Standards Map

English Language Arts and Literacy > Grade 8 > Reading Informational Text
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English Language Arts and Literacy | Grade : 8

Strand - Reading Informational Text

Cluster - Craft and Structure

[RI.8.4] - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts. (See grade applying knowledge of vocabulary to reading; see grade 1 Writing Standard 5 and Speaking and Listening Standard 4 on strengthening writing and presentations by applying knowledge of vocabulary.)

Resources:


  • Allusion
    Reference to a person, place, thing, or event presumed to be familiar to the audience. Allusions to biblical figures (e.g., the patience of Job) and figures from classical mythology (e.g., a Herculean task) are common in Western literature.
  • Analogy
    Way of understanding a concept or word by associating its meaning with something better understood: for example, the brain is in some ways like a computer.
  • Analysis (Analyze)
    In general, a careful examination of the parts of a whole and their relationships to one another; in language arts, a study of how words, sentences, paragraphs, stanzas, or sections of a text affect its meaning.
  • Connotation
    Attitudes and feelings associated with a word. Connotations may be negative (as with tight-fisted) or positive (as with frugal), and they affect style and meaning. See Denotation.
  • Figurative language
    Language enriched by imagery and figures of speech such as simile, metaphor, or personification.
  • Massachusetts Anchor Standards for Reading
  • Phrase
    Broadly, any short series of related words; grammatically, a series of related words that lacks either a subject or a predicate or both: for example, by the door or opening the box. See Clause.
  • Reading Closely to Analyze Complex Texts in the Secondary Grades
  • Technical subject
    Course devoted to a practical study, such as engineering, technology, design, business, or other workforce-related subject; also, the technical aspect of a wider field of study, such as art or music.
  • Tone
    Expression of a writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward a subject. Unlike mood, which is intended to shape the audience’s emotional response, tone reflects the feelings of a text’s author. Tone can be serious, humorous, sarcastic, playful, ironic, bitter, or objective. See Style.

Predecessor Standards:

  • RL.7.4
    Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning, tone, or mood, including the impact of repeated use of particular images. (See grade 7 Language Standards 4-6 on applying knowledge of vocabulary to reading.)
  • RI.7.4
    Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone. (See grade 7 Language Standards 4-6 on applying knowledge of vocabulary to reading.)

Successor Standards:

  • RI.9-10.4
    Determine the meaning(s) of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative or contradictory impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper; how an author’s word choice varies from one part of a text to another.) (See grades 9-10 Language Standards 4-6 on applying knowledge of vocabulary to reading.)

Same Level Standards:

  • L.8.4
    Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words or phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
  • L.8.5
    Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
  • L.8.6
    Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; independently research words and gather vocabulary knowledge. (See grade 8 Reading Literature Standard 4 and Reading Informational Text Standard 4 on applying knowledge of vocabulary to reading; see grade 1 Writing Standard 5 and Speaking and Listening Standard 4 on strengthening writing and presentations by applying knowledge of vocabulary.)