1. Annette Verge Stopka 8th grade Language Arts Annetteverge@ccusd.org
Back to School Night
Annette Verge Stopka
8th grade Language Arts

2. Helpful Links Link for grammar help No Red Ink Grammar help
SAT vocabulary- Go to grade levels
SAT vocab. review

3. Common Core Standards
Common core standards
Common Core Practice test
.asp

4. Reading of Literature The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
The Book Thief
To Kill a Mockingbird
Literature Circles for Book Projects

5. Reading of Informational Texts
Common core standards:
Cite textual evidence
Determine central idea
Determine author’s point of view or purpose

6. Reading Book Projects
Four projects: Free choice of books at student’s reading level.
Newspaper
Historical Perspective
Newscast
Movie
Story Board
Diary
Game Board
Tour of the Setting

7. Students will write: Responses to Literature (Prove It!)
Persuasive/Argumentative on nonfiction
Short Research Projects on a focused question
Expository/Informative texts (e.g. simple business letter and job application)
Narratives

8. Essential Standards for 8th grade
W 8.2a Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow.
*Preview the essay with a three-pronged thesis
RI 8.8 Evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is logical, relevant, sufficient;
RI 8.9 Analyze a case in which two or more texts provide conflicting information on the same topic and identify where the texts disagree on matters of fact or interpretation.
W 8.4 Produce clear, focused and coherent arguments with relevant evidence appropriate to the task.
Honors: Emphasizing sound valid reasoning
SL 8.4 Assess through Socratic seminar, argumentative and informational writing
RL 8.4 Analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, and allusions to other texts
Assess through close reading.

9. Benchmark I Now until Dec. 1st Literary terms
Response to literature: focus on theme and citing textual evidence.
Narrative/Descriptive Writing and three pronged thesis
Capitalization
Writing conventions

10. Benchmark II December -March
Research and argumentative
Nonfiction
Spelling
Writing conventions
Writing strategies/sentence variety
Vocabulary

11. Benchmark III April to June
Technical document
Nonfiction writing
Business letter
Resume
Job application
Presentations/Speeches

12. Homework
See ccms.ccusd.org for daily homework

13. Grades 24 hours at the parent portal. Yes- it’s been graded
No- patience
Check the due date.

14. Make up work
Make up work is the responsibility of the student. Full credit will be given only in the case of an excused absence.
If you are absent more than one day, please me at:

15. Grades
Go to ccms.ccusd.org

16. Parent Access Portal

17. Homework help
2:20-3:00 room 222

18. Portfolio due in June
Exit interview