Year 8
English
Below is a list of the main topics covered during Year 8 English lessons. The list is not exhaustive but gives
an indication as to the sort of themes being studied in class. Some topics are re-visited in subsequent
years but each time the material is more in-depth or a different angle is explored.
Autumn Term
Class reader: Prose or Drama – activities on character, setting, themes

Narrative, descriptive and persuasive writing - Gothic Genre – Alien Entities, Life on other planets

Figurative language and imagery techniques use in modern and classic fiction and non-fiction,
screenplays

Use of punctuation to clarify meaning and create effect

Comprehension and grammar activities

Vocabulary: dictionary and contextual work

Word Level work – using Thesaurus

Spelling Strategies
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Extended writing assignments
Spring Term
Class reader: Prose or Drama – activities on character, setting, themes

On-going extension of autumn term skills plus:

Explanation, recount and instructions writing

Mystery writing techniques

Dialogue and descriptive writing

Persuasive and information writing techniques

Letter writing – formal and informal language

Extended writing assignments

Writing and display of original work
Summer Term
Class reader: Prose or Drama – activities on character, setting, themes

On-going extension of autumn and spring term skills plus:

Modern poetry writing techniques, styles and further use of imagery

Classic and modern drama

Play scripts – colloquialisms and slang

Shakespeare play scripts – translation modern English

Paragraphing techniques