analyze the conflict and its role in advancing the plot

3.A.3.c. Analyze details that provide information about the setting, the mood created by the setting, and the role the setting plays in the text

3.A.3.d. Analyze characterization

3.A.3.e. Analyze relationships between and among characters, setting, and events

3.A.3.f. Analyze the actions of characters that serve to advance the plot

3.A.3.g. Analyze conflicts that motivate characters and those that advance the plot

3.A.3.h. Analyze the author's approach to issues of time in a narrative

3.A.3.i. Analyze the point of view and its effect on meaning

3.A.3.j. Analyze the interactions among narrative elements and their contribution to meaning

3.A.4. Comprehension of Literary Text: Analyze and evaluate elements of poetry to facilitate understanding and interpretation

3.A.4.a. Use structural features to distinguish among types of poetry

3.A.4.b. Analyze language and structural features to determine meaning

3.A.4.c. Analyze sound elements of poetry that contribute to meaning

3.A.4.d. Analyze other poetic elements, such as setting, mood, tone, etc. that contribute to meaning

3.A.5. Comprehension of Literary Text: Analyze and evaluate elements of drama to facilitate understanding and interpretation

3.A.5.a. Use structural features to distinguish among types of dramas

3.A.5.b. Analyze structural features of drama that contribute to meaning

3.A.5.c. Analyze how dialogue and stage directions work together to create characters and plot

3.A.6. Comprehension of Literary Text: Analyze and interpret important ideas and messages in literary texts

3.A.6.a. Analyze main ideas and universal themes

3.A.6.b. Analyze similar themes across multiple texts

3.A.6.c. Summarize or paraphrase

3.A.6.d. Reflect on and explain personal connections to the text

3.A.6.e. Explain the implications of the text for the reader and/or society

3.A.7. Comprehension of Literary Text: Analyze and evaluate the author's purposeful use of language

3.A.7.a. Analyze and evaluate how specific language choices contribute to meaning and create style

3.A.7.b. Analyze and evaluate language choices that create tone

3.A.7.c. Analyze the appropriateness of a particular tone

3.A.7.d. Analyze and evaluate figurative language that contributes to meaning and/or creates style

3.A.7.e. Analyze imagery that contributes to meaning and/or creates style

3.A.7.f. Analyze elements of style and their contribution to meaning

3.A.8. Comprehension of Literary Text: Read critically to evaluate literary texts

3.A.8.a. Analyze and evaluate the plausibility of the plot and the credibility of the characters

3.A.8.b. Analyze and evaluate the extent to which the text contains ambiguities, subtleties, or contradictions

3.A.8.c. Analyze and evaluate the relationship between a literary text and its historical, social, and/or political context

3.A.8.d. Analyze the relationship between the structure and the purpose of the text

MD.4.0. Writing: Students will compose in a variety of modes by developing content, employing specific forms, and selecting language appropriate for a particular audience and purpose.

4.A.1. Writing: Compose texts using the prewriting and drafting strategies of effective writers and speakers

4.A.1.a.1. Use a variety of self-selected prewriting strategies to generate, select, narrow, and develop ideas: Evaluate topic for personal relevance, scope, and feasibility

4.A.1.a.2. Use a variety of self-selected prewriting strategies to generate, select, narrow, and develop ideas: Begin a coherent plan for developing ideas

4.A.1.a.3. Use a variety of self-selected prewriting strategies to generate, select, narrow, and develop ideas: Explore and evaluate relevant sources of information

4.A.1.b.1. Select, organize, and develop ideas appropriate to topic, audience, and purpose: Use techniques, such as graphic organizers and signal words to complete and clarify organizational structures

4.A.1.b.2. Select, organize, and develop ideas appropriate to topic, audience, and purpose: Organize information logically

4.A.1.b.3. Select, organize, and develop ideas appropriate to topic, audience, and purpose: Verify the effectiveness of paragraph development by modifying topic, support, and concluding sentences as necessary

4.A.2. Writing: Compose oral, written and visual presentations that express personal ideas, inform, and persuade

4.A.2.a. Compose to express personal ideas by experimenting with a variety of forms and techniques suited to topic, audience, and purpose in order to develop a personal style, a distinctive voice, and a deliberate tone

4.A.2.b. Describe in prose and/or poetic forms to clarify, extend, or elaborate on ideas by using evocative language and appropriate organizational structure to create a dominant impression

4.A.2.c. Compose to inform using relevant support and appropriate organizational structures while maintaining an objective perspective

4.A.2.d.1. Compose to persuade by supporting, modifying, or refuting a position, using effective rhetorical strategies: Write an assertion and use evidence that appeals to audience emotion, reasoning, or trust

4.A.2.d.2. Compose to persuade by supporting, modifying, or refuting a position, using effective rhetorical strategies: Use diction and syntax that is sincere, honest, and trustworthy

4.A.2.d.3. Compose to persuade by supporting, modifying, or refuting a position, using effective rhetorical strategies: Use authoritative citations when effective and document appropriately

4.A.2.d.4. Compose to persuade by supporting, modifying, or refuting a position, using effective rhetorical strategies: Organize ideas to construct a logical progression

4.A.2.d.5. Compose to persuade by supporting, modifying, or refuting a position, using effective rhetorical strategies: Use connotation, repetition, and figurative language to control audience emotion and reaction

4.A.2.e. Use writing-to-learn strategies, such as reflective journals, metacognitive writings, and projections based on reflections to analyze and synthesize thinking and learning

4.A.2.f. Manage time and process when writing for a given purpose

4.A.3. Writing: Compose texts using the revising and editing strategies of effective writers and speakers

4.A.3.a.1. Revise texts for clarity, completeness, and effectiveness: Eliminate redundant and irrelevant words and ideas

4.A.3.a.2. Revise texts for clarity, completeness, and effectiveness: Clarify meaning through the placement of antecedents, modifiers, connectors, and transitional devices

4.A.3.a.3. Revise texts for clarity, completeness, and effectiveness: Clarify meaning and purpose by using active voice and consistent person, number, tense, and mood

4.A.3.a.4. Revise texts for clarity, completeness, and effectiveness: Vary sentence types and lengths to clarify and extend meaning, to demonstrate style, and to sustain audience interest

4.A.3.a.5. Revise texts for clarity, completeness, and effectiveness: Clarify the relationships among ideas through coordination and subordination that are purposeful, logical, succinct, and parallel

4.A.3.b. Use suitable traditional or electronic resources to refine presentations and edit texts for effective and appropriate use of language and conventions, such as capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and pronunciation (Style book; Self edit; Peer edit; Dictionary; Thesaurus; Language handbook; Grammar checker; Spell checker)

4.A.3.c. Prepare the final product for presentation to an audience

4.A.4. Writing: Identify how language choices in writing and speaking affect thoughts and feelings

4.A.4.a. Choose a level of language, formal to informal, appropriate for a specific audience, situation, or purpose

4.A.4.b. Differentiate connotative from denotative meanings of words to make precise word choices

4.A.4.c. Consider how readers or listeners might respond differently to the same words

4.A.5. Writing: Assess the effectiveness of choice of details, organizational pattern, word choice, syntax, use of figurative language, and rhetorical devices in the student's own composing

4.A.5.a.1. Assess the effectiveness of diction that reveals his or her purpose: Language suitable for a given purpose

4.A.5.a.2. Assess the effectiveness of diction that reveals his or her purpose: Words/phrases/sentences that extend meaning in a given context

4.A.5.a.3. Assess the effectiveness of diction that reveals his or her purpose: Language appropriate for a particular audience

4.A.5.b. Explain how the specific language and expression used by the writer or speaker affects reader/listener response

4.A.5.c. Evaluate the use of transitions and their effectiveness in a text

4.A.6. Writing: Evaluate textual changes in a work and explain how these changes alter tone, clarify meaning, address a particular purpose, or fulfill a purpose

4.A.6.a. Alter the tone of one's own writing by revising its diction for a specific purpose and/or audience

4.A.6.b. Justify revisions in syntax and diction from a previous draft of his or her same text by explaining how the change affects meaning

4.A.7. Writing: Locate, retrieve, and use information from various sources to accomplish a purpose

4.A.7.a. Identify, evaluate, and use appropriate sources of information on a self-selected and/or given topic

4.A.7.b. Use various information retrieval sources (traditional and/or electronic) to obtain information on a self-selected and/or given topic

4.A.7.c.1. Use a systematic process for recording, documenting, and organizing this information: Information to include or exclude when using a note taking method

4.A.7.c.2. Use a systematic process for recording, documenting, and organizing this information: Advantages, disadvantages or limitations of sources of information, such as bias, accuracy, availability, variety, currency

4.A.7.c.3. Use a systematic process for recording, documenting, and organizing this information: Advantages, disadvantages, or limitations of a given strategy or procedure for recording or organizing information

4.A.7.c.4. Use a systematic process for recording, documenting, and organizing this information:

4.A.7.c.5. Use a recognized format for documentation, such as MLA

4.A.7.c.6. Use a systematic process for recording, documenting, and organizing this information: Appropriate strategies for taking notes

4.A.7.c.7. Use a systematic process for recording, documenting, and organizing this information: Appropriate strategies for organizing source information or notes

4.A.7.d. Synthesize information from two or more sources to fulfill a self-selected or given purpose

4.A.7.e. Use a recognized format to credit sources when paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting to avoid plagiarism

MD.5.0. Controlling Language: Students will control language by applying the conventions of Standard English in speaking and writing.

5.A.1. Grammar: Recognize elements of grammar in personal and academic reading

5.A.2. Grammar: Apply knowledge of grammar concepts and skills to control oral and written language

5.A.2.a. Consider the meaning, position, form, and function of words when identifying and using all grammatical concepts

5.A.2.b. Combine and expand sentences by incorporating subjects, predicates, and modifiers and by logically coordinating, subordinating, and sequencing ideas

5.A.2.c. Differentiate grammatically complete sentences from non-sentences

5.A.2.d. Compose simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences using independent, dependent, restrictive, and nonrestrictive clauses; transitions; conjunctions; and appropriate punctuation to connect ideas

5.B.1. Usage: Recognize examples of conventional usage in personal and academic reading

5.B.2. Usage: Comprehend and apply standard English usage in oral and written language

5.B.2.a. Apply appropriate English usage, involving subject/verb agreement

5.B.2.b. Apply consistent and appropriate use of the person, number, and case of pronouns; pronoun/antecedent agreement; special pronoun problems, such as who - whom, and incomplete constructions; active and passive voice; and verbal and verbal phrases

5.B.2.c. Recognize and correct common usage errors, such as misplaced and dangling modifiers; incorrect use of verbs, double negatives; and commonly confused words, such as accept - except

5.B.2.d. Use available resources to correct or confirm editorial choices

5.B.2.e. Explain editorial choices

5.C.1. Mechanics: Explain and justify the purpose of mechanics to make and clarify meaning in academic and personal reading and writing

5.C.2. Mechanics: Apply standard English punctuation and capitalization in written language

5.C.2.a. Punctuate at the word level (Hyphen; Slash)

5.C.2.b. Use the mechanics of writing correctly

5.C.2.c. Use available resources for all mechanics of writing rules that may be in flux

5.C.3. Mechanics: Explain editorial choices involving mechanics

5.D.1. Spelling: Recognize conventional spelling in and through personal and academic reading

5.D.2. Spelling: Apply conventional spelling in written language

5.D.2.a. Use conventional spelling in personal writing

5.D.2.b. Develop self-monitoring strategies for frequently misspelled words

5.D.2.c. Use suitable traditional and electronic resources as a spelling aid

5.D.3. Spelling: Maintain a personal list of words to use in editing original writing

5.E.1. Handwriting: Produce writing that is legible to the audience

5.E.1.a. Write fluidly and legibly in manuscript and cursive

5.E.1.b. Use word processing technology when appropriate

MD.6.0. Listening: Students will demonstrate effective listening to learn, process, and analyze information.

6.A.1. Listening: Apply and demonstrate listening skills appropriately in a variety of settings and for a variety of purposes

6.A.1.a. Respond to a speaker's cues appropriately

6.A.1.b. Identify regional and social language differences

6.A.1.c. Determine and apply criteria to evaluate oral presentations

6.A.2. Listening: Demonstrate comprehension and literary analysis strategies and skills for a variety of listening purposes and settings

6.A.2.a. Evaluate the effectiveness of the elements of the speech, performance or presentation

6.A.2.b. Interpret the speech or performance or presentation

6.A.2.c. Analyze a speaker's purpose and viewpoint

6.A.2.d. Identify and evaluate a speaker's stylistic devices, such as clear organization, clear viewpoint, use of support, language appropriate to audience, topic appropriate to audience

6.A.2.e. Evaluate a speaker's credibility, such as bias, hidden agendas, use of research/information from reliable sources

6.A.2.f. Explain and support a personal response to an oral presentation

MD.7.0. Speaking: Student will communicate effectively in a variety of situations with different audiences, purposes, and formats.

7.A.1. Speaking: Demonstrate appropriate organizational strategies and delivery techniques to plan for a variety of oral presentation purposes

7.A.1.a. Refine a presentation using varied media

7.A.1.b. Uses a combination of organizational structures, such as narrative, cause and effect, chronological/sequential order, description, main idea with supporting details, problem/solution, question/answer, comparison and contrast, making appropriate transitions within a presentation

7.A.1.c. Speak to persuade by including a well-defined thesis, differentiating fact from opinion, and support arguments with detailed evidence, examples, reasoning and persuasive language