Grade 8
Language Arts
Reading
Standard 2

READING COMPREHENSION
(FOCUS ON INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS)


 
Resources
Lesson Plans
Assessments
Elements of Literature Second Course 
pg. 326-328
Read aloud to class The Time We Climbed Snake Mountain, by Leslie Marmon Silko; Points of View, by Ishmael Reed; and Point of View, by Shel Silverstein. (pg. 326-327 Elements of Literature Second Course.)  Discuss the differences and similarities found in these pieces.  Then, read Meet the Writers on pg. 328 and discuss reasons for these differences (lifestyle, nationality, etc.)
Previously Published Data

1.) Have the students record in their Text Reading Journal the purpose and organization of the reading material you provide. In the Text Reading Journal, students should record the literature read, author, genre, purpose, and the organization of the material. Throughout the school year, have students read a variety of material, as described earlier. For example, a student would list in his/ her Text Reading Journal:

  • Six literature pieces from the California Reading List by category (Biography & Autobiography, Contemporary realism, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Short Story, Play) 
  • An article from three different magazines (National Geographic, Seventeen, and Readers' Digest)
  • Five newspaper articles (a headline article, an editorial, a local/ state article, a sports article, and a human interest story)
  • Two on-line information pieces (one related to the social studies class about the factory system on the East Coast of the United States during the mid to late 1800s and one related to the science class about the molecular structure of plants)
  • the product warranty for a Walkman
  • The contract for a summer job

    • A section of an instructional manual for a compute
    Previously Published Data

    The assessment is based on how well students explain the selections from their Text Reading Journals. Emphasis is placed on the students' ability to communicate the similarities and differences in the purpose and organization of the variety of pieces read.