Childhood Remembrances: Life and Art Intersect in Nikki Giovanni's "Nikki-Rosa"

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Computer Technology Skills (2005)

Grade 8

• Goal 3: Select and use a variety of technology tools to collect, analyze, and present information. Strand - Societal/Ethical Issues
  • Objective 3.05: Select and use WP/DTP features/functions to develop, edit/revise, and publish documents/assignments. Strand - Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desk Top Publishing
  • Objective 3.07: Plan, design, and develop a multimedia product using data (e.g., graphs, charts, database reports) to present content information. Strand - Multimedia/Presentation

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 8

• Goal 1: The learner will use language to express individual perspectives through analysis of personal, social, cultural, and historical issues.
  • Objective 1.01: Narrate a personal account which:
    • creates a coherent, organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.
    • establishes a point of view and sharpens focus.
    • uses remembered feelings.
    • selects details that best illuminate the topic.
    • connects events to self/society.
  • Objective 1.02: Analyze expressive materials that are read, heard, and viewed by:
    • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard, and/or viewed.
    • reviewing the characteristics of expressive works.
    • determining the importance of literary effects on the reader/viewer/listener.
    • making connections between works, self and related topics.
    • drawing inferences.
    • generating a learning log or journal.
    • maintaining an annotated list of works that are read or viewed, including personal reactions.
    • taking an active role in and/or leading formal/informal book/media talks.
  • Objective 1.04: Reflect on learning experiences by:
    • evaluating how personal perspectives are influenced by society, cultural differences, and historical issues.
    • appraising changes in self throughout the learning process.
    • evaluating personal circumstances and background that shape interaction with text.
• Goal 4: The learner will continue to refine critical thinking skills and create criteria to evaluate print and non-print materials.
  • Objective 4.01: Analyze the purpose of the author or creator and the impact of that purpose by:
    • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard, and/or viewed.
    • evaluating any bias, apparent or hidden messages, emotional factors, and/or propaganda techniques.
    • evaluating the underlying assumptions of the author/creator.
    • evaluate the effects of the author's craft on the reader/viewer/listener.
• Goal 5: The learner will respond to various literary genres using interpretive and evaluative processes.
  • Objective 5.02: Study the characteristics of literary genres (fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry) through:
    • reading a variety of literature and other text (e.g., young adult novels, short stories, biographies, plays, free verse, narrative poems).
    • evaluating what impact genre-specific characteristics have on the meaning of the text.
    • evaluating how the author's choice and use of a genre shapes the meaning of the literary work.
    • evaluating what impact literary elements have on the meaning of the text.
• Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.
  • Objective 6.01: Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
    • using a variety of sentence types, punctuating properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.
    • using subject-verb agreement and verb tense that are appropriate for the meaning of the sentence.
    • applying the parts of speech to clarify language usage.
    • using pronouns correctly, including clear antecedents and case.
    • using phrases and clauses correctly, including proper punctuation (e.g. prepositional phrases, appositives, dependent and independent clauses.)
    • determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, and/or structural analysis (roots, prefixes, suffixes) of words.
    • extending vocabulary knowledge by learning and using new words.
    • evaluating the use and power of dialects in standard/nonstandard English usage.
    • applying correct language conventions and usage during formal oral presentations.