Standard 3: Reading Across Genres

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General Information

Number: ELA.8.R.3

Title: Reading Across Genres

Type: Standard

Subject: English Language Arts (B.E.S.T.)

Grade: 8

Strand: Reading

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks.

Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Access Points

ELA.8.R.3.AP.1a

Explain how figurative language contributes to tone and meaning of text(s).

ELA.8.R.3.AP.1b

Identify examples of symbolism in a text.

ELA.8.R.3.AP.2

Retell content from grade-level texts, at the student’s ability level using the student’s mode of communication.

ELA.8.R.3.AP.3

Compare and contrast how the author uses archetypes in a text with developmentally appropriate content at the student’s skill level.

ELA.8.R.3.AP.4

Describe how an author’s use of rhetorical devices (to include rhetorical questioning and irony) supports an appeal.

Related Resources

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

Lesson Plan

Poetry and Meaning: "Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight" :

In this lesson, students will study the poem "Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight" by Vachel Lindsay. Students will identify the examples of imagery within the poem and determine how the use of imagery contributes to the poem's meaning. Students will also practice making connections between the poem and its background information (President Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War) as well as its historical context (World War I). During the lesson, students will also practice determining the meaning of unfamiliar words in the poem.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorials

Fate by the Fire: Analyzing Symbolism in "The Monkey's Paw" (Part One):

Learn all about symbolism using excerpts from the classic short story "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs. We'll break down the events of the story and analyze how the use of symbolism contributes to the overall meaning of the text. In Part One, we'll cover some important background information and read the opening excerpts of the text. Make sure to complete both parts!

Click HERE to launch Part Two.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

A Heart Trouble: Analyzing Symbolism in "The Story of an Hour" (Part One):

In Part One of this two-part tutorial series, you’ll learn the term symbolism. We’ll look closely at the features of symbolism and how authors use it to add meaning and depth to a piece of literature. Then we’ll examine the specific use of symbolism in the short story “The Story of an Hour.” Using excerpts from the text, we’ll analyze how the use of symbolism contributes to meaning in the text.

Make sure to complete both parts of this series! Click HERE to view Part 2.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

A Heart Trouble: Analyzing Symbolism in "The Story of an Hour" (Part Two):

In Part Two of this two-part tutorial series, you’ll continue to examine the use of symbolism in the short story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin. By the end of this tutorial, you should be able to explain how the use of symbolism adds greater significance to the dramatic transformation of Louise Mallard throughout the story.

Make sure to complete Part One before beginning Part Two. Click HERE to view Part One.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Fate by the Fire: Analyzing Symbolism in "The Monkey's Paw" (Part Two):

Learn all about symbolism in this two-part tutorial series using excerpts from the classic short story "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs. In Part One, we examined the use of symbolism in the first part of the text. In Part Two, we'll finish the story and analyze how the use of symbolism contributes to the text's overall meaning. Make sure to complete both parts!

Click HERE to launch Part One.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Analyzing an Extended Metaphor in "All the World’s a Stage":

Explore the famous speech “All the World’s a Stage” from Shakespeare’s play As You Like It. In this interactive tutorial, you’ll analyze an extended metaphor within the speech and how it contributes to the speech’s meaning.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

What it Means to Give a Gift: How Allusions Contribute to Meaning in "The Gift of the Magi":

Examine how allusions contribute to meaning in excerpts from O. Henry's classic American short story “The Gift of the Magi." In this interactive tutorial, you'll determine how allusions in the text better develop the key story elements of setting, characters, and conflict and explain how the allusion to the Magi contributes to the story’s main message about what it means to give a gift.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Archetypes – Part Three: Comparing and Contrasting Archetypes in Two Fantasy Stories:

Read excerpts from the fantasy novel The Princess and Curdie, the sequel to The Princess and the Goblin, by George MacDonald in Part Three of this three-part series. By the end of this interactive tutorial, you should be able to compare and contrast the use of archetypes in two fantasy stories.

Make sure to complete all three parts of this series!

Click HERE to view "Archetypes -- Part One: Examining an Archetype in The Princess and the Goblin."

Click HERE to view "Archetypes -- Part Two: Examining Archetypes in The Princess and the Goblin."

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Ring the Bell: Paraphrase Like a Champion:

Learn to paraphrase grade-level content in this boxing-themed tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Archetypes – Part Two: Examining Archetypes in The Princess and the Goblin:

Read more from the fantasy novel The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald in Part Two of this three-part series. By the end of this tutorial, you should be able to compare and contrast the archetypes of two characters in the novel.

Make sure to complete all three parts of this series in order to compare and contrast the use of archetypes in two texts.

Click HERE to view "Archetypes -- Part One: Examining an Archetype in The Princess and the Goblin."

Click HERE to view "Archetypes -- Part Three: Comparing and Contrasting Archetypes in Two Fantasy Stories."

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Archetypes – Part One: Examining an Archetype in The Princess and the Goblin:

Learn to determine the important traits of a main character named Princess Irene in excerpts from the fantasy novel The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald. In this interactive tutorial, you’ll also identify her archetype and explain how textual details about her character support her archetype.

Make sure to complete all three parts of this series in order to compare and contrast the use of archetypes in two texts.

Click HERE to view "Archetypes -- Part Two: Examining Archetypes in The Princess and the Goblin."

Click HERE to view "Archetypes -- Part Three: Comparing and Contrasting Archetypes in Two Fantasy Stories."

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Bridging Figurative Language:

Learn how figurative language contributes to the meaning of an informational text. In this interactive tutorial, you'll examine excerpts from President Obama's 50th Anniversary Speech of the March on Selma. You'll specifically analyze his use of imagery and metaphors and how they add to the meaning of his speech.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Student Resources

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

Original Student Tutorials

Fate by the Fire: Analyzing Symbolism in "The Monkey's Paw" (Part One):

Learn all about symbolism using excerpts from the classic short story "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs. We'll break down the events of the story and analyze how the use of symbolism contributes to the overall meaning of the text. In Part One, we'll cover some important background information and read the opening excerpts of the text. Make sure to complete both parts!

Click HERE to launch Part Two.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

A Heart Trouble: Analyzing Symbolism in "The Story of an Hour" (Part One):

In Part One of this two-part tutorial series, you’ll learn the term symbolism. We’ll look closely at the features of symbolism and how authors use it to add meaning and depth to a piece of literature. Then we’ll examine the specific use of symbolism in the short story “The Story of an Hour.” Using excerpts from the text, we’ll analyze how the use of symbolism contributes to meaning in the text.

Make sure to complete both parts of this series! Click HERE to view Part 2.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

A Heart Trouble: Analyzing Symbolism in "The Story of an Hour" (Part Two):

In Part Two of this two-part tutorial series, you’ll continue to examine the use of symbolism in the short story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin. By the end of this tutorial, you should be able to explain how the use of symbolism adds greater significance to the dramatic transformation of Louise Mallard throughout the story.

Make sure to complete Part One before beginning Part Two. Click HERE to view Part One.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Fate by the Fire: Analyzing Symbolism in "The Monkey's Paw" (Part Two):

Learn all about symbolism in this two-part tutorial series using excerpts from the classic short story "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs. In Part One, we examined the use of symbolism in the first part of the text. In Part Two, we'll finish the story and analyze how the use of symbolism contributes to the text's overall meaning. Make sure to complete both parts!

Click HERE to launch Part One.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Analyzing an Extended Metaphor in "All the World’s a Stage":

Explore the famous speech “All the World’s a Stage” from Shakespeare’s play As You Like It. In this interactive tutorial, you’ll analyze an extended metaphor within the speech and how it contributes to the speech’s meaning.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

What it Means to Give a Gift: How Allusions Contribute to Meaning in "The Gift of the Magi":

Examine how allusions contribute to meaning in excerpts from O. Henry's classic American short story “The Gift of the Magi." In this interactive tutorial, you'll determine how allusions in the text better develop the key story elements of setting, characters, and conflict and explain how the allusion to the Magi contributes to the story’s main message about what it means to give a gift.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Archetypes – Part Three: Comparing and Contrasting Archetypes in Two Fantasy Stories:

Read excerpts from the fantasy novel The Princess and Curdie, the sequel to The Princess and the Goblin, by George MacDonald in Part Three of this three-part series. By the end of this interactive tutorial, you should be able to compare and contrast the use of archetypes in two fantasy stories.

Make sure to complete all three parts of this series!

Click HERE to view "Archetypes -- Part One: Examining an Archetype in The Princess and the Goblin."

Click HERE to view "Archetypes -- Part Two: Examining Archetypes in The Princess and the Goblin."

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Ring the Bell: Paraphrase Like a Champion:

Learn to paraphrase grade-level content in this boxing-themed tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Archetypes – Part Two: Examining Archetypes in The Princess and the Goblin:

Read more from the fantasy novel The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald in Part Two of this three-part series. By the end of this tutorial, you should be able to compare and contrast the archetypes of two characters in the novel.

Make sure to complete all three parts of this series in order to compare and contrast the use of archetypes in two texts.

Click HERE to view "Archetypes -- Part One: Examining an Archetype in The Princess and the Goblin."

Click HERE to view "Archetypes -- Part Three: Comparing and Contrasting Archetypes in Two Fantasy Stories."

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Archetypes – Part One: Examining an Archetype in The Princess and the Goblin:

Learn to determine the important traits of a main character named Princess Irene in excerpts from the fantasy novel The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald. In this interactive tutorial, you’ll also identify her archetype and explain how textual details about her character support her archetype.

Make sure to complete all three parts of this series in order to compare and contrast the use of archetypes in two texts.

Click HERE to view "Archetypes -- Part Two: Examining Archetypes in The Princess and the Goblin."

Click HERE to view "Archetypes -- Part Three: Comparing and Contrasting Archetypes in Two Fantasy Stories."

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Bridging Figurative Language:

Learn how figurative language contributes to the meaning of an informational text. In this interactive tutorial, you'll examine excerpts from President Obama's 50th Anniversary Speech of the March on Selma. You'll specifically analyze his use of imagery and metaphors and how they add to the meaning of his speech.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

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