Northampton County Schools Curriculum Maps
8th Grade English Language Arts
UNIT NAME: Expanding Literacy
Duration: 1st 9 Weeks
Essential Questions? (1-2 maximum)
 How do different mediums and elements of writing work together to send
a message?
Supporting Questions?
Content
Noun Phrase: Descriptor
A. Analysis: textual
evidence, explicitly
stated ideas,
inferences.
RESOURCES: Analysis
Template, ClassScape,
“The Monkey’s Paw,” “The
Open Window,” Excerpts
from Flowers for Algernon,
“Raymond’s Run,” “Thank
You Ma’am,” “The
Interlopers,” various
nonfiction
B. Literary Elements of
a Text: Plot
Development,
Characters, Setting,
POV, Dialogue,
Tone.
Skills
Measurable Verb-target-descriptor
A. Compose and justify an analysis of a
text using direct evidence and
inferences.
B. Objectively summarize a text.
Analyze lines of dialogue and incidents
for propelling action, revealing
characters, or provoking decisions.
Analyze how differences in points of
view create effects such as suspense or
humor.
C. Analyze the development of a theme or
central idea and the relationship
between the theme and literary elements
of the text.
D. Identify and compare structural elements
of multiple texts and analyze how the
structure of each contributes to its
meaning and style.
Compare and analyze the faithfulness or
departure between the text of a story
and filmed production.
How do language, character development, and structure
support text effectiveness?
Assessments
Defined Noun
(Evaluation:
_______)
A. ClassSca
pe,
Analysis
Template
B. ClassSca
pe,
Teacher
made
rubrics &
assessme
nt
C. ClassSca
pe,
Teacher
made
rubrics &
assessme
nt, rubric
for essay
D. ClassSca
pe, rubric
Activities/
Strategies
A. Analysis Template (I
Say – Text Says –
and So)
B. Read various short
stories (e.g.
“Charles”) Identify
allusions, plot
elements,
characters, setting,
POV, dialogue.
Develop a theme.
Identify whether
each line of dialogue
serves to propel
action, reveal
characters, or
provoke decisions.
Discuss why authors
use different points
of view and the
effect that creates.
Standards
A. RL.8.
1,
RI8.1
B. RL
8.3,
RL
8.4,
8.6,
RI.8.
4
C. RL.
8.2,
RI.8.
2,
RL.
8.9
D. RL.8.
5,
8.7,
RI.8.
5, RI
8.7,
RI
8.9
UNIT NAME: Expanding Literacy
Duration: 1st 9 Weeks
Essential Questions? (1-2 maximum)
 How do different mediums and elements of writing work together to send
a message?
Supporting Questions?
Content
Noun Phrase: Descriptor
RESOURCES:
ClassScape, “The
Monkey’s Paw,” “The
Open Window,” Excerpts
from Flowers for Algernon,
“Raymond’s Run,” “Thank
You Ma’am,” “The
Interlopers,” various
nonfiction
C. Theme: Universal
Theme, Literary
Allusions
RESOURCES:
ClassScape, “The
Monkey’s Paw,” “The
Open Window,” Excerpts
from Flowers for Algernon,
“Raymond’s Run,” “Thank
You Ma’am,” “The
Interlopers,” various
nonfiction
D. Compare and
Contrast: Analysis
of structure,
Skills
Measurable Verb-target-descriptor
How do language, character development, and structure
support text effectiveness?
Assessments
Defined Noun
(Evaluation:
_______)
based on
complete
d graphic
organizer,
rubric for
essay
Activities/
Strategies
(suspense, humor,
irony).
C. Based on these
items, extract
relevant themes.
Analyze how well
each item
contributes to the
development of the
theme.
D. Read short stories
with similar elements
and/or themes.
Compare using
graphic organizers
(e.g. T-Chart, Venn
Diagram, Double
Bubbles, etc.). View
filmed version of a
story and
compare/contrast to
text.
Read non-fiction
pieces on the same
topic and notate
Standards
UNIT NAME: Expanding Literacy
Duration: 1st 9 Weeks
Essential Questions? (1-2 maximum)
 How do different mediums and elements of writing work together to send
a message?
Supporting Questions?
Content
Noun Phrase: Descriptor
Skills
Measurable Verb-target-descriptor
meaning, and style.
Summarizing.
RESOURCES: “Ransom
of Red Chief” (Film and
story), nonfiction
summaries of “Tell-Tale
Heart,” Graphic
Organizers (e.g. Venn
Diagram)
Don’t forget intra-alignment coding…
How do language, character development, and structure
support text effectiveness?
Assessments
Defined Noun
(Evaluation:
_______)
Activities/
Strategies
differences. Analyze
why the author
included those
choices.
Standards