Common Planner
K–12 Standards

8th Grade

Other Washington English Language Arts sets

Reading

  • Reading8th.

    Students read, comprehend, interpret, analyze, evaluate, use, and appreciate fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction from a broad range of genres, cultures, and media in the context of grade-level content to understand themselves, others, and the world. WA.ELA-LITERACY.Reading8th

    1.  

      Text Features

      1. 1

        Students read self-selected texts. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.1

        1. a

          Identify and select texts they want to read using various strategies.   WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.1.a

        2. b

          Spend time accessing and reading a variety of texts. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.1.b

      2. 2

        Students know and use text features. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.2

        1. a

          Describe how visual elements in a text represent, organize, and/or add meaning to the written text. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.2.a

        2. b

          Recognize the text features of a range of genres. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.2.b

      3. 3

        Not in 8th.WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.3

      4. 4

        Not in 8th.WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.4

    2.  

      Comprehending and Interpreting Texts

      1. 5

        Students comprehend and interpret texts using a variety of strategies. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.5

        1. a

          Preview the text while reflecting on their purposes for reading. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.5.a

        2. b

          Visualize to make sense of the text. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.5.b

        3. c

          Make predictions and inferences and check them against textual evidence. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.5.c

        4. d

          Maintain motivation and reconnect when the flow of reading is interrupted. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.5.d

        5. e

          Explain what they understand from a story, event, idea, or argument, including how information, ideas, or elements of a story interact. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.5.e

    3.  

      Analyzing, Evaluating and Using Texts

      1. 6

        Students analyze texts.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.6

        1. a

          Analyze the specific viewpoint or argument the author presents on a topic, event, experience, question, idea, or controversy. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.6.a

        2. b

          Analyze the author’s use of analogies, allusions, and repetition of words or sounds.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.6.b

        3. c

          Analyze how an author structures content to lead the reader through a story, experiences, ideas, information, or arguments. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.6.c

        4. d

          Analyze how choices about language, organization, and visual elements advance the author’s purpose and fit within the genre, medium, or platform. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.6.d

        5. e

          Compare and contrast similar content presented in different genres, mediums, and platforms.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.6.e

      2. 7

        Students evaluate a text. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.7

        1. a

          Explain how well an element of a text effectively supports the reader to visualize and/or empathize.   WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.7.a

        2. b

          Explain how well an element of a text is relevant to the student and/or the intended audience. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.7.b

        3. c

          Explain how well an element of a text engages the reader or provokes thought, understanding, or action.   WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.7.c

      3. 8

        Students use texts they have read for purposes relevant to them.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.8

        1. a

          Explore questions, issues, and skills relevant to their contexts using texts. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.8.a

        2. b

          Develop their own ideas, perspectives, arguments, projects, and/or plans for action while reading, discussing, and writing about texts. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.8.b

        3. c

          Identify a main idea or theme in a text related to their purpose/s for using a text and analyze its development over the course of the text.WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.8.c

        4. d

          Develop a summary or paraphrase, and/or select quotations related to their purpose/s in using a text.WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.8.d

        5. e

          Use and adapt choices made by authors and creators of multimodal texts as mentors for their own multimodal compositions. [See W8th.4b.]WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.8.e

      4. 9

        Students introduce and attribute multiple pieces of textual evidence to support their analysis, evaluation, or use of a text. WA.ELA-LITERACY.R8th.9

Writing

  • Writing8th.

    Students compose multimodal texts in a variety of genres for a range of communicative situations in the context of grade-level content, in which the development, organization, and language use are appropriate to genre, task, purpose, and audience.WA.ELA-LITERACY.Writing8th

    1.  

      Writing Purposes and Products

      1. 1

        Students compose to process and reflect, respond to reading and learning, explore and develop ideas, record observations, experiment with language, and make sense of the world, events, and experiences. [Not all products from W8th.1 must be taken through W8th.2 – W8th.10.]WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.1

      2. 2

        Students compose multimodal texts in a variety of genres across content areas to affect an audience’s ideas, understanding, perspectives, and/or actions.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.2

        1. a

          Describe situations, experience, ideas, and imaginings, with sufficient details for the audience to activate the senses.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.2.a

        2. b

          Explain their observations and analysis of texts, ideas, and the world.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.2.b

        3. c

          Persuade others through arguments, evaluations, and other appeals.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.2.c

        4. d

          Tell narratives of stories and events, using techniques and devices consistent with the genre.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.2.d

    2.  

      Plan and Generate Ideas

      1. 3

        Students manage and complete writing projects.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.3

        1. a

          Analyze the prompt to determine the purpose of the project and how to meet it.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.3.a

        2. b

          Connect the project to personal and/or community experiences, interests, perspectives, and/or needs.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.3.b

        3. c

          Determine the process or steps and plan the time needed to complete the project.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.3.c

        4. d

          Adjust to feedback and shifts in focus and timeline when needed.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.3.d

      2. 4

        Students generate and gather ideas and material, including appropriate use of technology.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.4

        1. a

          Generate ideas for topics, genres, and material from experience, imagination, reading, research (see RML8th.4), media, conversations, the communicative situation, products from W8th.1, and/or desire to communicate with a variety of audiences.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.4.a

        2. b

          Determine which features and conventions of genres and medias to follow, adapt, or combine from mentor texts.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.4.b

        3. c

          Curate ideas and material, including findings from their research (see RML8th.4) and media, identifying when and how it’s fair to use the creative work of others.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.4.c

    3.  

      Draft and Establish Voice

      1. 5

        Students draft content within the genre and purpose to develop ideas, engage the audience, and express voice.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.5

        1. a

          Develop descriptions to activate and build on the audience´s prior learning and opinions, and to help the audience to imagine and empathize with the content.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.5.a

        2. b

          Develop analysis of experience, events, information, ideas, and/or texts.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.5.b

        3. c

          Draft claims and support them with relevant and credible evidence connected by sound and valid reasoning.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.5.c

        4. d

          Develop appeals to emotion and reason.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.5.d

        5. e

          Use evidence from texts to support analysis, reflection, or research.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.5.e

        6. f

          Select and integrate images, charts, headings, and other text features as appropriate to the genre and useful to audience.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.5.f

        7. g

          Attribute sources in ways consistent with the genre, using technology appropriately. WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.5.g

      2. 6

        Students craft introductions and conclusions within genre and purpose to engage the audience, establish voice, and support content in the body of the text.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.6

      3. 7

        Students organize content, using and/or adapting the genre’s structure, to lead readers through the student’s thinking.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.7

    4.  

      Revise and Edit

      1. 8

        Students evaluate drafts.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.8

        1. a

          Re-read to determine whether the draft says what they want it to say.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.8.a

        2. b

          Re-read to identify differences between what they intend and what the audience would understand from the text itself.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.8.b

        3. c

          Gather feedback and determine whether it supports their intentions and/or improves readers’ understanding.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.8.c

      2. 9

        Students revise and edit using a variety of strategies, including use of appropriate technology.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.9

        1. a

          Use what they learned from re-reading and feedback to strengthen their compositions.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.9.a

        2. b

          Edit for conventions and consistency of text features, including attributions. [See Language standards 1–8.]WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.9.b

    5.  

      Share and Publish

      1. 10

        Students share and publish compositions in person and/or on digital or non-digital platforms.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.10

        1. a

          Determine where to publish after considering potential impacts of intended and unintended audiences and the permanence of digital platforms.WA.ELA-LITERACY.W8th.10.a

Speaking, Listening, and Digital Forums

  • SpeakingListeningDigitalForums8th.

    Students comprehend, engage in, and learn from collaborative discussions, presentations and public speaking in a variety of genres in the context of grade-level content, in person and/or through digital forums.WA.ELA-LITERACY.SpeakingListeningDigitalForums8th

    1.  

      Discussion

      1. 1

        Students listen thoughtfully, respond respectfully, and contribute meaningfully to well-reasoned exchanges. WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.1

        1. b

          Reflect on who is present in the conversation and how they relate to each other.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.1.b

        2. c

          Establish expectations and roles within the community, changing them when needed.WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.1.c

        3. d

          Ask and answer questions that clarify or verify a speaker’s point or perspective.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.1.d

        4. e

          Share their interpretation of others’ contributions to build common understanding.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.1.e

        5. f

          Present and interpret textual evidence, research (see RML8.4), experience, and/or prior knowledge, attributing evidence and ideas.   WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.1.f

        6. g

          Develop arguments and/or common understanding by connecting to prior statements and others’ contributions. WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.1.g

        7. h

          Summarize points of agreement and/or disagreement.WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.1.h

        8. i

          Challenge ideas and conclusions based on contradictory evidence or experience.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.1.i

        9. j

          Analyze changes in opinion and understanding.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.1.j

        10. k

          Give and respond to feedback about how others interpret communication and/or messages differently than the speaker intended.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.1.k

        11. l

          Summarize conclusions, questions, and complications from the discussion. WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.1.l

      2. 2

        Prepare for planned discussions by thinking, reading, and/or researching the topic.WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.2

    2.  

      Collaboration 

      1. 3

        Students collaborate effectively on projects and tasks.WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.3

        1. a

          Establish expectations and roles, changing them when needed. WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.3.a

        2. b

          Connect the project or prompt to their interests, perspectives, experiences, and/or community needs.WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.3.b

        3. c

          Determine the process or steps needed to complete the project.WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.3.c

        4. d

          Prepare for meetings by completing portions of the project as agreed.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.3.d

        5. e

          Summarize progress made, identifying gaps and adjusting future goals as needed.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.3.e

    3.  

      Public Speaking and Presentations  

      1. 4

        Students present reports, speeches, and creative work in a variety of genres such that listeners can empathize and/or follow the line of reasoning.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.4

        1. a

          Identify topics from the situation, experience, imagination, reading, research (see RML8th.4), media, conversations, and/or products from W8th.1.WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.4.a

        2. b

          Develop content by considering what they want to communicate within the situation and the audience’s background knowledge and/or position.WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.4.b

        3. c

          Make strategic use of supporting images, media, and artifacts in presentations to clarify content and support the audience’s engagement with the presentation and material.WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.4.c

    4.  

      Voice

      1. 5

        Students determine how to present themselves and their ideas.WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.5

        1. a

          Craft voice by building on strengths, experience, personality, and role within the community in which the discussion, speech, or presentation occurs.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.5.a

        2. b

          Determine if and how to respond to others given the expectations of the community, their role, and how they wish to express themselves and their ideas. WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.5.b

        3. c

          Determine which language and/or languages support their purpose and voice.WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.5.c

        4. d

          Identify the benefits, drawbacks, and effects of anonymity and of various ways of expressing authenticity through digital forums and other media. WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.5.d

        5. e

          Determine how to present themselves and their ideas in digital forums given the potential impact on future goals and opportunities.WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.5.e

      2. 6

        Students use voice, intonation, gesture, and pacing to illuminate the content and engage the audience and lead them through the speaker’s thinking.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.SLDF8th.6

Language 

  • Language8th.

    Students demonstrate command of the English language to speak and write clearly, and to comprehend more fully when reading, listening, or viewing. WA.ELA-LITERACY.Language8th

    1.  

      Knowledge of Language

      1. 1

        Students identify and discuss when and why language is used differently according to the setting.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.1

        1. a

          Compare and contrast the varieties of English used by different groups based on content, context, and media. WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.1.a

        2. b

          Describe the different uses of active and passive voice and in the conditional and subjunctive moods by different language communities to communicate emphasis, uncertainty, agreement, or disagreement. WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.1.b

      2. 2

        Students read and recite grade-level speeches, poetry and prose orally with purpose, understanding, and accuracy. WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.2

        1. a

          Reflect the pauses and cadence expressed through punctuation. WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.2.a

        2. b

          Reflect shifts in voice and mood through intonation, cadence, and/ or gesture. WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.2.b

    2.  

      Structure and Function of English

      1. 3

        Students connect thoughts and ideas through discourse patterns, elaboration, reference, and grammar. WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.3

        1. a

          Communicate the relationship among ideas through syntax and punctuation.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.3.a

        2. b

          Use punctuation to indicate a pause, break, or omission. WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.3.b

      2. 4

        Students vary sentence patterns for meaning, clarity, and style in group and individual activities in the context of conversations and writing about experiences, events, and eighth grade content. WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.4

        1. a

          Form and use the active and passive voices. WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.4.a

        2. b

          Form and use verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive moods. WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.4.b

      3. 5

        Students demonstrate understanding of figurative language, explore word relationships and distinguish shades of meaning in the context of eighth grade conversations and reading about experiences, events, and ideas. WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.5

        1. a

          Use grade-appropriate Greek and Latin root words and affixes as clues to the meaning of an unknown word. WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.5.a

        2. b

          Distinguish among the use and definitions of related words that express ideas more or less precisely and concisely. WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.5.b

        3. c

          Recognize, interpret, and explain figures of speech in context. WA.ELA-LITERACY.L8th.5.c

Research and Media Literacy

  • Research8th .

    Students ask a variety of questions, seek answers by appropriately using relevant tools and techniques, adjust their inquiry methods as needed, and use their learning.WA.ELA-LITERACY.Research8th

  • MediaLiteracy8th.

    Students think critically about the effects, purposes, accuracy, logic, and fairness of media messages, the credibility of information sources, and how they will engage with media messages.WA.ELA-LITERACY.MediaLiteracy8th

    1.  

      Research and Inquiry

      1. 1

        Students ask different types of questions, refining and asking new questions as understanding of the topic evolves. WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.1

      2. 2

        Students seek answers from information sources.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.2

        1. a

          Generate ideas for how to start searching based on prior knowledge.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.2.a

        2. b

          Select and access a variety of relevant print and digital information sources, including by navigating libraries.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.2.b

        3. c

          Use digital tools effectively based on an understanding of the technologies that deliver results, adapting search terms as needed and using technology appropriately.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.2.c

        4. d

          Identify people with relevant information to share.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.2.d

      3. 3

        Students gather relevant information using a variety of strategies.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.3

      4. 4

        Students synthesize new learning to use and/or share.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.4

    2.  

      Media Literacy and Critical Thinking

      1. 5

        Students explain how personal perspectives and dispositions affect people’s reactions to media messages. WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.5

        1. a

          Explain how emotional responses to media messages affect reactions.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.5.a

        2. b

          Identify how different criteria for determining what is true affect reactions to and interpretations of media messages. WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.5.b

      2. 6

        Students explain the purposes of media messages and the techniques used to create them.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.6

        1. a

          Determine whether the main purpose of a media message is to inform, persuade, provoke, sell, or entertain.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.6.a

        2. b

          Describe the techniques, including appeals and integration of multimedia, used to achieve the media message’s purpose.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.6.b

      3. 7

        Students evaluate different parts of media messages when they’re looking for information that’s accurate, logical, and/or fair.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.7

        1. a

          Determine whether components of a media message can be verified as true or false or need to be evaluated another way.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.7.a

        2. b

          Check the accuracy of information that can be verified as true or false by comparing what multiple reliable sources say about it.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.7.b

        3. c

          Determine whether the visual or audio components of a media message represent its subject accurately and/or fairly, taking into account how digital media can be manipulated.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.7.c

        4. d

          Evaluate the logic of claims in media messages and the strength of evidence used to support them.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.7.d

      4. 8

        Students evaluate the credibility of information sources.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.8

        1. a

          Identify those responsible for the content of an information source, including content generated by technology.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.8.a

        2. b

          Determine whether those responsible for information sources have expertise about the topic.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.8.b

        3. c

          Determine whether those responsible for information sources have reputations for conveying information fairly and accurately.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.8.c

        4. d

          Determine whether those responsible for information sources exhibit a perspective relevant to the topic and, if so, to what extent that perspective has been affected by bias.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.8.d

      5. 9

        Students make informed choices about how they will engage with media messages based on their personal and community experiences, values, and goals.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.9

        1. a

          Explain how media messages can have consequences for themselves and/or their communities.  WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.9.a

        2. b

          Describe how technology helps determine how information spreads.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.9.b

        3. c

          Distinguish between intentional and unintentional motivations for spreading different types of information.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.9.c

        4. d

          Describe how people get their news and how this has changed over time.WA.ELA-LITERACY.RML8th.9.d

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
Grade 8
Where can I read the official document?
Public Draft WA State Learning Standards ELA

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