8^th GRADE ENGLISH

MIDTERM REVIEW 

Directions: Complete all parts below for credit.  – 10 summative points – Attach any lined sheets of paper you use to record your answers. 

“The Monkey’s Paw”

Read the following questions and mark them either True or False

1. ______ For the wishes to work, you have to wish out loud.
2. ______ The monkey’s paw originally came from a holy man in Africa.
3. ______ Mr. White wishes for 200 pounds.

Short Answer – Read and answer the questions below:

“Monkey’s Paw”

1. What is most likely the reason the holy man created the spell placed upon the monkey’s paw?

2. Why do you think Sergeant Major Morris tries to burn the paw?

3. What is one possible theme from “The Monkey’s Paw”?  Explain with details from the story

“Raymond’s Run”

4. What part of the plot’s rising action increases tension between Squeaky and Gretchen?

5.  When does Squeaky become thankful that Raymond is her brother?

6.  When Squeaky says that Raymond is “not quite right” she means that________________________________.

“Abuela Invents the Zero”

7.  What is one possible theme from “Abuela Invents the Zero”?  Explain with details from the story

8. According to Abuela, what is the worst thing you can say to someone? 

“The Tell-Tale Heart”

9.  What does the beating of the heart symbolize?  Explain with details from the story

10. What bothers the narrator about the oldman?

“The Necklace”

11. What is the theme of the story?

12. What does the reader learn at the end of the story?

Plot Diagram 

Define the following words

Climax-

Resolution –

Rising Action-

Falling Action-

Inciting Incident-

Exposition-

Plot-

Elements of a Story 

Define the following words and write an example 

Antagonist-

External conflict-

Imagery-

Internal conflict- 

Irony –

Mood –

Protagonist –

Tone –

Foreshadow –

Theme-

Argumentative Writing

Define the following words

1. Proponents-
2. Opponents-
3. Introduction- 
4. Thesis Statement –
5. Claim-
6. Evidence-
7. Counterclaim-
8. Rebuttal –
9. Conclusion-

Text Features

Define the following words

1. graph-
2. caption-
3. italics-
4. bold word-
5. heading- 
6. map-
7. picture-
8. title-

Happy Holidays!

Students will be taking the NWEA test after break.

These are some reccomendations for NWEA review:

1. Elements of Fiction: https://www.quia.com/mc/1019068.html

2. NWEA Review: https://quizlet.com/382226461/nwea-flash-cards/

3. Full NWEA review: https://quizlet.com/23068956/nwea-practice-6th-grade-flash-cards/—-this is my favorite
4. Figurative Language Jeopardy: https://www.quia.com/cb/125762.html

5. Poetry: https://www.quia.com/rr/615897.html

6.  Types of Sentences: https://www.quia.com/pop/35934.html?AP_rand=1361700886

7. Rhyme Scheme and Figurative Language: https://www.quia.com/rr/845051.html?AP_rand=1413342775

8. Genre: https://www.quia.com/rr/297697.html

Argumentative Quiz -Study Guide 

Part 1-In argumentative writing, the job of the writer is to convince the readers to agree with his/her claim (position) by using facts (evidence) as support.  

1. Claim- the writer’s stand, position, or opinion on the topic.
2. Evidence- Facts to support claim (position).
3. Reasoning- Explanation of how the evidence (facts) proves the claim to be valid and reasonable (correct).
4. Proponent- Someone who argues in favor of something; advocate.
5. Opponent- a person who disagrees with something and speaks against it.
6. Counter Argument-  evidence that supports an opposing viewpoint

Part 2-Type of Evidence- information from various sources used to support the claim.

• #1 Personal experience – any actual experience with the topic that you, your family, and friends have had.
• #2 Confirmed Facts –  facts that have been found in reliable/credible sources.

• #3 Statistics – numbers and percentages that are relevant to the topic and come from reliable/credible sources.
• #4 Research by experts – research that is done by professors, researchers, or doctors who have a deep knowledge of the topic; always found in credible/reliable sources.

Part 3: Label each part of the Essay 

Introduction

Hook – grab readers attention

Background information-give the reader the prior knowledge they need to understand the essay

Thesis statement-State your claim and add three reasons

• Claim because reason one, reason two, reason three

Body 1

• Topic Sentence-Claim for Reason 1
• Evidence 
• Add Reasoning to support

Body 2

Topic Sentence-Claim for Reason 2

Evidence 

Add Reasoning to support

Body 3

Counterargument

Topic Sentence-Claim for Reason 3

Evidence 

Add Reasoning to support

Conclusion

Restate thesis

Make a recommendation

Students will be working argumentative writing for the next 3 weeks. In argumentative writing the author’s purpose is to create a claim (position) and then supporting that claim with evidence and reasoning. 

We will explore the issue of whether zoos are more helpful or harmful in the conservation of wildlife.

This genre of writing requires students to: 

1. Investigate a topic

 2. Collect evidence

 3. Take a position (claim).

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Last week we focused on figurative language. Figurative language makes your writing more exciting because you DON’T say exactly what you mean.  You DO compare, exaggerate, and understate the situation. 

These are the terms we practiced in class:

• Simile-a comparison of two unlike things using the words LIKE or AS
• Metaphor- a comparison of two unlike things, usually one is an object
• Hyperbole- an EXTREME exaggeration
• Onomatopoeia- words that sound like their meaning
• Alliteration- the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words
• Idiom- a phrase that meaning is completely different than the LITERAL meaning
• Personification-giving human characteristics to things that are not human.
• Allusion-the author refers to a subject matter such as a place, event, or literary work by way of a passing reference. It is up to the reader to make a connection to the subject being mentioned.
• Oxymoron- a phrase with words that are opposite in meaning

For the next 2 weeks, we will focus on Informational texts and the different types of text features. Authors include text features to help the reader better understand what they have read sends the reader signals about how to read the content. Students will close read informational articles and answer text feature questions.

Reminder: Text Features/Figurative Language Quiz-Monday

• This week we read “The Necklace” and focused on irony, character analysis through textual evidence, foreshadowing, and different types of figurative language.

Click on the link below to read the story

https://www.granburyisd.org/cms/lib/TX01000552/Centricity/Domain/476/The%20Necklace.pdf

If you were absent today, please read “The Monkey’s Paw” and be ready to discuss the story in class tomorrow. Click on the link below  https://my.hrw.com/la_2010/na_lit/student/ebook_gr8/osp/data/u3_monkey_paw_se.pdf

This week is dedicated to Edgar Allan Poe and his many short stories and poems. We will start with his short story “The Tell-Tale Heart” this week. We will also focus on story devices and the different types of figurative language.

If you need access to the text click the link below:

https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/issa/wp-content/uploads/sites/1187/2015/10/u1_tell_tale_edgar_se.pdf