Unit Plan 36 (Grade 8 ELA): Publishing Celebration & Reflection
8th graders curate and publish polished writing portfolios, revising for language precision, rhythm, and tone. The unit culminates in formal author talks where students present excerpts, explain craft choices, and reflect on their growth as writers and speakers.
Focus: Polished portfolios; author talks; language for effect
Grade Level: 8
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Writing—Publishing & Reflection; Speaking—Presentation)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
We close the year by publishing our best work and sharing it with an audience. Students curate a polished portfolio (argument, informative, narrative, and synthesis selections), revise line-by-line for language and effect (precision, rhythm, tone), and deliver a brief author talk introducing an excerpt and articulating craft choices. The week culminates in a celebratory showcase and a reflective letter that names growth with evidence.
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Use technology to compile, format, and publish a polished portfolio; collaborate through comments and version history (W.8.6).
- Prepare and deliver an author talk that clearly presents claims and evidence, uses purposeful visuals/notes, and adapts to audience with formal English (SL.8.4–SL.8.6).
- Revise for effect at the sentence level—varying syntax, adjusting tone/register, and choosing words for precision and impact (L.8.3).
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 8
- W.8.6: Use technology to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate.
- SL.8.4–SL.8.6: Present claims/findings, use multimedia strategically, and adapt speech using formal English.
- L.8.3: Use knowledge of language to function in different contexts; choose language that expresses ideas precisely and concisely; maintain consistency in style and tone.
Success Criteria — student language
- My portfolio is organized, error-free, and easy to navigate (TOC/links/consistent headings).
- My revisions show language for effect (varied sentences, purposeful repetition/parallelism, precise diction) with before/after evidence.
- In my author talk, I introduce, read, and explain my choices in formal English with clear pacing and audience awareness.