Montgomery County Public Schools
English 8 Semester A Exam Review
FORMAT
Four Readings, including
a narrative piece
a poem
a visual
a non-fiction essay
Twenty–five Selected Response Items (SRs)
Students will be required to
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determine the meaning of words and shades of meaning by using context.
develop inferences about characterization, motivation, and other plot elements.
develop inferences about the author’s purposeful use of language and form.
develop inferences about the main idea, theme, or author’s perspective.
identify and explain the author’s use of language devices in poetry and prose.
identify tone based on the language of a text.
identify the mood based on the details in a visual.
apply course terms to interpret poetry, prose, and visuals.
identify errors in grammar and usage.
use given rules to correct errors in grammar and usage.
revise sentences to improve sentence structure and achieve greater clarity of expression.
revise sentences in a paragraph to achieve clarity, correctness, and coherence.
One Written Response
Students will be required to respond to the following:
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explain how an author shows his attitude towards a topic.
One Multi-paragraph Essay
Students will be required to
• explain how an author uses persuasive strategies to develop an argument.
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ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • ENGLISH 8 • ©2012 MCPS
English 8 Semester A Exam Review
PREPARATION
Review Course Terms
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Review definitions and concepts of course terms.
Apply course terms to texts and writing assignments.
Review Notes, Assessments, and Other Student Resource Pages
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Review close reading strategies and discussions about the author’s purposeful use of language
devices.
Read and consider journal entries.
Review characteristics of narrative texts.
Review characteristics of poetry.
Review characteristics of expository texts.
Review Portfolio
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Read, analyze, and evaluate paragraphs, essays, and other papers.
Review rubrics used for writing and speaking, including the Scoring Guide for Writing and
6-Traits rubrics.
Review how to use various graphic organizers to plan writing.
Review the process of editing and revising writing.
Review strategies for organizing and writing paragraph and multi-paragraph responses.
Review strategies for developing essays.
Review strategies for using quotations and paraphrased ideas.
Make a List of Texts Read during the Semester
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List titles, authors, and important ideas about the context and form of each text.
List important characters, events, motives, and other plot elements for each text.
List vocabulary, multiple meaning words, and literary concepts related to each text.
Consider how course terms apply to different genres and specific texts.
Review Grammar, Usage, and Sentence Structure Concepts
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sentence fragments and run-ons
subjects, verbs, modifiers
independent and dependent clauses
active/passive voice
embed quotation marks using correct punctuation
subject verb agreement
strong verbs and specific nouns
transitions
consistent verb tense and point of view
usage of commonly confused words
accept/except
affect/effect
cite/site
its/it’s
whose/who’s
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ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • ENGLISH 8 • ©2012 MCPS
English 8 Semester A Exam Review
COURSE TERMS
Annotation
Foreshadowing
Appeals to
Emotion (Pathos)
Ethics (Ethos)
Reason (Logos)
Imagery
Audience
Irony
Bibliography
Logical fallacies
Characterization
Dynamic
Flat
Round
Static
Main idea
Community
Inference
Interpretation
Mood
Narrator
Opposing point of view
Plot structure
Exposition
Inciting incident
Rising action
Climax
Falling action
Resolution
Skimming and scanning
Point of view
First person
Second person
Third person
Limited
Omniscient
Tone
Propaganda
Context
Organizational structure
Introduction
Topic sentence
Body
Conclusion
Denotation
Parallel structure
Sentence structure
Euphemism
Paraphrasing
Sentence variety
Evaluate
Persuasion
Setting
Expert opinions
Persuasive argument
Defend, challenge
Pro, con, middle
ground
Refutation
6-Traits of Writing
Conflict
Connotation
Figurative language
Allusion
Hyperbole
Metaphor
Personification
Simile
Repetition
Satire
Scapegoat
Ideas & Development
Organization
Voice
Word Choice
Sentence Fluency
Conventions
Speaker
Symbolism
Theme
Thesis statement
Transitions
Utopia
Viewpoint
Visual literacy
Arrangement
Line
Perspective
Voice
Word choice
Writing
Purposes
Argument
Creative-Reflective
Textual analysis
Research-Synthesis
Methods of
development
Cause-Effect
ComparisonContrast
Exemplification
Problem-Solution
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ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • ENGLISH 8 • ©2012 MCPS
English 8 Semester A Exam Review
ASSESSED INDICATORS
General Reading Processes
Writing
1.D.2— Apply and refine a conceptual understanding
of new words.
1.D.3— Understand, acquire, and use new
vocabulary.
1.E.2— Use strategies to prepare for reading
(before reading).
1.E.3— Use strategies to make meaning from text
(during reading).
1.E.4— Use strategies to demonstrate understanding
of the text (after reading).
4.A.1— Compose texts using the prewriting and
drafting strategies of effective writers and
speakers.
Comprehension of Informational Texts
2.A.4— Analyze important ideas and messages in
informational text.
2.A.5— Analyze purposeful use of language in
informational text.
4.A.2— Compose oral, written, and visual
presentations that express personal ideas,
inform, and persuade.
4.A.3— Compose texts using the revising and editing
strategies of effective writers and speakers.
4.A.4— Identify how language choices in writing
and speaking affect thoughts and feelings.
4.A.5— 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.7— Locate, retrieve, and use information from
various sources to accomplish a purpose.
2.A.6— Read critically to evaluate informational
text.
Language Conventions
Comprehension of Literary Texts
3.A.3— Analyze and evaluate elements of narrative
texts to facilitate understanding and
interpretation.
3.A.4— Analyze and evaluate elements of poetry to
facilitate understanding and interpretation.
3.A.6— Analyze important ideas and messages in
literary texts.
3.A.7— Analyze the author’s purposeful use of
language in literary texts.
5.A.2— Apply knowledge of grammar concepts and
skills to control oral and written language.
5.B.2— Comprehend and apply standard English
usage in oral and written language.
5.C.2— Apply standard English punctuation and
capitalization in written language.
5.D.2— Apply conventional spelling in written
language.
3.A.8— Read critically to evaluate literary texts.
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ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • ENGLISH 8 • ©2012 MCPS
Scoring Guide for Writing
Score of 5
This response demonstrates consistent mastery, although it may have minor errors. This response
 effectively states and develops a claim, provides strong insights, and uses well-chosen detail
to achieve its purpose.
 is well organized, focused, and coherent.
 uses language and vocabulary purposefully.
 varies sentence structure skillfully.
 is generally free of errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Score of 4
This response demonstrates adequate mastery with occasional lapses in quality. This response
 states and develops a claim, exhibits sound thinking, and uses appropriate supporting detail.
 is generally organized, focused, and coherent.
 generally uses language and vocabulary effectively.
 demonstrates some variety in sentence structure.
 may have some errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics.
Score of 3
This response demonstrates partial mastery, but it has one or more flaws. This response
 states and develops a claim but needs more consistent thinking and supporting detail.
 sometimes lacks organization, focus, and coherence.
 generally uses language coherently, but some word choices are vague or inappropriate.
 has little variety in sentence structure or has some sentence errors.
 may contain a number of errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics.
Score of 2
This response demonstrates little mastery and is marred by one or more weaknesses. This response
 has a vague or limited claim, weak thinking, and inappropriate or insufficient supporting
detail.
 is poorly organized, lacking focus and coherence.
 uses limited language and vocabulary or incorrect word choice.
 demonstrates simplistic or incorrect sentence structure.
 contains errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that sometimes hamper meaning.
Score of 1
This response demonstrates a lack of mastery and serious flaws. This response
 does not state or develop a claim and provides little, if any, supporting detail.
 is disorganized, rambling, or incoherent.
 has numerous errors in vocabulary and use of language.
 has serious flaws in sentence structure.
 contains numerous errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that consistently hamper meaning.
Score of 0
No response or a response that is completely irrelevant will receive a score of zero.
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ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • ENGLISH 8 • ©2012 MCPS