Improving the Writing Performance of Eighth Grade Students
Eighth grade refers to an educational year in the United States, Canada, Australia and
other countries which is commonly the final grade before high school and with students
who are usually 13-14 years old, and can be the third and final grade of middle school
or junior high school’s second and final grade.[1]
Eighth graders are self-aware of physical and emotional changes along with academic
concerns, are accustomed to the middle school routine and typically more self-involved
than younger students. They are more personal in reacting to academic and social
situations, and they begin to appreciate written and spoken language beyond the school
setting and to read popular adult authors like John Grisham and Mary Higgins Clark.
Eighth grade students continue to refine their writing skills in essays and narratives,
develop their writing styles and use strong verbs, adjectives and adverbs throughout the
grade. They begin to develop social consciousness and to favor writing in the first
person and be responsible for their own task within a group setting.[2]
Eighth-grade teachers can incorporate writing activities into their classes to develop
their students’ creativity and love for writing. Asking eighth graders to keep a journal is
effective in cultivating a safe writing environment in which they can freely express
themselves without concern for being right or wrong. Subjects can write on any general
or specific subject that interests them. A letter-writing partner or group for exchange of
thoughts on paper can also be assigned to students for participation credit. The writing
of students can be improved by letting them do it without pressure and this will also
inform the teacher of the students’ ability on the grade level.[3]
Teachers can display artwork and make it a subject for creative writing for eighth
grade students and allow students to use a thesaurus for reference, vocabulary
expansion and more depth and choices in writing. Collaborative writing can be done
by making students form separate groups and converse in writing on chart paper on any
subject area. A prompt, which can be a quote or a picture, is provided each group to
which students respond by writing something about the prompt or about the previous
responses of classmates. The introduction of the five-paragraph essay format enables
eighth graders to structure their ideas for argumentative writing. Giving assignments
on familiar and relevant topics of the day builds their researching skills and enhances
their social awareness.[4]
Eighth grade is a transitional year with more research work and advanced assignments
for middle school students that will give them a taste of writing on a high school level.
History, science and world cultures are topics with a wide range of resources that can
be chosen by eighth graders if no topic has been assigned.
Research on the topic by checking out books at the library or visiting websites should be
done before writing the essay. Older community members who have lived through
historic events may also be consulted.
All research information must noted down and an outline of it must be made on a
separate paper.
The essay should be typed in a word processing program, with the outline and notes
serving as a reference. An introduction should start the first paragraph of the essay,
followed by the body of the essay, with the main ideas detailed in each paragraph. The
essay can be ended with highlights of the important points in a one paragraph
conclusion.
Resource materials and websites that were used as references should be sighted on
the bottom of the last page or on a separate sheet.
The essay should be proofread before submission.[5]
Teachers should consider integrating technology to improve the writing of eighth grade
students. A computer linked to an LCD projector where students can view and learn the
writing process can be used. Such tools and software as Thesis Builder and Online
Outline Builder, EndNote and Turnitin Write Cycle can help students in their writing
assignments.[6]
[1] “Eighth Grade”, Wikipedia, 25 May 2011, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_grade>
[accessed 31 May 2011]
[2] “Grade Eight” pdf, 13 July 2006, <http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/DMGetDocument.aspx/Grade%20Eight.pdf?p=6CC6799F8C1371F63D97C892EB89F5D50ACDFA211BA7DA3F458BFD8B4C613A1B&Type=D> [accessed 31 May 2011]
[3] “Eighth-Grade Writing Activities”, eHow, 2011, <http://www.ehow.com/info_7884844_eighthgrade-writing-activities.html> [accessed 31 May 2011]
[4] ibid
[5] “How to Write a Eight Grade Essay”, eHow, 2011,
<http://www.ehow.com/how_7865208_write-eighth-grade-essay.html> [accessed 1 June 2011]
[6] “Improving Student Writing Using Technology”, WikEd, 3 March 2010,
<http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/Improving_Student_Writing_Using_Technology>
[accessed 1 June 2011]
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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