Standard 1 : Communicating Through Writing



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General Information

Number: ELA.8.C.1
Title: Communicating Through Writing
Type: Standard
Subject: English Language Arts (B.E.S.T.)
Grade: 8
Strand: Communication

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks
Code Description
ELA.8.C.1.2: Write personal or fictional narratives using narrative techniques, varied transitions, and a clearly established point of view.
Clarifications:
Clarification 1: See Writing Types and Narrative Techniques.
ELA.8.C.1.3: Write to argue a position, supporting at least one claim and rebutting at least one counterclaim with logical reasoning, credible evidence from sources, elaboration, and using a logical organizational structure.
Clarifications:
Clarification 1: See Writing Types and Elaborative Techniques.
ELA.8.C.1.4: Write expository texts to explain and analyze information from multiple sources, using relevant supporting details, logical organization, and varied purposeful transitions.
Clarifications:
Clarification 1: See Writing Types.
ELA.8.C.1.5: Improve writing by planning, editing, considering feedback from adults and peers, and revising for clarity and cohesiveness.


Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Access Points

Access Point Number Access Point Title
ELA.8.C.1.AP.2: Write a personal narrative using a clearly established point of view, precise words and figurative language.
ELA.8.C.1.AP.3: Make and support a claim using logical reasoning, relevant evidence from a source(s), elaboration and a logical organizational structure with transitions, acknowledging and rebutting one counterclaim.
ELA.8.C.1.AP.4: Write an expository text to explain information from a source(s), using relevant supporting details, logical organization and purposeful transitions.
ELA.8.C.1.AP.5: Improve writing by planning, editing, considering feedback from adults and peers, revising for clarity.


Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorials

Name Description
It's No Myth -- Part Two: Changing Sentences from Passive to Active Voice:

Practice changing sentences from passive to active voice in this interactive tutorial about mythical creatures.

This is Part Two in a two-part series. Make sure to complete Part One first! Click HERE to launch "It's No Myth -- Part One: Distinguishing Between Passive and Active Voice."  

Surviving Extreme Conditions:

In this tutorial, you will practice identifying relevant evidence within a text as you read excerpts from Jack London's short story "To Build a Fire." Then, you'll practice your writing skills as you draft a short response using examples of relevant evidence from the story.

Language Wizard: Active & Passive Voice:

Learn to define and explain active and passive voice in this wizard-themed interactive tutorial. You'll also learn how to transform passive voice to active voice to make your writing stronger.

Lesson Plans

Name Description
Who do you side with? :

Students will research primary and secondary sources and then use them as evidence to support the claim they choose. 

To Kill a Mockingbird: Citizenship Kindness:

This is lesson #3 in the text unit series for Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. In this lesson, students will examine the character of Boo Radley and his acts of kindness through the gifts he leaves in a tree, focusing on chapter 7. Students will then write a journal entry, poem, or lyrics to a song from Boo's point of view.

This unit is part of a larger unit integrating ELA and Civics standards in order to support the understanding through the reading and study of Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. This unit’s activities will allow students to connect to the text and explore the blend of historical and literary context as they relate to real-world civic issues, address the application of the Bill of Rights, as well as recognizing responsibilities of citizens at the local and state level. In this unit, students will develop critical thinking and communication skills by engaging in class discussions, written reflections, and collaborative activities.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Response to Literature:

This is the final lesson #6 in the text unit series for Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird, in which students will complete a culminating writing activity following the completion of the novel by examining provided source material outlining three major real-world court cases from the Civil Rights Movement.

This unit integrates ELA and Civics standards in order to support the understanding through the reading and study of Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. This unit’s activities will allow students to connect to the text and explore the blend of historical and literary context as they relate to real-world civic issues. In this unit, students will develop critical thinking and communication skills by engaging in class discussions, written reflections, and collaborative activities.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

o Kill a Mockingbird: Speech in the Classroom:

This is lesson #2 in the text unit series for To Kill a Mockingbird. After reading chapters 1-4, students will do a group read-aloud of the exchange between Scout and her new teacher on her first day of school in chapter 2 of the book. As they read, they will use their question handout to analyze the Freedom of Expression issue that is presented when the teacher finds out that Scout can already read. Students will begin to form opinions on how Scout was treated by her teacher.

This lesson is part of a larger unit integrating ELA and Civics standards in order to support the understanding through the reading and study of Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. This unit’s activities will allow students to connect to the text and explore the blend of historical and literary context as they relate to real-world civic issues, address the application of the Bill of Rights, as well as recognizing the responsibilities of citizens at the local and state level. In this unit, students will develop critical thinking and communication skills by engaging in class discussions, written reflections, and collaborative activities.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Exploring Technology Part 5: Promoting Our Technology Prototype:

In groups, students will decide how to promote their technology. Students will develop an impromptu 2-minute presentation in a format of their choice to share information about their technology with the school and community in this lesson.

Spotlight: Architecture and Construction:

This is lesson 3 of a 6-lesson unit plan. Students will create specific questions to ask individuals invited to a Career showcase event, using one of the attached KWLH charts. Students will be tasked with writing and asking questions regarding one individual’s career such as their skills, abilities, and talents, and the level of training and education they have received. Additionally, using a timeline template, students will prepare questions pertaining to how much time was spent progressing through different stages of their career.

Conflict Resolution in the Workplace:

This is lesson two in a three-part lesson series where students research and develop appropriate conflict resolution strategies to be applied in the workplace. In part one of the series, students researched conflict resolution and reviewed examples of both proper and improper workplace conflict resolution strategies. In this lesson, part two of the series, students use the research they conducted in part one to create a conflict resolution plan to use in the workplace. In part three of the series, students will be presented with a conflict and will need to use the plan they’ve created to resolve the conflict.

Exploring the Future of NASA:

In this lesson, students will read and analyze two nonfiction articles about future work at NASA. Students will track the development of central ideas throughout each text. At the end of the lesson, students will synthesize a written response comparing and contrasting how the two authors establish their purpose.

Symmetry in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight:

This lesson plan explores symmetry in the structure and themes of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," delving into the antagonist's representation of the "duality of nature." In examining knightly virtues, students will measure Gawain's strength as the poem's hero. The lesson explains background information that every medieval thinker listening to a performance of the poem would know, in an effort to put the student into the mind-set of the medieval audience, providing a deeper appreciation and understanding of the work.

In-Paragraph Transitions to Help With Flow of Writing:

This lesson is designed to help students compose paragraphs that flow well and transition smoothly. Students will practice using transitions within paragraphs by revising paragraphs to include transitions.

Agree to Argue: The Art of Argumentation:

This focus of this lesson is to provide students with an opportunity to write arguments to support a claim, including evidence, research, and a counterclaim(s). Students will draft an argumentative essay, peer edit each others" text, and then revise their own product. Graphic organizers, argumentative techniques, and a rubric are included in this lesson.

Letter from the Front:

In this lesson series, students will read and conduct research about an American Civil War battle. Students will be required to use two or more texts to synthesize information about the battle, and they will then use this information to write a journal entry or letter as if they were present for the battle. Students will share their journal entries or letters digitally.

Work Ethics in Action:

Using the case study, “The Best Customer Service,” students will analyze the server guest satisfaction reviews and employee summaries to determine which employees give the best customer service. Then students will collaborate to determine the employee who is recommended for promotion based on guest satisfaction and write a narrative outcome for the case study.

Teaching Idea

Name Description
Silent Debate: Patriots vs. Loyalists:

This teaching resource intended for the debate classroom will provide teachers the tools to create a silent debate after studying the Declaration of Independence. Students will debate Patriots’ and Loyalists’ view on government authority and tyranny.

Text Resource

Name Description
Sun's Nearest Stellar Neighbor May Have Earth-Like Planet:

This resource is intended to support reading in the content area. The text includes information on a newly discovered planet that orbits the nearest star to our sun. Proxima b, while close, is actually quite far—more than four light years from our sun—yet it shows potential for life, close enough for the planet to receive radiation and energy from its star. The article also discusses the possibility of sending robotic missions there using new technology that could perhaps reach the planet in twenty years.

Tutorials

Name Description
Grammar Bytes! Exercise 5: Correcting Comma Splices and Fused Sentences:

This fun and interactive exercise will give you practice correcting two common types of run-on sentences: comma splices and fused sentences. For each practice item, you must identify the best way to correct either a comma splice or a fused sentence. Explanations of each correct answer are also provided. There’s also an explanation of the rules of proper sentence structure for you to study, simply click the hyperlinked word "rules."

Grammar Bytes! Exercise 7: Correcting Sentence Fragments :

This interactive exercise will give you practice in correcting sentence fragments. For each practice item, you must select the best choice to correct a fragment in a short passage. After every response, you will get immediate feedback. Explanations of each correct answer are also provided. There's also an explanation of the rules of proper sentence structure for you to study; simply click the hyperlinked word "rules."

Grammar Bytes! Exercise 6: Correcting Sentence Fragments :

This fun and interactive exercise will give you practice in correcting sentence fragments. For each practice item, you must select the best choice to correct a fragment in a short passage. After every response, you will get immediate feedback. Explanations of each correct answer are also provided. There's also an explanation of the rules of proper sentence structure for you to study, simply click the hyperlinked word "rules."

Grammar Bytes! Exercise 5: Correcting Sentence Fragments :

This fun and interactive exercise will give you practice in correcting sentence fragments. For each practice item, you must select the best choice to correct a fragment in a short passage. After every response, you will get immediate feedback. Explanations of each correct answer are also provided. There's also an explanation of the rules of proper sentence structure for you to study, simply click the hyperlinked word "rules."



Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorials

Title Description
It's No Myth -- Part Two: Changing Sentences from Passive to Active Voice:

Practice changing sentences from passive to active voice in this interactive tutorial about mythical creatures.

This is Part Two in a two-part series. Make sure to complete Part One first! Click HERE to launch "It's No Myth -- Part One: Distinguishing Between Passive and Active Voice."  

Surviving Extreme Conditions:

In this tutorial, you will practice identifying relevant evidence within a text as you read excerpts from Jack London's short story "To Build a Fire." Then, you'll practice your writing skills as you draft a short response using examples of relevant evidence from the story.

Language Wizard: Active & Passive Voice:

Learn to define and explain active and passive voice in this wizard-themed interactive tutorial. You'll also learn how to transform passive voice to active voice to make your writing stronger.

Tutorials

Title Description
Grammar Bytes! Exercise 5: Correcting Comma Splices and Fused Sentences:

This fun and interactive exercise will give you practice correcting two common types of run-on sentences: comma splices and fused sentences. For each practice item, you must identify the best way to correct either a comma splice or a fused sentence. Explanations of each correct answer are also provided. There’s also an explanation of the rules of proper sentence structure for you to study, simply click the hyperlinked word "rules."

Grammar Bytes! Exercise 7: Correcting Sentence Fragments :

This interactive exercise will give you practice in correcting sentence fragments. For each practice item, you must select the best choice to correct a fragment in a short passage. After every response, you will get immediate feedback. Explanations of each correct answer are also provided. There's also an explanation of the rules of proper sentence structure for you to study; simply click the hyperlinked word "rules."

Grammar Bytes! Exercise 6: Correcting Sentence Fragments :

This fun and interactive exercise will give you practice in correcting sentence fragments. For each practice item, you must select the best choice to correct a fragment in a short passage. After every response, you will get immediate feedback. Explanations of each correct answer are also provided. There's also an explanation of the rules of proper sentence structure for you to study, simply click the hyperlinked word "rules."

Grammar Bytes! Exercise 5: Correcting Sentence Fragments :

This fun and interactive exercise will give you practice in correcting sentence fragments. For each practice item, you must select the best choice to correct a fragment in a short passage. After every response, you will get immediate feedback. Explanations of each correct answer are also provided. There's also an explanation of the rules of proper sentence structure for you to study, simply click the hyperlinked word "rules."