Saskatchewan · Grade 8
English Language Arts, Grade 8
Saskatchewan’s Grade 8 English course, from Comprehend and Respond to Assess and Reflect.
- Units
- 3
- Lessons
- 3
- Skills
- 23
- Provincial exam
- None
- Official curriculum
- Saskatchewan Ministry of Education
Unit by unit
Every skill in the course, with its official code.
Unit 1 · 10 skills
Comprehend and Respond
Responding Analytically and Evaluating Texts
Responding to becoming-myself texts
I can respond analytically to an identity text about becoming myself.
Official code: CR8.1
Responding to seeking-justice texts
I can respond analytically to a text about seeking justice.
Official code: CR8.1
Responding to building-a-better-world texts
I can respond analytically to a text about building a better world.
Official code: CR8.1
Using inferring and summarizing strategies
I can preview, infer, and summarize to construct meaning from a text.
Official code: CR8.2
Using cueing systems for unity and coherence
I can use cueing systems to see how a text achieves unity and coherence.
Official code: CR8.3
Viewing critically to evaluate effectiveness
I can view a multimedia text critically and evaluate how effective it is.
Official code: CR8.4
Listening critically to detect bias
I can listen critically and detect a speaker's point of view, bias, or stereotype.
Official code: CR8.5
Reading to evaluate purpose, values, and bias
I can read a text and evaluate its purpose, point of view, values, and any bias.
Official code: CR8.6
Reading information texts and spotting false reasoning
I can read information texts independently and recognize bias or false reasoning.
Official code: CR8.7
Reading with fluency and expression
I can read Grade 8 texts fluently and with expression.
Official code: CR8.8
The official wording · 10 outcomes
- CR8.1
- View, listen to, read, comprehend, and respond to a variety of texts that address identity (e.g., Becoming Myself)
- CR8.1
- read, comprehend, and respond to a variety of texts that address identity (e.g., Becoming Myself), social responsibility (e.g., In Search of Justice)
- CR8.1
- texts that address identity (e.g., Becoming Myself), social responsibility (e.g., In Search of Justice), and efficacy (e.g., Building a Better World).
- CR8.2
- Select and use appropriate strategies to construct meaning before (e.g., previewing and anticipating message), during (e.g., making inferences based on text and prior knowledge), and after (e.g., paraphrasing and summarizing) viewing, listening, and reading.
- CR8.3
- Use pragmatic (e.g., intended audience and tone), textual (e.g., how author organized text to achieve unity and coherence), syntactic (e.g., variety of sentence structures), semantic/lexical/morphological (e.g., imagery), graphophonic (e.g., stress, pitch, and juncture of a word), and other cues (e.g., layout and accompanying graphics) to construct and to confirm meaning.
- CR8.4
- View critically and demonstrate comprehension of a variety of visual and multimedia texts including videos, television broadcasts, informational presentations, dramatic presentations, websites, and news programs to locate and interpret key messages and details, to develop conclusions, opinions, and understanding, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the text.
- CR8.5
- Listen critically to understand, gather information, follow directions, form an opinion, and analyze oral presentations for diverse opinions, presenter’s point of view, values, and biases, stereotypes, or prejudices.
- CR8.6
- Read and demonstrate comprehension and interpretation of grade-appropriate texts including traditional and contemporary prose fiction, poetry, and plays from First Nations, Métis, and other cultures to evaluate the purpose, message, point of view, craft, values, and biases, stereotypes, or prejudices.
- CR8.7
- Read independently and demonstrate comprehension of a variety of information texts including understanding the main ideas and supporting evidence, explaining connections between new ideas and information and previous thoughts, and recognizing any biases or false reasoning.
- CR8.8
- Read Grade 8 appropriate texts to increase fluency (140-180 wcpm orally; 180-230 silently) and expression.
Key ideas
Identity texts about 'Becoming Myself' explore how we grow into our values and sense of self.
An analytical response examines how the text works and supports its interpretation with evidence.
Social-responsibility texts 'In Search of Justice' explore fairness, rights, and standing up for others.
We analyze the perspectives in the text and support a response with evidence.
Efficacy texts about 'Building a Better World' explore how deliberate action creates change.
Watch out for
- Summarizing rather than analyzing the identity theme.
- Offering an interpretation with no supporting evidence.
- Taking a side before analyzing the text.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 2 · 11 skills
Compose and Create
Creating Texts and a Group Inquiry
Creating telling-my-story texts
I can create a text that tells part of my life story.
Official code: CC8.1
Creating examining-popular-culture texts
I can create a text that examines how popular culture influences us.
Official code: CC8.1
Creating turning-point texts
I can create a text about how a choice or action creates a turning point.
Official code: CC8.1
Creating and presenting a group inquiry
I can contribute to and present a group inquiry project.
Official code: CC8.2
Using strategies to communicate meaning
I can plan for purpose, maintain point of view, and revise for effectiveness.
Official code: CC8.3
Using cues to communicate meaning
I can use register, figurative language, and sentence variety to communicate meaning.
Official code: CC8.4
Creating multimedia presentations
I can create a multimedia presentation that explains, persuades, or entertains.
Official code: CC8.5
Using oral language to interact respectfully
I can interact confidently and respectfully to contribute to group harmony.
Official code: CC8.6
Using oral language to express complex ideas
I can express complex ideas effectively in a formal oral situation.
Official code: CC8.7
Writing across broad genres
I can write across broad genres, including a documented research report.
Official code: CC8.8
Experimenting with forms and techniques
I can experiment with a new form like Reader's Theatre and a technique like imagery.
Official code: CC8.9
The official wording · 11 outcomes
- CC8.1
- Create various visual, oral, written, and multimedia (including digital) texts that explore identity (e.g., Telling One’s Life Story)
- CC8.1
- Create various visual, oral, written, and multimedia (including digital) texts that explore identity (e.g., Telling One’s Life Story), social responsibility (e.g., Examining the Influence of Popular Culture)
- CC8.1
- explore identity (e.g., Telling One’s Life Story), social responsibility (e.g., Examining the Influence of Popular Culture), and efficacy (e.g., Creating Turning Points).
- CC8.2
- Create and present a group inquiry project related to a topic, theme, or issue studied in English language arts.
- CC8.3
- Select and use the appropriate strategies to communicate meaning before (e.g., plan, organize, and sequence ideas to fit purpose, point of view, and format), during (e.g., use and maintain appropriate point of view for audience and purpose), and after (e.g., revise final drafts and presentations to ensure that the format and patterns within that format contribute to the effectiveness of the composition) speaking, writing, and other representing activities.
- CC8.4
- Use pragmatic (e.g., use appropriate language register), textual (e.g., use artistic devices such as figurative language), syntactical (e.g., combine sentences to form compound and complex sentences for variety, interest, and effect), semantic/lexical/morphological (e.g., use words to capture a particular aspect of meaning), graphophonic (e.g., correctly pronounce words with proper emphasis), and other cues (e.g, use appropriate sound effects, visuals, and multimedia to enhance presentations) to construct and to communicate meaning.
- CC8.5
- Create and present a variety of visual and multimedia presentations including an illustrated report, a role play that ends with a tableau, a dramatization, presentation software, a newscast with adequate detail, clarity, and organization to explain (e.g., an important concept), to persuade (e.g., an opinion on an issue, a mini-debate), and to entertain (e.g., a humourous incident).
- CC8.6
- Use oral language to interact purposefully, confidently, and respectfully in a variety of situations including one-to-one, small group, and large group discussions (expressing feelings and viewpoints and contributing to group harmony).
- CC8.7
- Use oral language to effectively express information and ideas of complexity in formal and informal situations (e.g., to debate a point, to participate in a meeting, to give a dramatic reading of a poem or play excerpt).
- CC8.8
- Write to describe a landscape scene; to narrate a personal story or anecdote and a historical narrative; to explain and inform in a presentation of findings, a biography, a documented research report, and a résumé and covering letter; and to persuade in a mini-debate and a review.
- CC8.9
- Experiment with a variety of text forms (e.g., Reader’s Theatre, role play, humourous instructions, an electronic presentation, a dramatization, a mini-debate) and techniques (e.g., imagery, music, graphics and statistics in a multimedia presentation).
Key ideas
Identity texts about 'Telling One's Life Story' let us shape our experiences into a meaningful narrative.
We can create in written, oral, digital, or multimedia forms, choosing the one that fits our story.
Social-responsibility texts about 'Examining the Influence of Popular Culture' explore how media and trends shape what we think.
A created text organizes ideas so an audience follows a critical view of popular culture.
Efficacy texts about 'Creating Turning Points' explore moments where a decision or action changes the course of things.
Watch out for
- Listing events with no shape or meaning.
- Ignoring how the form affects how the story lands.
- Describing a trend without examining its influence.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 3 · 2 skills
Assess and Reflect
Assess and Reflect on Language Abilities
Using Assessment and Appraising Work
Using assessment to set improvement goals
I can use self-assessment and teacher feedback to set and work on goals.
Official code: AR8.1
Appraising work for clarity, correctness, and variety
I can appraise work for clarity, correctness, and variety.
Official code: AR8.2
The official wording · 2 outcomes
- AR8.1
- Use information gathered in self-assessment and teacher’s assessment to develop and work on goals for improving viewing, listening, reading, representing, speaking, and writing.
- AR8.2
- Appraise own and others’work for clarity, correctness, and variety.
Key ideas
Self-assessment and teacher assessment are two sources of information about your learning.
Combining them helps you set goals that target real areas for improvement — and then work on them.
Beyond clarity and correctness, Grade 8 adds variety — whether sentences, words, and structures are varied and engaging.
A good appraisal gives specific, helpful feedback on all three.
Watch out for
- Ignoring feedback that disagrees with your self-view.
- Setting a goal but not working on it.
- Checking clarity and correctness but ignoring variety.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Plan the term
Pick your term and the days you study. Each unit gets its share of the weeks and comes back a week later for a review. The last two weeks go over the whole course.
The official curriculum
This page follows Saskatchewan’s own curriculum for English Language Arts, Grade 8.
Textbooks
The textbooks Saskatchewan Ministry of Education lists for English Language Arts, Grade 8:
- Crossroads 8
- Nelson Language and Writing 8
- Nelson Literacy 8
- Pearson Literacy in Action 8
- ResourceLines 7/8
- SightLines 8
- Turtle Island Voices Grade 8
From core resources, read October 27, 2026. curriculum.gov.sk.ca
Strands
| Strand | Outcomes | Taught in |
|---|---|---|
| CRComprehend and Respond | Outcomes 8 | Taught in Unit 1 |
| CCCompose and Create | Outcomes 9 | Taught in Unit 2 |
| ARAssess and Reflect on Language Abilities | Outcomes 2 | Taught in Unit 3Assess and Reflect |
Study it in MapleMind
MapleMind teaches English Language Arts, Grade 8 one skill at a time. Each skill gets a short lesson, practice as you go and a check worth up to three stars. It remembers where you stopped.
Course Companion
Your year in one workbook
A fun way to keep English Language Arts, Grade 8 organized, get to know your child better and see early when they need a hand. Fill it in on a screen, or print it.
- Pages
- 24
- Fillable fields
- 1,247
- Price
- $4.99
Questions about English Language Arts, Grade 8
What is English Language Arts, Grade 8?
Saskatchewan’s Grade 8 English course: 3 units and 23 skills, from Comprehend and Respond to Assess and Reflect.
What units are in English Language Arts, Grade 8?
1. Comprehend and Respond, 2. Compose and Create and 3. Assess and Reflect.
Is there a provincial exam for English Language Arts, Grade 8?
No. Saskatchewan gives no provincial exam for English Language Arts, Grade 8.
What textbook does English Language Arts, Grade 8 use?
The textbooks Saskatchewan Ministry of Education lists for English Language Arts, Grade 8: Crossroads 8, Nelson Language and Writing 8, Nelson Literacy 8, Pearson Literacy in Action 8, ResourceLines 7/8, SightLines 8 and Turtle Island Voices Grade 8.
What comes after English Language Arts, Grade 8?
English Language Arts, Grade 9.
Can MapleMind help with English Language Arts, Grade 8?
Yes. MapleMind teaches every skill of English Language Arts, Grade 8, step by step, with practice and checks, and its tutor answers questions about any of them. It’s free with daily limits, on iPhone, Android and the web.
Get ready for English Language Arts, Grade 8
Practise every skill of English Language Arts, Grade 8 in MapleMind, free with daily limits.
