CIS Curriculum Maps 2014
Class Title: English
Grade Level: 8th
Nine Weeks: 1st
Unit: Grammar (punctuation and citations)
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Concepts/Content
Concepts/Content
Proper usage of commas, semicolons, and colons
Parenthetical citations
Works Cited page
Desired Outcomes
Main Outcomes:
1. Students will demonstrate correct placement of punctuation in their written work.
2. Students will correctly cite (following the MLA format) researched information within the essay.
3. Students will produce a proper Works Cited page (following the MLA format) for all cited
sources.
Power Standards:
 Use punctuation to indicate a pause or break.
 Gather relevant information from multiple sources, and quote the data while avoiding plagiarism
and following a standard format for citation.
CIS Curriculum Maps 2014
Class Title: English
Grade Level: 8th
Nine Weeks: 2nd
Unit: Grammar (word usage)
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Concepts/Content
Concepts/Content
Vocabulary
Verbs
Desired Outcomes
Main Outcomes:
1. Students will recognize passive verbs and replace with active verbs.
2. Students will use a thesaurus to utilize stronger terms.
3. Students will understand verb tense and consistently apply it to their writing.
Power Standards:
 Use grade-appropriate words
 Consult reference materials to find information on a word
 Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb voice and mood
 Form and use verbs in the active and passive voice
CIS Curriculum Maps 2014
Class Title: English
Grade Level: 8th
Nine Weeks: 1st
Unit: Narrative Writing
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Concepts/Content
Concepts/Content
Telling stories about self
Expanding moments
Writing for an audience
Desired Outcomes
Main Outcomes:
1. Students will recognize and connect with desired audience through tools such as hooks and
figures of speech.
2. Students will address the five senses throughout their writing as a way to describe particular
moments of their narratives.
3. Students will produce stories with clear beginnings, middles, and ends.
4. Students will re-read and revise product through one-on-one editing with me.
5. Students will provide a life lesson at the end.
Power Standards:
 Engage reader by establishing a point-of-view
 Use dialogue, description, and reflection to develop story
 Provide a conclusion that reflects on the experience
 Produce clear and coherent writing
 Strengthen writing by revising, editing, and rewriting
CIS Curriculum Maps 2014
Class Title: English
Grade Level: 8th
Nine Weeks: 2nd
Unit: 10-Chapter Stories
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Concepts/Content
Concepts/Content
Creative writing
Plot and character development
Story telling
Desired Outcomes
Main Outcomes:
1. Students will develop and organize a story with a complete beginning, middle, and end.
2. Students will create and develop characters to tell the story.
3. Students will identify and write to their desired audience.
4. Students will identify core components of story-telling and apply understanding to books read
the rest of the year.
Power Standards:
 Engage the reader by establishing a point-of-view and introducing characters
 Organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically
 Use techniques such as dialogue, pacing, and description to develop events and/or characters
 Use precise words and phrases, descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action
and convey events.
CIS Curriculum Maps 2014
Class Title: English
Grade Level: 8th
Nine Weeks: 3rd
Unit: Argumentative Writing
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Concepts/Content
Concepts/Content
Write persuasively
Personal examples
Compromises
Proof/research
Citations
Desired Outcomes
Main Outcomes:
1. Students will clearly argue one side of a topic.
2. Students will identify and rebut the opposing viewpoint.
3. Students will conclude with a compromise in an effort to end the argument.
4. Students will provide examples for each of their reasons, including at least one personal example.
5. Students will provide researched evidence to support each of their reasons.
6. Students will correctly cite all research following the MLA format.
7. Students will include a Works Cited page following the MLA format.
8. Students will re-read and revise product through one-on-one editing with me.
Power Standards:
 Introduce claim and distinguish claim from opposing claim
 Support claim with logical reasoning and evidence from credible source
 Provide a concluding statement that supports the argument presented
 Produce clear and coherent writing
 Gather relevant information from multiple sources, and quote the data while avoiding plagiarism
and following a standard format for citation
 Strengthen writing by revising, editing, and rewriting
CIS Curriculum Maps 2014
Class Title: English
Grade Level: 8th
Nine Weeks: 4th
Unit: Informative Writing
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Concepts/Content
Concepts/Content
Teaching the reader
Research
Citations
Desired Outcomes
Main Outcomes:
1. Students will instruct the reader on a topic as a teacher instructs a student.
2. Students will provide research to help support their “lesson.”
3. Students will correctly cite research following the MLA format.
4. Students will include a Works Cited page following the MLA format.
5. Students will provide examples to help demonstrate their “lesson.”
6. Students will re-read and revise work based on one-on-one editing with me.
Power Standards:
 Introduce a topic clearly; organize ideas and information
 Develop the topic with relevant facts, concrete details, quotations, or other information and
examples
 Establish and maintain a formal style
 Conduct research projects to answer a question
 Gather relevant information from multiple sources, and quote the data while avoiding plagiarism
and following a standard format for citation.
 Produce clear and coherent writing
 Strengthen writing by revising, editing, and rewriting