SMS STANDARDS
Grade Level: 8
Subject - Writing- CCG: Writing Modes and Applications: Narrative
Research Reports / Multi-Media Presentations
Standard
EL.08.WR.26 Write research reports:
Specify a thesis
Use a variety of primary and
secondary sources, and
distinguish the nature and
value of each
Include important ideas,
concepts and direct quotations
from significant information
sources, and paraphrase and
summarize different
perspectives on the topic, as
appropriate
Organize and display
information on charts, tables,
maps and graphs
Document sources
Blooms Level
Skills
Specify (1)
-a thesis
Use (3)
-primary and secondary
sources
Distinguish (4)
-the nature and value of
sources
Include (3)
-ideas, concepts, direct
quotations
Paraphrase (2)& Summarize (2)
-different perspectives on the
topic
Organize (3) & Display (3)
-information
Document (3)
-sources
Big Ideas
Research involves gathering information from multiple sources.
Research involves determining what is important information, and how that information relates
to the topic.
Information that is gathered from research can be organized and presented in a number of
ways.
When we present research in writing, we paraphrase and we document the sources.
Essential Questions
How do we research effectively?
What information should be included in a presentation of our research?
How can research be presented?
How do we organize information that we gather?
How do we communicate research findings in writing?
SMS STANDARDS
Grade Level: 8
Subject - Literature- CCG: Literary Text: Develop an Interpretation
Standard
EL.08.LI.05 Identify the actions and motives (e.g., loyalty, selfishness,
conscientiousness) of characters in a work of fiction, including contrasting motives
that advance the plot or promote the theme, and discuss their importance to the plot
or theme
Blooms Level
Skills
Identify (4)
-actions and motives of characters in a work of
fiction
-contrasting motives that advance the plot or
promote the theme
Discuss (3)
-their importance to the plot or theme
Big Ideas
The things characters do, and the reasons that they do them, can move a story forward and help
give the reader a theme / message.
Essential Questions
How do story plots progress?
How can we understand the theme of a story?
SMS STANDARDS
Grade Level 8
Subject: Writing- CCG: Writing Modes and Applications: Expository Responding to Literature
Standard
EL.08.WR.25 Write responses to literature:
Demonstrate careful reading and insight into interpretations
Connect the student’s own responses to the writer’s
techniques and to specific textual references
Draw supported inferences about the effects of a literary
work on its audience
Support interpretations through references to the text, other
works, other authors, or to personal knowledge
Blooms Level
Skills
Demonstrate (2)
-careful reading and insight into interpretations
Connect (4)
-the student’s own responses to the writer’s
techniques and to specific textual references
-support(ed) inferences about the effects of a
literary work on its audience
Draw (4)
-interpretations through references to the text, other
works, other authors, or to personal knowledge
Support (2,3)
Big Ideas
We write responses to literature that show we know the following:
Literature is to be read carefully and we look for interpretations that can be made from the
reading.
We should have responses to the author’s writing techniques and to things that the text refers to.
We develop feelings and opinions about the effect a literary piece has on the audience / reader.
We develop thoughts and interpretations from literature and we can support them in a number of
ways.
Essential Questions
How do we give written responses to literature?
What types of things should be reflected in our written responses to literature?
How do we read literature?
Why do we read literature?
SMS STANDARDS
Grade Level 8
Subject: Writing- CCG: Writing Modes and Applications: Persuasive
Standard
EL.08.WR.27 Write persuasive compositions:
Include a well-defined thesis that makes a clear and
knowledgeable judgment or appeal
Present detailed evidence, examples, and reasoning to
support arguments, differentiating between facts and
opinions
Provide details, reasons, and examples, arranging them
effectively by anticipating and answering reader concerns
and counter-arguments
Blooms Level
Skills
Include (3)
-a well defined thesis that makes a clear and
knowledgeable judgment or appeal
Present (3)
-detailed evidence, examples and reasoning to
support arguments
Differentiate (4)
-between facts and opinions
Provide (3)
-details, reasons, and examples
Arrange (4)
-details, reasons, and examples effectively
Anticipate (4)
Answer (3)
-reader concerns and arguments
Big Ideas
Persuasive writing requires a clearly defined thesis.
In persuasive writing we use evidence, examples, and reasoning to support the thesis.
Organization of the essay is critical to being effective in persuasion.
There are several strategies to use in being persuasive.
Essential Questions
How do we express our stance on an issue when we write persuasively?
How do we support our stance on an issue?
Why is there a format for writing a persuasive essay?
How can we persuade effectively?
SMS STANDARDS
Grade Level 8
Subject: Report Writing - CCG: Writing Modes and Applications: Research
Standard
EL.08.WR.35 Use appropriate methods of citation for quoted as well as paraphrased
material (e.g., Works Cited Entries—MLA, Reference Entries—APA)
Blooms Level
Skills
Use (3)
-appropriate methods of citation for quoted as well
as paraphrased material
Big Ideas
There are specific ways that we show that we included information in our writing that came from
other sources.
Essential Questions
How do we use information from other sources, without plagiarizing?
SMS STANDARDS
Grade Level 8
Subject: Literature- CCG: Listen to and Read Literary Text
Standard
EL.08.LI.02 Demonstrate listening comprehension of more complex literary text
through class and/or small group interpretive discussions
Blooms Level
Skills
Demonstrate (2)
-listening comprehension of complex literary text
through class and/or small group interpretive
discussion
Big Ideas
Through discussions with the class, or in small groups, we can show what we understood after
reading, or listening to, challenging literary texts.
We can improve our understanding of complex literature (stories) through discussions.
Essential Questions
How can we show that we understand literary text of various complexities?
How can we improve our understanding of challenging literary texts?
SMS STANDARDS
Grade Level 8
Subject: CCG: Writing Modes and Applications: Narrative Research Reports / Multi-Media
Presentations
Standard
EL.08.WR.26 Write research reports:
Specify a thesis
Use a variety of primary and secondary sources, and
distinguish the nature and value of each
Include important ideas, concepts and direct quotations from
significant information sources, and paraphrase and
summarize different perspectives on the topic, as appropriate
Organize and display information on charts, tables, maps
and graphs
Document sources
Blooms Level
Skills
Specify (1)
-a thesis
Use (3)
-primary and secondary sources
Distinguish (4)
-the nature and value of sources
Include (3)
-ideas, concepts, direct quotations
Paraphrase (2)& Summarize (2)
-different perspectives on the topic
Organize (3) & Display (3)
-information
Document (3)
-sources
Big Ideas
Research involves gathering information from multiple sources.
Research involves determining what is important information, and how that information relates to
the topic.
Information that is gathered from research can be organized and presented in a number of ways.
When we present research in writing, we paraphrase and we document the sources.
Essential Questions
How do we research effectively?
What information should be included in a presentation of our research?
How can research be presented?
How do we organize information that we gather?
How do we communicate research findings in writing?
SMS STANDARDS
Grade Level 8
Subject: CCG: Writing Modes and Applications: Narrative
Standard
EL.08.WR.24 Write biographical or autobiographical narratives or short stories:
Relate a clear, coherent incident, event, or situation by
using well-chosen details
Reveal the significance of, or the writer’s attitude about,
the subject
Use narrative and descriptive strategies, including relevant
dialogue, specific action, physical description, background
description, and comparison or contrast of characters
Blooms Level
Skills
Relate (6)
-a clear, coherent incident, event, or situation
Use (3)
-well-chosen details
-narrative and descriptive strategies
Reveal (4)
-the significance of, or the writer’s attitude about,
the subject
Include (3)
-relevant dialogue, specific action, physical
description, background description, and
comparison or contrast of characters
Big Ideas
Well chosen details add clarity when writing about a specific event, incident, or situation.
We write about things because we have an attitude towards the subject matter, or because the
subject is significant in some way. This should be conveyed in your writing.
There are story telling strategies, and descriptive strategies we can use to enhance our stories.
Essential Questions
How can we write about an incident, event, or situation, so that it is read and interpreted with
clarity?
Why do we write narrative stories?
How can show the reader why we wrote the story?
SMS STANDARDS
Grade Level 8
Subject: CCG: Writing Modes and Applications: Narrative Research Reports / Multi-Media
Presentations
Standard
EL.08.WR.26 Write research reports:
Specify a thesis
Use a variety of primary and secondary sources, and
distinguish the nature and value of each
Include important ideas, concepts and direct quotations from
significant information sources, and paraphrase and
summarize different perspectives on the topic, as appropriate
Organize and display information on charts, tables, maps
and graphs
Document sources
Blooms Level
Skills
Specify (1)
-a thesis
Use (3)
-primary and secondary sources
Distinguish (4)
-the nature and value of sources
Include (3)
-ideas, concepts, direct quotations
Paraphrase (2)& Summarize (2)
-different perspectives on the topic
Organize (3) & Display (3)
-information
Document (3)
-sources
Big Ideas
Careful preparation in writing, with attention to word choice, will greatly enhance a speech.
We can become better speakers if we can provide constructive feedback to each other.
Both the content and the delivery of a speech, contribute to the impact on the listener.
Essential Questions
How can we improve a speech in the preparation process?
Why can listening to speeches improve our own speaking?
How do we ensure our speeches have the most overall impact as possible on our listeners?
SMS STANDARDS
Grade Level 8
Subject: CCG: Informational Text: Demonstrate General
Standard
EL.08.RE.18 Clarify understanding of informational texts by creating detailed
outlines, graphic organizers, diagrams, logical notes, or summaries
Blooms Level
Skills
Clarify (4)
-understanding of informational texts
Create (6)
-outlines, graphic organizers, diagrams, logical
notes, or summaries
Big Ideas
There are tools and strategies to use that can help us to clearly understand reading that we do to
get information.
We can get a more clear understanding of informational reading material by creating outlines,
graphic organizers, diagrams, logical notes or summaries.
Essential Questions
How can we be sure that we clearly understand reading that we do to get information?
What tools and strategies can we use to help clarify understanding of informational texts?