| A. READING AND LITERATURE Content Standard: Students in Wisconsin will read and respond to a wide range of
writing to build an understanding of written materials, of themselves, and of others.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: By the end of grade 8 students
will:
A.8.1 Use effective reading strategies to achieve their
purposes in reading
• Use knowledge of sentence and word structure, word
origins, visual images, and context clues to understand unfamiliar words and clarify
passages of text
• Use knowledge of the visual features of texts, such
as headings and bold face print, and structures of texts, such as chronology and
cause-and-effect, as aids to comprehension
• Establish purposeful reading and writing habits by
using texts to find information, gain understanding of diverse viewpoints, make decisions,
and enjoy the experience of reading
• Select, summarize, paraphrase, analyze, and
evaluate, orally and in writing, passages of texts chosen for specific purposes
A.8.2 Read, interpret, and critically analyze literature
• Identify the defining features and structure of
literary texts, such as conflict, representation of character, and point of view
• Analyze the effect of characters, plot, setting,
language, topic, style, purpose, and point of view on the overall impact of literature
• Draw on a broad base of knowledge about the genres
of literature, such as the structure and conventions of essays, epics, fables, myths,
plays, poems, short stories, and novels, when interpreting the meaning of a literary work
• Develop criteria to evaluate literary merit and
explain critical opinions about a text, either informally in conversation or formally in a
well-organized speech or essay
A.8.3 Read and discuss literary and nonliterary texts in
order to understand human experience
• Provide interpretive responses, orally and in
writing, to literary and nonliterary texts representing the diversity of American cultural
heritage and cultures of the world
• Identify common historical, social, and cultural
themes and issues in literary works and selected passages
• Draw on a broad base of knowledge about the themes,
ideas, and insights found in classical literature while reading, interpreting, and
reflecting on contemporary texts
• Evaluate the themes and main ideas of a work
considering its audience and purpose
A.8.4 Read to acquire information
• Interpret and use technical resources such as
charts, tables, travel schedules, timelines, and manuals
• Compare, contrast, and evaluate the relative
accuracy and usefulness of information from different sources
• Identify and explain information, main ideas, and
organization found in a variety of informational passages
• Distinguish between the facts found in documents,
narratives, charts, maps, tables, and other sources and the generalizations and
interpretations that are drawn from them
B. WRITING
Content Standard: Students in Wisconsin will write clearly and effectively to share
information and knowledge, to influence and persuade, to create and entertain.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: By the end of grade 8 students
will:
B.8.1 Create or produce writing to communicate with
different audiences for a variety of purposes
• Write a coherent and complete expository piece,
with sufficient detail to fulfill its purpose, sufficient evidence to support its
assertions, language appropriate for its intended audience, and organization achieved
through clear coordination and subordination of ideas
• Write a persuasive piece (such as a letter to a
specific person or a script promoting a particular product) that includes a clear
position, a discernible tone, and a coherent argument with reliable evidence
• Write a narrative based on experience that uses
descriptive language and detail effectively, presents a sequence of events, and reveals a
theme
• Write clear and pertinent responses to verbal or
visual material that communicate, explain, and interpret the reading or viewing experience
to a specific audience
• Write creative fiction that includes major and
minor characters, a coherent plot, effective imagery, descriptive language, and concrete
detail
• Write in a variety of situations (during an exam,
in a computer lab) and adapt strategies, such as revision, technology, and the use of
reference materials, to the situation
• Use a variety of writing technologies including pen
and paper as well as computers
• Write for a variety of readers, including peers,
teachers, and other adults, adapting content, style, and structure to audience and
situation
B.8.2 Plan, revise, edit, and
publish clear and effective writing
• Produce multiple drafts, including finished pieces,
that demonstrate the capacity to generate, focus, and organize ideas and to revise the
language, organization, content, and tone of successive drafts in order to fulfill a
specific purpose for communicating with a specific audience
• Identify questions and strategies for improving
drafts in writing conferences with a teacher
• Given a writing assignment to be completed in a
limited amount of time, produce a well developed, well organized, and effective response
in correct English and an appropriate voice
B.8.3 Understand the function of various
forms, structures, and punctuation marks of standard American English and use them
appropriately in written communications
• Understand the function of words,
phrases, and clauses in a sentence and use them effectively, including coordinate and
subordinate conjunctions, relative pronouns, and comparative adjectives
• Use correct tenses to indicate the relative order
of events
• Understand and employ principles of agreement,
including subject-verb, pronoun-noun, and preposition-pronoun
• Punctuate compound, complex, and compound-complex
sentences correctly
• Employ the conventions of capitalization
• Spell frequently used words correctly and use
effective strategies for spelling unfamiliar words
C. ORAL LANGUAGE
Content Standard: Students in Wisconsin will listen to understand and will speak
clearly and effectively for diverse purposes.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: By the end of grade 8 students
will:
C.8.1 Orally communicate information, opinions, and
ideas effectively to different audiences for a variety of purposes
• Share brief impromptu remarks about topics of
interest to oneself and others
• Speaking from notes or an outline, relate an
experience in descriptive detail, with a sense of timing and decorum appropriate to the
occasion
• Perform expressive oral readings of prose, poetry,
and drama
• Prepare and conduct interviews
• Present a coherent, comprehensive report on
differing viewpoints on an issue, evaluating the content of the material presented, and
organizing the presentation in a manner appropriate to the audience
• Differentiate between formal and informal contexts
and employ an appropriate style of speaking, adjusting language, gestures, rate, and
volume according to audience and purpose
• Observe the appropriate etiquette when
expressing thanks and receiving praise
C.8.2 Listen to and comprehend oral
communications
• Summarize and explain the information conveyed in
an oral communication, accounting for the key ideas, structure, and relationship of parts
to the whole
• Distinguish among purposes for listening, such as
gaining information or being entertained, and take notes as appropriate
• Recall significant details and sequence accurately
• Follow a speaker’s argument and represent it
in notes
• Evaluate the reliability of information in a
communication, using criteria based on prior knowledge of the speaker, the topic, and the
context and on analysis of logic, evidence, propaganda devices, and language
C.8.3 Participate effectively in discussion
• Participate in discussion by listening attentively,
demonstrating respect for the opinions of others, and responding responsibly and
courteously to the remarks of others
• Explain and advance opinions by citing evidence and
referring to sources
• Evaluate the stated ideas and opinions of others,
seeking clarification through questions
• Invite ideas and opinions of others into the
discussion, responding clearly and tactfully to questions and comments
• Accept and use helpful criticism
• Establish and maintain an open mind when listening
to others’ ideas and opinions
• Summarize the main points of a discussion, orally
and in writing, specifying areas of agreement and disagreement and paraphrasing
contributions
• Display and maintain facial expressions, body
language, and other response cues that indicate respect for the speaker and attention to
the discussion
• Attend to the content of discussion rather than the
speaker
• Participate in discussion without dominating
• Distinguish between supported and unsupported
statements
D. LANGUAGE
Content Standard: Students in Wisconsin will apply their knowledge of the nature,
grammar, and variations of American English.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: By the end of grade 8 students
will:
D.8.1 Develop their vocabulary and ability to use
words, phrases, idioms, and various grammatical structures as a means of improving
communication
• Consult dictionaries, thesauruses, handbooks,
and grammar texts when choosing words, phrases, and expressions for use in oral and
written presentations
• Explain how writers and speakers choose words and
use figurative language such as similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, and
allusion to achieve specific effects
• Choose words purposefully and evaluate the use of
words in communications designed to inform, explain, and persuade
D.8.2 Recognize and interpret various
uses and adaptations of language in social, cultural, regional, and professional
situations, and learn to be flexible and responsive in their use of English
• Describe how American English is
used in various public and private contexts, such as school, home, and work
• Make appropriate choices when speaking and writing,
such as formal or informal language, considering the purpose and context of the
communication
• Evaluate how audience and context affect the
selection and use of words and phrases, including technical terms, slang, and jargon
E. MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY
Content Standard: Students in Wisconsin will use media and technology critically and
creatively to obtain, organize, prepare and share information; to influence and persuade;
and to entertain and be entertained.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: By the end of grade 8 students
will:
E.8.1 Use computers to acquire, organize, analyze, and
communicate information
• Demonstrate
efficient word-processing skills
• Construct and use simple databases
• Use manuals and on-screen help in connection with
computer applications
• Perform basic computer operations on various
platforms
• Collect information from various on-line sources,
such as web pages, news groups, and listservs
E.8.2 Make informed judgments about media and products
• Recognize common structural features found in print
and broadcast advertising
• Identify and explain the use of stereotypes and
biases evident in various media
• Compare the effect of particular symbols and images
seen in various media
• Develop criteria for selecting or avoiding specific
broadcast programs and periodicals
E.8.3 Create media products appropriate to audience and
purpose
• Write informational articles that target audiences
of a variety of publications
• Use desktop publishing to produce products such as
brochures and newsletters designed for particular organizations and audiences
• Create videotapes and audiotapes designed for
particular audiences
E.8.4 Demonstrate a working knowledge of media production
and distribution
• Plan a promotion or campaign that involves
broadcast and print media production and distribution
• Analyze how messages may be affected by financial
factors such as sponsorship
• Identify advertising strategies and techniques
aimed at teenagers
E.8.5 Analyze and edit media work as appropriate to
audience and purpose
• Revise media productions by adding, deleting, and
adjusting the sequence and arrangement of information, images, or other content as
necessary to improve focus, clarity, or effect
• Develop criteria for comprehensive feedback on the
quality of media work and use it during production
F. RESEARCH AND INQUIRY
Content Standard: Students in Wisconsin will locate, use, and communicate information
from a variety of print and nonprint materials.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: By the end of grade 8 students
will:
F.8.1 Conduct research and inquiry on self-selected or
assigned topics, issues, or problems and use an appropriate form to communicate their
findings
• Formulate research questions and focus
investigation on relevant and accessible sources of information
• Use multiple sources to identify and locate
information pertinent to research including encyclopedias, almanacs, dictionaries, library
catalogs, indexes to periodicals, and various electronic search engines
• Conduct interviews, field studies, and experiments
and use specialized resources (such as almanacs, fact books, pamphlets, and technical
manuals) when appropriate to an investigation
• Compile, organize, and evaluate information, taking
notes that record and summarize what has been learned and extending the investigation to
other sources
• Review and evaluate the usefulness of information
gathered in an investigation
• Produce an organized written and oral report that
presents and reflects on findings, draws sound conclusions, adheres to the conventions for
preparing a manuscript, and gives proper credit to sources
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