$5 - $10 8th Grade Informational Text Handouts (by date, latest first)

Comprehensive Text Structure Resource for Middle School ELA (Grades 5-8)

Aligned with TEKS 5.10B, TEKS ELA 6.9b, ELA 7.9B, ELA 8.9B, and Common Core State Standards: Literacy.RI.5.5, RI.6.5, RI.7.5, RI.8.6

Introducing a meticulously crafted resource designed to empower middle school ELA and intervention teachers. Dive into the world of text structures with this comprehensive package that seamlessly blends theory with hands-on practice.

Objective: Equip students with the skills to identify six distinct text structure types of informational text and discern the author's purpose.

What's Inside:

• Engaging PowerPoint presentation with clear directions and captivating visuals.
• Comprehensive guided notes and a graphic organizer.
• Eight pages of practice materials, including text structure exercises and author's purpose identification tasks.
• A fun and educational coloring sort activity.

How to Use:

1. We Do (15 min): Kickstart the lesson with the provided note-taking graphic organizer. As you navigate through the PowerPoint, students will jot down definitions, signal words, and the author's purpose for each structure. Enhance engagement by having students read aloud or using popsicle sticks for random selections.
2. Teams Do (20 min): Transition to partnered practice with six high-interest paragraphs centered around social media. Students will highlight signal words, pinpoint the text structure, and elucidate the author's rationale behind choosing a particular structure.
3. You Do (20 min): Culminate the lesson with an independent color sort activity, allowing students to showcase their understanding.

Formats Available: PDF and PowerPoint.

Unique Selling Points:

• Print & Go: Save precious prep time with materials that are ready to be printed and presented.
• Low Prep: Minimize your preparation efforts without compromising on the quality of instruction.

Perfect for introducing text structures or as a refresher, this resource is structured into three distinct sections: We Do, Teams Do, and You Do. Designed to fit snugly into a 55-minute class period, it offers a balanced mix of guided instruction and independent practice.

Elevate your teaching game with this comprehensive resource. Ideal for middle school grades 5-8, it aligns with key educational standards, ensuring that your students are on the right track.

This comprehensive resource will have students critically examine the Vietnam War. The provided slide presentation is full of primary based sources, problem-posing discussion questions, POV simulations, & informative video clips that are designed to engage the students in the learning process. Three supplementary activities are included;

Materials:

• Slide Presentation (67 Slides) & Guided Notes Packet (Answer Key Included)
• Vietnamese Independence Debate Activity
• Scavenger Hunt POV Activity
• Secondary Source

Extension Activity #1: Vietnamese Independence Debate

• Each student will be assigned one of two POINTS OF VIEW (POV);
  1. French business leaders 2) Vietnamese communists.
• Central to the debate are the following questions; Why should the U.S. care what happens in Vietnam, along with what happens in France? Whether the U.S. should feel threatened by communism in Vietnam? What do they want President Truman to do about the Vietnamese Declaration of Independence— support it, ignore it, oppose it? Whether the U.S. government should support the French?

Extension Activity #2: Song Analysis

• Students will compare two defining songs of the Vietnam era; The Ballads of the Green Berets, & the War Song.

Extension Activity #3: What is a Whistleblower?

• Students will analyze four individuals; all of whom revealed information about activity within a private or public organization that was deemed illegal, immoral, illicit, unsafe or fraudulent.
• Students can delve further by referring to the Whistleblower Timeline,  and choosing a whistleblower to research (1700’s to contemporary times). Students will prepare a 3 to 5 minute class presentation. 

If you liked this lesson see other related ‘Cold War’ lessons here:

• Hot War Turns into the Cold War
• Cold War Unit Review & Assessment
• The Cuban Missile Crisis Declassified
• The Korean War: A Critical Reading Activity

This THE RHETORICAL SITUATION [GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS & WORKSHEETS] product highlights the purpose, definition and clarification, common rhetorical techniques, and methods of appeals . You will find 2 versions of THE RHETORICAL TRIANGLE, 50+ Pages, 10+ Assignments/worksheets, a 12 -item multiple choice quiz, answer keys, THE RHETORICAL CHART, and 6 PROJECTS. This product will lighten your load in covering some RHETORICAL ANALYSIS in your classroom. 6 - 12th Graders will love The Angry Grammar Series because it'll make your class GREAT! Check it out!

This Product Includes:

1. 10 practice worksheets

2. Easy to Comprehend RHETORIC Notes:

PURPOSE, METHODS OF APPEAL, and MORE

3. A 12-Item Multiple Choice Quiz

4. 2 RHETORICAL TRIANGLE Versions

5. 6 MAJOR PROJECTS to make your classroom GREAT!

You may also appreciate:

P3: POWER OF PROPER PUNCTUATION [UNIT 1]

Using the Writing MANTRA [Teaching Paragraph Writing]

The Argument Document [T.A.D.]

S.A.T.T.T-ing [MNEMONIC GRAPHIC ORGANIZER]

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Elevate your students' reading comprehension skills with this comprehensive lesson on identifying and understanding author's purpose. This resource is designed to help students in grades 6-8 develop critical thinking skills and become more effective readers by analyzing various elements of a text, such as word choice, writing techniques, and main ideas.

The package includes:

A detailed, 40-slide presentation covering:

• The importance of understanding author's purpose
• The three main types of author's purpose: persuade, inform, and entertain
• How word choice, writing techniques, and main ideas contribute to author's purpose
• Practical tips and strategies for identifying author's purpose in various texts
• Two example passages with in-depth analysis of author's purpose, word choice, writing techniques, and main ideas
• Recap of key points and encouragement for students to practice their skills

20 carefully curated non-fiction texts from diverse genres, such as opinion pieces, advertisements, and informative essays, providing ample opportunities for students to apply their learning

Text Titles:

• Bonjour! A Fun Guide to Speaking French
• Cleopatra: The Last Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt
• Dumplings: A Delicious Journey Around the World
• Elon Musk: The Visionary Entrepreneur Shaping Our Future
• Escape to Paradise: Discover the Magic of Tahiti
• Felix Baumgartner: The Man Who Fell from the Edge of Space
• From Runway to Sky: A Pilot's Step-by-Step Guide to Launching an Airbus A320
• Lost in the Jungle: A Guide to Survival
• Silk: The Luxurious Fabric with a Fascinating History
• Taylor Swift: The Unstoppable Force in Pop Music
• The Ballad of Mulan: A Tale of Bravery and Filial Piety
• The Devastating Truth About Cigarettes: A Plea to Save Your Life
• The Incredible Journey: A Child's Development from Birth to Graduation
• The Incredible Story of Our Universe: A Journey Through Time and Space
• The Plight of Mountain Gorillas in Gabon: A Call to Action
• The Secret to Cockroach Success: Uncovering the Extraordinary Adaptability of These Resilient Insects
• The Secret to Longevity: Why People Are Living Longer Than Ever Before
• The Silk Route: A Journey from Kashgar to Beijing
• The Web of Life: Why Biodiversity Matters
• Vincent van Gogh: The Tortured Artist Who Changed the World

A versatile worksheet that guides students through analyzing each text, focusing on:

1. Summarizing the main points
2. Identifying the main idea and author's purpose
3. Examining key writing techniques and their effects

By working through this lesson and completing the accompanying activities, your students will:

• Gain a deep understanding of author's purpose and its significance in reading comprehension
• Learn to identify and analyze the elements of a text that contribute to author's purpose
• Develop critical thinking skills by examining word choice, writing techniques, and main ideas
• Improve their ability to summarize and interpret various types of non-fiction texts
• Become more confident and engaged readers, equipped with strategies for tackling complex texts

This resource is perfect for English Language Arts, Reading, or Writing classes, as well as for test preparation and literacy intervention programs. The slides and activities can be easily adapted to suit your classroom's needs and can be used for whole-class instruction, small-group work, or independent practice.

Empower your students to become skilled, critical readers with this comprehensive lesson on author's purpose. Purchase now and unlock the key to improved reading comprehension!

Description

Elevate your students' reading comprehension skills with this comprehensive lesson on identifying and understanding author's purpose. This resource is designed to help students in grades 6-8 develop critical thinking skills and become more effective readers by analyzing various elements of a text, such as word choice, writing techniques, and main ideas.

The package includes:

A detailed, 40-slide presentation covering:

• The importance of understanding author's purpose

• The three main types of author's purpose: persuade, inform, and entertain

• How word choice, writing techniques, and main ideas contribute to author's purpose

• Practical tips and strategies for identifying author's purpose in various texts

• Two example passages with in-depth analysis of author's purpose, word choice, writing techniques, and main ideas

• Recap of key points and encouragement for students to practice their skills

20 carefully curated non-fiction texts from diverse genres, such as opinion pieces, advertisements, and informative essays, providing ample opportunities for students to apply their learning

A versatile worksheet that guides students through analyzing each text, focusing on:

1. Summarizing the main points
2. Identifying the main idea and author's purpose
3. Examining key writing techniques and their effects

Text Titles:

Literary Nonfiction

1. Biography of Malala Yousafzai - Explore the life of a young woman who stood up for education rights and won a Nobel Peace Prize.
2. Emma Raducanu: A Rising Star Overcoming the Odds - An account focusing on the challenges and triumphs in youth sports.
3. Personal Essay on Bullying - Reflections from someone who experienced bullying, discussing its impacts and lessons learned.
4. Travel Writing about a Trip to the Amazon Rainforest - Descriptions and adventures in one of the world's most vital and diverse ecosystems.

Journalism

1. News Article on Climate Change - Current events and scientific explanations regarding global climate shifts.
2. Feature Story on Innovations in Technology - In-depth look at how technology is changing education.
3. Investigative Reporting on Plastic Pollution - Uncovering the sources and solutions of plastic pollution in oceans.
4. Opinion Piece on the Importance of Recycling - Persuasive arguments about why recycling should be a part of daily life.

Academic Writing

1. Research Paper on Habitats of Endangered Species - Study and presentation of critical habitats that need protection.
2. Case Study on the Impact of Video Games on Youth - Analysis of positive and negative effects of gaming.
3. Review of a Science Documentary - Critical evaluation of a popular science documentary's content and presentation.

Practical Nonfiction

1. How-to Guide on Starting a Community Garden - Step-by-step instructions for school-based or community garden projects.
2. Self-help Book for Teens on Managing Stress - Practical advice and techniques for handling school and social stress.
3. Instructions for cooking lasagne - From the history, to the ingredients, to the recipe and execution.

Creative Nonfiction

1. Narrative Nonfiction on a Significant Historical Event - A compelling retelling of the moon landing, focusing on lesser-known facts and figures.
2. Historical Account of the Civil Rights Movement - A blend of factual history and personal stories from the 1960s.
3. True Crime Story about a Famous Art Heist - Examination of the theft, the investigation, and the impact on the art world.

Additional Engaging Topics

1. Exploration of the Ancient Civilization of Egypt  - Delving into their culture, technology, and contributions to modern society.

2. Science Behind Natural Disasters - Understanding earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanoes through a scientific lens.

3. The Evolution of Music from Classical to Modern Pop - Tracing how music has changed over the centuries and its influence on society.

By working through this lesson and completing the accompanying activities, your students will:

• Gain a deep understanding of author's purpose and its significance in reading comprehension

• Learn to identify and analyze the elements of a text that contribute to author's purpose

• Develop critical thinking skills by examining word choice, writing techniques, and main ideas

• Improve their ability to summarize and interpret various types of non-fiction texts

• Become more confident and engaged readers, equipped with strategies for tackling complex texts

This resource is perfect for English Language Arts, Reading, or Writing classes, as well as for test preparation and literacy intervention programs. The slides and activities can be easily adapted to suit your classroom's needs and can be used for whole-class instruction, small-group work, or independent practice.

Empower your students to become skilled, critical readers with this comprehensive lesson on author's purpose. Purchase now and unlock the key to improved reading comprehension!