Download SpringBoard English Language Arts – Grade 8

SpringBoard English Language Arts – Grade 8
Contents
Unit 1: The Challenge of Heroism
Activity
Previewing the Unit ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
Understanding Challenges …………………………………………………………………………………….
Opening with Imagery ………………………………………………………………………………………….
Novel Excerpt: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Visual Techniques ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
Understanding the Hero’s Journey Archetype ………………………………………………………………
*Film: Teacher Selected
The Departure …………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Short Story: “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh” by Ray Bradbury
Initiation: Road of Trials ………………………………………………………………………………………..
Narrative Poetry: From the Odyssey, by Homer
Language and Writer’s Craft: Revising and Editing …………………………………………………………
The Return ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Novel: Excerpt from A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle
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5
8
11
15
20
28
36
42
Embedded Assessment 1: Writing a Hero’s Journey Narrative …………………………………… 49
1.10
1.11
1.12
1.13
1.14
1.15
1.16
1.17
Previewing Embedded Assessment 2 and the Definition Essay ………………………………………….
The Nuance of Tone ……………………………………………………………………………………………
Physical and Emotional Challenges ………………………………………………………………………….
Poetry: “A Man,” by Nina Cassian
Article: “Soldier home after losing his leg in Afghanistan,” by Gale Fiege
Introducing the Strategy: TP-CASTT
Introducing the Strategy: Free Writing
Definition Strategies ……………………………………………………………………………………………
Poetry: “Sonnet 116,” by William Shakespeare
Article: “Where I Find My Heroes,” by Oliver Stone from McCall’s Magazine
Historical Heroes: Examples ………………………………………………………………………………….
Poetry: “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman
Sermon: Excerpt from “White House Funeral Sermon for Abraham Lincoln” by Dr. Phineas D. Gurley
Poetry: “Frederick Douglass” by Robert Hayden
Autobiography: Excerpt from The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,
by Frederick Douglass
Language and Writer’s Craft: Transitions and Quotations …………………………………………………
Negation Strategy of Definition ……………………………………………………………………………….
Essay: “A Definition of a Gentleman,” by John Henry Newman
Expository Writing Focus: Organization ……………………………………………………………………..
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53
55
61
67
74
78
80
Embedded Assessment 2: Writing a Definition Essay ……………………………………………… 87
©2014 The College Board. All rights reserved.
SpringBoard English Language Arts – Grade 8
Unit 2: The Challenge of Utopia
Activity
2.1
Previewing the Unit ……………………………………………………………………………………………
2.2
Expository Writing: Comparison/Contrast …………………………………………………………………..
Essay: “Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts” by Bruce Catton
2.3
Utopian Ideals and Dystopian Reality ……………………………………………………………………….
Short Story: “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
2.4
Understanding a Society’s Way of Life ……………………………………………………………………..
*Novel: The Giver, by Lois Lowry or Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
2.5
Contemplating Conflicting Perspectives ……………………………………………………………………
*Novel: The Giver, by Lois Lowry or Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
2.6
Questioning Society ………………………………………………………………………………………….
*Novel: The Giver, by Lois Lowry or Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
Informational Text: “Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read”
by the American Library Association
Introducing the Strategy: Socratic Seminar
Introducing the Strategy: Fishbowl
2.7
A Shift in Perspective: Beginning the Adventure ………………………………………………………….
*Novel: The Giver, by Lois Lowry or Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
2.8
Navigating the Road of Trials ……………………………………………………………………………….
*Novel: The Giver, by Lois Lowry or Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
2.9
The End of the Journey ……………………………………………………………………………………..
*Novel: The Giver, by Lois Lowry or Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
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93
100
109
112
115
120
122
124
Embedded Assessment 1: Writing an Expository Essay …………………………………………………….
127
2.10
2.11
2.12
2.13
129
131
134
137
2.14
2.15
2.16
2.17
Previewing Embedded Assessment 2 and Effective Argumentation …………………………………..
Understanding Elements of Argumentation ………………………………………………………………
Don’t Hate – Debate! ………………………………………………………………………………………..
Highlighting Logos …………………………………………………………………………………………...
Article: “Parents Share Son's Fatal Text Message to Warn Against Texting & Driving,” from
The Associated Press
Article: “The Science Behind Distracted Driving,” from KUTV Austin
Forming and Supporting a Debatable Claim ………………………………………………………………
Conducting Effective Research ……………………………………………………………………………..
Article: “How the Brain Reacts,” by Marcel Just and Tim Keller
Gathering and Citing Evidence ……………………………………………………………………………..
Article: “Cellphones and driving: As dangerous as we think?” by Matthew Walberg
Organizing and Revising Your Argument ………………………………………………………………….
Embedded Assessment 2: Writing an Argumentative Essay ……………………………………………….
©2014 The College Board. All rights reserved.
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143
148
153
157
SpringBoard English Language Arts – Grade 8
Unit 3: The Challenge to Make a Difference
Activity
Previewing the Unit ………………………………………………………………………………………….
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
3.10
3.11
3.12
Collaborating to Preview Holocaust Narratives ………………………………………………………….
Understanding Literature Circle Discussions …………………………………………………………….
Making Thematic Connections …………………………………………………………………………….
Autobiography: Excerpt from Night, by Elie Wiesel
Poetry: “First They Came for the Communists,” by Martin Niemöller
Analyzing an Allegory ……………………………………………………………………………………….
*Children’s Book: Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust, by Eve Bunting
Dangerous Diction …………………………………………………………………………………………...
Exploring the Museum ………………………………………………………………………………………
Presenting Voices ……………………………………………………………………………………………
Finding Light in Film …………………………………………………………………………………………
*Film: Life Is Beautiful, directed by Roberto Benigni
Dramatic Tone Shifts ………………………………………………………………………………………..
Drama: Excerpt from The Diary of Anne Frank, by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett
The Wrong Side of the Fence ………………………………………………………………………………
Fiction: Excerpt from The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne
Creating a Memorable Opening ……………………………………………………………………………
Diary: Excerpt from The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
162
163
167
171
175
178
180
183
186
189
194
200
Embedded Assessment 1: Presenting Voices of the Holocaust …………………………………………..
203
3.13
3.14
3.15
Previewing Embedded Assessment 2 and Looking at Multimedia …………………………………….
Making a Difference …………………………………………………………………………………………
Never Forget, Never Again …………………………………………………………………………………
Speech: Excerpt from Elie Wiesel’s Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech
Introducing the Strategy: SOAPSTone
Students Taking Action ………………………………………………………………………………………
Informational Text: from Do Something: A Handbook for Young Activists
From Vision to Action ………………………………………………………………………………………..
Obituary: “Wangari Maathai: Death of a Visionary” by Richard Block
Examining Media Campaigns ……………………………………………………………………………….
Public Service Announcements (Print): from KnowHow2Go.org
*Non-print: from KnowHow2Go.org and adcouncil.org
Raising Awareness …………………………………………………………………………………………..
Article: “Famine as a Weapon: It’s Time to Stop Starvation in Sudan,” by George
Clooney and John Prendergast
205
207
209
Embedded Assessment 2: Presenting a Multimedia Campaign ……………………………………………
227
3.16
3.17
3.18
3.19
©2014 The College Board. All rights reserved.
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217
221
224
SpringBoard English Language Arts – Grade 8
Unit 4: The Challenge of Comedy
Activity
4.1
4.2
Previewing the Unit .………………………………………………………………………………………….
Understanding the Complexity of Humor ………………………………………………………………….
Essay: “Made You Laugh,” by Marc Tyler Nobleman
Classifying Comedy ………………………………………………………………………………………….
*Comic Strips and Political Cartoons
Introducing the Strategy: RAFT
Humorous Anecdotes ………………………………………………………………………………………..
Essay: Excerpt from Brothers by Jon Scieszka
Introducing the Strategy: TWIST
Finding Truth in Comedy ……………………………………………………………………………………
Essay: “I've got a few pet peeves about sea creatures,” by Dave Barry
Satirical Humor ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
*Satirical News Show Clip
Online Article: “Underfunded Schools Forced To Cut Past Tense From
Language Programs,” from The Onion
Elements of Humor: Comic Characters and Caricatures ……………………………………………….
*TV Show: The Simpsons
Short Story: “The Open Window,” by Saki
Elements of Humor: Comic Situations ……………………………………………………………………..
Novel: “A Day’s Work” from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
Elements of Humor: Hyperbole ……………………………………………………………………………..
Poetry: “They Have Yarns,” by Carl Sandburg
Poetry: “Mooses,” by Ted Hughes
Elements of Humor: Comic Wordplay ………………………………………………………………………
Poetry: “Is Traffic Jam Delectable?” by Jack Prelutsky
*Comedic Skit: “Who’s on First?” by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello
Planning and Revising an Analysis of a Humorous Text …………………………………………………
232
233
Embedded Assessment 1: Writing an Analysis of a Humorous Text ………………………………………
288
4.12
4.13
4.14
4.15
290
292
295
297
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10
4.11
4.16
4.17
4.18
4.19
4.20
Previewing Embedded Assessment 2 ………………………………………………………………………
Creating Context for Shakespearean Comedy…………………………………………………………….
Insulting Language……………………………………………………………………………………………
A Guided Reading of a Scene ………………………………………………………………………………
Drama: Excerpt from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare
Acting Companies and Collaborative Close Reading …………………………………………………….
*Drama: Excerpts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by WilliamShakespeare
Facing the Challenge of Performance ……………………………………………………………………...
Informational Text: Adapted from “Fearbustes—10 Tips to Overcome Stage Fright, by Gary Guwe
Working with Acting Companies and Focus Groups ……………………………………………………...
*Drama: Excerpts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare
Same Text, Different Text ……………………………………………………………………………………
*Film: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
*Drama: Excerpts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare
Dress Rehearsal ………………………………………………………………………………………………
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252
256
261
267
274
279
282
299
302
305
309
312
Embedded Assessment 2: Performing Shakespearean Comedy ……………………………………………. 313
*Texts not inlcuded in these materials.
©2014 The College Board. All rights reserved.
SpringBoard English Language Arts – Grade 8