Core Instructional
Materials
Essential Questions
MP1
 Why is descriptive/figurative
language important in writing?
 How do life’s events shape who we
are?
 What is the importance of
forgiveness?
 How do clearly explained examples
and details improve writing?
 Jumbo Book of Writing Lessons by
Teacher Created Materials, Inc.
 Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse.
 Evergreen: A Guide to Writing Sixth
Edition by Susan Fawcett and Alvin
Sandberg.
 Sample self-portrait poems & art
(Linda Pastan, Van Gogh, etc.)
 Grammar / Writing Instruction
 Writer’s Notebook resource
handouts and writing portfolio
 YouTube/ SchoolTube for Writer’s
Notebook.
 NJ Holistic Scoring Rubric
CMS
Curriculum Guide
Grade 8 Language Arts
Date of Revision:__05-20-13
MP2
MP3
MP4
 How are children in foreign
countries, as well as the U.S.,
treated by their employers?
 Why is it important to attribute
another writer’s ideas?
 How can a person improve
working conditions?
 Why would someone want to have
a novel banned from a library?
 How does writing in active voice
differ from writing in passive
voice?
 What is altruism?
 How do you gather and organize
research information?
 How can one person make an impact
on society?
 What purpose do memories serve?
 How does your country compare with
other countries in the world?
 Why is euthanasia controversial?
 What strategies can be used to
enhance persuasion?
 What is suffrage?
 How did the 19th Amendment to the
US Constitution change the lives of
women?
 What factors contribute to the
incidence of date rape?
 Why is it important to have a voice?
 Text: English Level 8, Hayley,James, Shirley and John Warren
Stewig, 1995, Houghton-Mifflin
Co.
 Time for Kids articles on child
labor
 Internet research on child labor
(www.freethechildren.org;
www.stopchildlabor.org)
 Film The Harvest
 Grammar / Writing instruction
 Newspaper articles
 The Pigman by Paul Zindel
 www.ala.org “Top 100
Banned/Challenged Books”
 The Legal Eagle “The Battle over
Banning Books, Fall 2010.
 Echoes and Reflections A Holocaust
Education Curriculum (Yad Vashem)
 Diary of Anne Frank
 Research handouts on Holocaust
rescuers
 Distance Learning – “Auschwitz”
 Discovery Education video clips
 The Giver by Lois Lowry
 The Village by M. Night Shyamalan
 Study Island Online NJASK 8 Prep
work.
 Sample Narrative, persuasive, and
explanatory passages from NJDOE
 Writing / Grammar Instruction
 The Comprehensive Persuasive
Writing Guide by Barbara
Mariconda and Dea Paoletta Auray
(2003: Empowering Writers,LLC)
 Internet research on euthanasia
 Film Iron-Jawed Angels (HBO)
 Internet research on suffragists
 Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
 U.S. Constitution
 www.rainn.org (site dedicated to
prevention of date rape and violence
against women)
 Writing /grammar instruction (minilessons)
Ver. 2012-2013
Standard/ Strand/Activity
Modifications for SpEd/Ell/Gifted &
Talented
 Identify and use figurative language to
add description to writing: LS1-3,5a-c.
 Self-portrait poem incorporating figurative
language. W3, 4-6, 9a, 10.
 Illustrative essay on forgiveness:W2,410; L1-6; S&L5
 On-Demand essays: (narrative &
explanatory) L1-3, 5b,c, 6; W1-4, 6,9,
10.
 Peer review and revision of process
essays: S&L 1-3; W5
 Editing quizzes: LS 1a-e, 2 a, b; 4c
 Writer’s Notebook: S&L 1-4
 On-demand essays: L1-3, 5b,c, 6; W1-4,
6, 9, 10.
 Active/passive writing activities:
L1-6
 Illustrative essay on child labor,
incorporating the use of
parenthetical references: RIT 110; W1-2, 4-10, L1-6
 Peer review and revision S&L 1-3;
W5
 Coordination for “Vow of Silence”
S&L1-6
 Argumentative essay on book
censorship: RIT 1-10; W1-2, 4-10,
L1-6
 On-demand essays: (narrative &
persuasive) L1-3, 5b,c, 6; W1-4,
6, 9, 10.
 Editing quizzes: LS 1a-e, 2 a, b;
4c
 Writer’s Notebook: S&L 1-4
Illustrative Essay:
Tier 1 – No framework
Tier 2 – Framework
Tier 3 – Assisted framework
Editing Quizzes:
Tier 1 – Complete quizzes with
basic instruction.
Tier 2 – Complete quizzes with
written description of errors.
Tier 3 – Complete quizzes with
written description of errors
and teacher assistance.
Illustrative Essay:
Tier 1 – No framework
Tier 2 – Framework
Tier 3 – Assisted framework
Argumentative Essay:
Tier 1 – Complete essay with
three examples for each body
paragraph.
Tier 2 – Complete essay with
two examples for each body
paragraph.
Tier 3 – Complete essay with
two examples for each body
paragraph, with teacher
assistance.
 Assessing writing activities: S&L 1 a-d,
3; L3, 4a-d, 5a-c, 6.
 Research note cards RIT 1-6, 8-9
 Research essay on Holocaust rescuer
(first and second draft):
W1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10; SL1, 2; L1-6
 The Giver Webquest activities
 Explanatory essay on the role of
memories. W2, 4-7, 10
 Informational chart on five countries
comparing life expectancy, per capita
income, literacy, and political
structure. RIT3,5; W1,2, 4-10
 Peer review and revision S&L 1-3; W5
 On-demand essays: (narrative &
persuasive) L1-3, 5b,c, 6; W1-4, 6, 9,
10.
 Editing quizzes: LS 1a-e, 2 a, b; 4c
 Writer’s Notebook: S&L 1-4
 Persuasive writing activities RSIT 110; L1-6
 Research on euthanasia: 1-10
 Persuasive essay on euthanasia:
W1a-e, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9b, 10; L1a-e,
2a,b, 3 a,b, 4a-d, 5a-c, 6.
 Powerpoint on suffragists (group):
RSIT 1-10; W2, 4-10; L1-6; S&L 1-6
 Peer review and revision S&L 1-3;
W5
 Explanatory essay on causes, effects,
and prevention of date rape. W1,2,
4-10; L 1-6
 Writer’s Notebook: S&L 1-4
 Editing quizzes: LS 1a-e, 2 a, b; 4c
Research Essay:
Tier 1 – No framework
Tier 2 – Framework
Tier 3 – Assisted framework
Memory Essay
Tier 1 – Complete essay with
three examples for each body
paragraph.
Tier 2 – Complete essay with
two examples for each body
paragraph.
Tier 3 – Complete essay with
two examples for each body
paragraph, with teacher
assistance.
Persuasive Essay:
Tier 1—No framework
Tier 2 – Framework
Tier 3 –Assisted framework.
PowerPoint:
Tier 1 – Create presentation
with six slides, graphics,
transitions.
Tier 2 – Create presentation
with four slides and graphics.
Tier 3 – Create presentation
with four slides and graphics,
with teacher assistance.
Ver. 2012-2013
Assessment
21st Century Life &
Careers
(4th-8th grade)
Figurative language
worksheets/ paragraphs
Editing quizzes
Writer’s Notebook
Homework
Self portrait poem
Illustrative essay
On-demand essays
Editing quizzes
Writer’s Notebook
Homework
On-demand essays
Illustrative essay on child
labor
Worksheets on active/passive
voice
Argument essay
Self portrait poem 9.1
Peer Review 9.1
Argumentative essay 9.1
Illustrative essay 9.2
Editing quizzes
Homework
Research note cards
Research essay (first and final
drafts)
Explanatory Essay on the role
of memories
Informational chart
Webquest activities
On-demand essays
Distance Learning 9.1
Research Essay 9.1
Explanatory essay 9.1
Editing quizzes
Writer’s notebook
Homework
Persuasive essay on euthanasia
Explanatory essay on date rape
Powerpoint on suffragists
Group PowerPoint 9.1
Persuasive essay 9.1
Explanatory essay 9.1
Ver. 2012-2013