LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

English Language Arts — Grade 8

Goal 3: The learner will continue to refine the understanding and use of argument.

Objective 3.01. Explore and evaluate argumentative works that are read, heard and/or viewed by:

  • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
  • analyzing the work by identifying the arguments and positions stated or implied and the evidence used to support them.
  • identifying the social context of the argument.
  • recognizing the effects of bias, emotional factors, and/or semantic slanting.
  • comparing the argument and counter-argument presented.
  • identifying/evaluating the effectiveness of tone, style, and use of language.
  • evaluating the author's purpose and stance
  • making connections between works, self and related topics.
  • responding to public documents (such as but not limited to editorials, reviews, local, state, and national policies/issues including those with a historical context).

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

Would you really buy that? Persuasive techniques in advertising
In CareerStart lessons: Grade eight, page 1.9
In this lesson plan, students learn about the persuasive techniques used in advertising and try to identify the techniques in a variety of ads.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Andrea Fedon, Gail Frank, and Cindy Neininger.
"We the People"
Students will gain a better understanding of the U.S. Constitution by exploring the language of the Constitution.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
By Karen Creech, Terri Hodges, Megan Lawson, and Mary Ostwalt.
The Lumbee: Who are they?
In Teaching about North Carolina American Indians, page 2.4
Introduction This activity for middle school grades allows students to survey the various theories concerning the ancestry of the Lumbee. Students will read and analyze four threads that seek to chronicle the ancestry of North Carolina’s largest...
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
By Gazelia Carter.
Good medicine
Students will examine changes in technology, medicine, and health that took place in North Carolina between 1870 and 1930 and construct products and ideas which demonstrate understanding of how these changes impacted people living in North Carolina at that time. To achieve these goals, students will employ the eight intelligences of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies)
By Leslie Ramsey.
Differences across the curriculum: Part 2
This set of lessons can be used with "Differences across the curriculum: Part 1" as an integrated approach to exploring diversity with eighth graders. The unit will revolve around the use of the drama version of "The Diary of Anne Frank." Students will learn how diversity creates bias, which leads to conflict, where students confront their bias and practice tolerance. These parts reflect the four core curricula in an interwoven approach to teaching students to confront their biases, learn tolerance, and infer the impact of these on today's society. This activity, Part 2, is meant to augment the pre-reading activities completed in Part 1 in a Social Studies class.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Theater Arts Education)
By Lynn Carter.

Resources on the web

Why preserve biodiversity?
In this lesson from the National Geographic Xpeditions website, students discuss the importance of maintaining ecosystems and find out about the various arguments that people make in favor of preserving the Earth's biodiversity. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Science)
Provided by: Xpeditions
Persuasive essay: Environmental issues
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students explore environmental issues that are relevant to their own lives, self-select topics, and gather information to write persuasive essays. Although this lesson focuses on the environment as a broad topic, many other... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
The penny problem
In this lesson from EconEdLink, students explore possibilities for “phasing out” the penny from the United States money supply. This lesson incorporates links to a variety of web resources. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: EconEdLink
Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Power of Nonviolence
This lesson introduces students to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s philosophy of nonviolence and the teachings of Mohandas K. Gandhi that influenced King's views. After considering the political impact of this philosophy, students explore its relevance to personal... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
Provided by: EDSITEment
Inventing and presenting unit 2: Effective speeches and building the invention
This lesson is part of a three-part unit from ReadWriteThink titled “Inventing and Presenting.” In this interdisciplinary unit, students use what they have learned about experimentation and the scientific method, critical thinking, clear writing,... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Science)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Exploring free speech and persuasion with "Nothing but the Truth"
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, after reading the novel Nothing But The Truth, students discuss the protagonist Phillip and his right to free speech as well as their own rights. Students examine various Web sites to research First Amendment... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Entering history: Nikki Giovanni and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Students study the social impact of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech by reading Nikki Giovanni’s poem “The Funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr.”. Students complete a close reading of the text of King's speech and... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Book report alternative: A character's letter to the editor
This lesson that focuses on Carl Hiaasen’s Newbery Honor Book Hoot, includes an exploration of the genre of letters to the editor, a review of persuasive writing structure and letter format, and an emphasis on multi-draft... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Battling for liberty: Tecumseh's and Patrick Henry's language of resistance
This lesson challenges students to think critically about how people resist oppression through the spoken word. By examining two speeches by Chief Tecumseh of the Shawnee alongside Patrick Henry's famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech,... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Authentic persuasive writing to promote summer reading
This ReadWriteThink lesson invites students to create brochures and flyers that suggest books and genres to explore during the summer months. Rather than a teacher-centered requirement, summer reading becomes a student-driven exploration with brochures... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink