Download Language Standards 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade Conventions of

Language Standards
6th Grade
Conventions of Standard English
7th Grade
Conventions of Standard English
8th Grade
Conventions of Standard English
L6.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard
English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
a. Ensure that pronouns are in the proper case
(subjective, objective, possessive).
b. Use intensive pronouns (e.g., myself,
ourselves).
c. Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in
pronoun number and person.*
d. Recognize and correct vague pronouns (i.e.,
ones with unclear or ambiguous
antecedents).*
e. Recognize variations from standard English in
their own and others' writing and speaking,
and identify and use strategies to improve
expression in conventional language.*
L7.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard
English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
a. Explain the function of phrases and clauses in
general and their function in specific
sentences.
b. Choose among simple, compound, complex,
and compound-complex sentences to signal
differing relationships among ideas.
c. Place phrases and clauses within a sentence,
recognizing and correcting misplaced and
dangling modifiers.*
L8.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard
English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
a. Explain the function of verbals (gerunds,
participles, infinitives) in general and
their function in particular sentences.
b. Form and use verbs in the active and
passive voice.
c. Form and use verbs in the indicative,
imperative, interrogative, conditional,
and subjunctive mood.
d. Recognize and correct inappropriate
shifts in verb voice and mood.*
 I can independently apply correct
grammar to my writing and speaking.
 I can explain the function of gerunds,
participles and infinitives.
 I can form and use verbs in the active
voice.
 I can form and use verbs in the passive
voice.
 I can form and use verbs in the indicative,
imperative, conditional, and subjunctive
mood.
 I can identify and correct incorrect shifts
in verb voice and mood.






I can identify pronouns.
I can make sure pronouns are in the
proper case.
I can use intensive pronouns.
I can recognize and correct inappropriate
shifts in pronoun number and person.
I can recognize and correct vague
pronouns (i.e., ones with unclear or
ambiguous antecedents).
I can recognize variations from standard
English in their own and others' writing
and speaking, and identify and use
strategies to improve expression in
conventional language.





I can explain the role and function of
phrases and clauses in any sentence.
I can use simple, compound, complex, and
compound-complex sentences within any
writing environment
(task/audience/purpose).
I can use phrases and clauses correctly,
including, but not limited to, modifiers.
I can identify misplaced and dangling
modifiers.
I can identify clauses and phrases.
L6.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard
English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when
writing.
a. Use punctuation (commas, parentheses,
dashes) to set off
nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.*
b. Spell correctly.





I can use capitalization and punctuation
correctly.
I can define non-restrictive elements.
I can define parenthetical elements.
I can use punctuation with nonrestrictive
and parenthetical elements.
I can spell correctly.
L7.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard
English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when
writing.
a. Use a comma to separate coordinate
adjectives (e.g., It was a fascinating, enjoyable
movie but not He wore an old[,] green shirt).
b. Spell correctly.




I can identify and coordinate adjectives .
I can determine when to use a comma with
coordinate adjectives.
I can correctly use commas with
coordinate adjectives.
I can apply spelling rules to correctly spell
words.
L8.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard
English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when
writing.
a. Use punctuation (comma, ellipsis, dash)
to indicate a pause or break.
b. Use an ellipsis to indicate an omission.
c. Spell correctly.








Knowledge of Language
L6.3
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when
writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
a. Vary sentence patterns for meaning,
reader/listener interest, and style.*
b. Maintain consistency in style and tone.*
 I can speak, write, read and listen using
proper English.
 I can vary my sentence patterns to
enhance meaning and interest.
 I can write with a consistent style and
tone.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
L6.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and
multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade
Knowledge of Language
L7.3
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when
writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
a. Choose language that expresses ideas
precisely and concisely, recognizing and
eliminating wordiness and redundancy.*



I can use precise language to eliminate
wordiness and redundancy.
I can edit my own writing.
I can speak, write, read and listen using
proper English.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
L7.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and
multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade
I can use capitalization and punctuation
correctly when writing.
I can use punctuation (commas, ellipses,
dashes) to indicate a pause or break.
I can use a dash to set off material that is
parenthetic or summary in nature.
I can use an ellipsis to indicate an
omission .
I can recognize that an ellipsis is three
dots.
I can recall and apply spelling rules.
I can identify and correct misspelled
words.
I can capitalize, punctuate, and spell
properly when I write.
Knowledge of Language
L8.3
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when
writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
a. Use verbs in the active and passive voice and
in the conditional and subjunctive mood to
achieve particular effects (e.g., emphasizing
the actor or the action; expressing
uncertainty or describing a state contrary to
fact).

I can identify the different ways to use
verbs and incorporate them correctly into
my writing.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
L8.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and
multiple-meaning words or phrases based on grade 8
6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range
of strategies.
a. Verify the preliminary determination of the
meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by
checking the inferred meaning in context or
in a dictionary).
b.
c.
d.

I use can context clues to determine the
meaning of an unfamiliar word.
7 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range
of strategies.
a. Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a
sentence or paragraph; a word’s position or
function in a sentence) as a clue to the
meaning of a word or phrase.
b. Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or
Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning
of a word (e.g., belligerent, bellicose, rebel).
c. Consult general and specialized reference
materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries,
thesauruses), both print and digital, to find
the pronunciation of a word or determine or
clarify its precise meaning or its part of
speech.
d. Verify the preliminary determination of the
meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by
checking the inferred meaning in context or
in a dictionary).





L6.5
I can use context clues to determine the
meaning of a word.
I can use Greek or Latin roots to determine
the meaning of a word.
I can use electronic reference materials.
I can use print reference materials.
I can use context clues to determine the
meaning of a word.
L7.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language,
word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
a. Interpret figures of speech (e.g., literary,
biblical, and mythological allusions) in
context.
b. Use the relationship between particular
words (e.g., synonym/antonym, analogy) to
reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of
strategies.
a. Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a
sentence or paragraph; a word’s position
or function in a sentence) as a clue to the
meaning of a word or phrase.
b. Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or
Latin affixes and roots as clues to the
meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede,
secede).
c. Consult general and specialized reference
materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries,
thesauruses), both print and digital, to
find the pronunciation of a word or
determine or clarify its precise meaning
or its part of speech.
d. Verify the preliminary determination of
the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by
checking the inferred meaning in context
or in a dictionary).
 I can consult general and specialized
reference materials, both print and digital,
to find the pronunciation, determine or
clarify precise meaning or part of speech
of a word.
 I can identify common, grade-appropriate
Greek/Latin affixes and roots.
 I can clarify the intended meaning of
words and phrases that may have multiple
meanings and interpretations.
 I can choose flexibly from a range of
vocabulary strategies to determine or
clarify the meaning of an unknown word
or phrase.
 I can use context clues to determine the
meaning of an unfamiliar word.
L8.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language,
word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
Interpret figures of speech (e.g. verbal irony, puns) in
context.
a. Use the relationship between particular
words to better understand each of the
words.
c.



L6.6
L7.6
better understand each of the words.
Distinguish among the connotations
(associations) of words with similar
denotations (definitions) (e.g., refined,
respectful, polite, diplomatic, condescending).
I can interpret figurative language such as
o Similes
o Metaphors
o Personification
o Idiom
o Alliteration
o Allusion
o Onomatopoeia
o Others
I can interpret figurative language such as:
o Similes
o Metaphors
o Personification
o Idiom
o Alliteration
o Allusion
o Onomatopoeia
o Others
I can find relationships between words to
better understand them.
b.



L8.6
Distinguish among the connotations
(associations) of words with similar
denotations (definitions)
(e.g., bullheaded, willful, firm, persistent,
resolute).
I can recognize the meaning of figurative
language (e.g. verbal irony, puns)
I can analyze text to locate figures of
speech (e.g. personification) and interpret
meaning in context.
I can distinguish among the connotations
of words with similar denotations.