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English 8

The 8th grade English course focuses on identity, with narratives involving adolescent characters reflecting on their interactions and experiences, responding to injustice, and questioning the status quo. Students respond to readings in a variety of modes: collaborative projects, personal reflections, expository essays, and creative compositions. The creative assignments allow individual freedom, stimulate imagination, and inspire risk-taking. Expository pieces prompt students to reflect on and respond to their readings and typically adhere to the five-paragraph format with the iterative process involving brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and revising. Students are encouraged to explore original modes of expression such as song, video, and visual arts. In general, emphasis is placed on development of creative problem-solving, collaboration, and study skills. 

Possible texts: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros; In the Heights by Quiara Alegria Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda; I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson; Every Day by David Levithan; The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton; Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare; short stories, poems, and independent reading choices are also part of the course.

  • Interests: Literature
  • Grades: 8th
  • Subjects: English

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