Students learn and practice critical thinking skills, study skills, and the writing, reading, speaking and research skills required in English 8.  Students develop communication skills and apply creative thinking processes to real problems.  Students explore a variety of fiction, poetry, and drama – primarily American literature selections.  Students identify character, setting, plot, and conflict in literary works and then learn to describe how each of these literary elements affects the work as a whole.  Students apply a writing process to create a variety of writings.  Students apply appropriate mechanics, usage, and grammar in their writing and speaking.