Orange County Public Schools Top 5 Big Ideas Your Child Will Learn in the First Quarter of English Language Arts 8 th Grade Literary Standards

Orange County Public Schools Big Idea: Citing Textual Evidence

Orange County Public Schools When reading literary text such as a short story or novel: Ask students to defend their responses with evidence or proof from the text. Look for text-based evidence to support what is directly stated in the text. Ask students to make inferences about what is not directly stated in the text. How you can help your child:

Orange County Public Schools Big Idea: Theme & Central Idea

Orange County Public Schools How you can help your child: When reading literary text such as a short story or novel: Ask students to determine the central idea of the text (the main idea/what the text is about.) Ask students to identify which key details support the central idea. Ask student to summarize the text without using personal opinions.

Orange County Public Schools Big Idea: Plot & Characters

Orange County Public Schools How you can help your child: When reading literary text such as a short story or novel: Ask students about character traits, character emotions, and character motivations. Ask students questions about the interaction of two or more story/drama elements such as: – How character’s actions affect the plot – How the setting sets the mood or tone – How one event in the story changes the turn of events

Orange County Public Schools Big Idea: Determining the Meaning of Words

Orange County Public Schools How you can help your child: When reading literary text such as a drama or poem: Engage students in discussion about: – Word parts: Prefixes, suffixes, and roots – Figurative and connotative meanings of words – Words and phrases that are central to the meaning of text – The impact of the author’s word choice on the text – The impact of rhymes and other sounds on the meaning of the text.

Orange County Public Schools Big Idea: Point of View

Orange County Public Schools How you can help your child: When reading literary text such as a short story or novel: Ask students to examine one or more characters or narrators. Ask students to explain how the author develops point of view, using details from the text. Ask students how the author develops and contrasts characters’ perspectives or viewpoints throughout the text.

Orange County Public Schools For more information please visit,