Grade 8 English, Intensified

In English 8, Intensified students will apply a complex lens of examination and interpretation to a variety of texts and genres to include fiction, non-fiction, short stories, novels and excerpts, argument, and media. Students will also be tasked with reflecting on their thinking and learning and use the writing process to develop and craft expository, narrative, and persuasive writing pieces.

Goals of this course include having students:

• Engage in cross-curricular connections.
• Collaborate with peers through a comparative analysis process.
• Analyze and compare organizational structures of texts and use this knowledge to comprehend nonfiction and fiction and cite evidence to support their thinking.
• Analyze language in texts, as well as imagery and theme.
• Expand academic vocabulary to include morphology and word origins.
• Write in a variety of forms, with a focus on essay writing, with a revision process to improve usage and mechanics, and composition and expression.
• Write a literary analysis and a short story.
• Read higher level texts, as assigned or student choice, to make deeper learning connections to learning unit themes and learning expectations.
• Create and present work with a research-based focus, in diverse media formats and using advanced sources.
• Engage in critical thinking for reading and writing to include defending thoughts and ideas, composing and presenting critiques, exploring intentions and choices of others, exploring “What If’ questions, evaluating decisions, analyzing multiple viewpoints, and examining and evaluating real world situations and contexts.