Writer's Choice: Grade 8

Student Resources

Infoplease.com Kids' Almanac
The almanacs, dictionary, encyclopedia, and atlas available at this site provide access to thousands of facts sorted into easy-to-navigate categories. If you have trouble finding the information you need, the Homework Helpers in the Homework Center may be able to help.

Research-It!
Use the language, library, and geographical tools on this site to find a variety of information—from a rhyming word for your poem to a map of another country. Links to a variety of online reference works, such as the CIA Factbook, Biographical Dictionary, and Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, make this site a great resource for research assignments.

Word Central
Take a virtual walk through the halls of Word Central where you'll find the Science Lab (English Experiments), the Music Room (Rhyming Dictionary), the Computer Lab (Coding Chamber), and more. You'll find a different word game to play within each room. If you prefer, you can simply search the dictionary for word meanings and spellings. Be sure to visit the Cafeteria where you can feed your brain with the definition, origin, and uses of the Daily Buzzword.

Study Skills
Did you know that reading your class notes aloud can help you remember the information? And would you believe that taking breaks while studying can actually keep your mind open to learning more? At this Web site, you'll find these and other great tips and information that may help you improve your study skills and use your study time more effectively.

The Write Site
Journalists write stories about events by answering the questions what, who, when, where, how, and why. Understanding the role of the journalist and how a story is written can help you evaluate news statements more completely. The Write Site describes how reporters develop personal writing styles, conduct research, and use the Internet to uncover data. Visit this site to learn how journalists deliver the news.

The History Channel Speech Archive
At this site you can "hear the words that changed the world." The History Channel's Speech Archive includes recordings of some of the most famous speeches of the twentieth century. As you listen, try to determine how effective speakers use their voice to emphasize main points and to set the mood of their presentations. As these recordings demonstrate, delivery makes a speech memorable.

The Peanuts Homepage
In the Viewing and Representing unit in Writer's Choice, you learn how various media messages—from cartoons to advertisements to films—use elements of humor and design to make comments about a person or event. This site features more than one hundred cartoons that pay tribute to Charles Schulz, creator of the Peanuts cartoon strip. Compare and contrast the different ways in which the cartoonists use the voices of their own characters to say "goodbye" to Snoopy and the gang.

About the Internet
This guide from the Boston Public Library can help every student learn to use the Internet confidently and safely. Introductory Internet information and definitions can help the novice surfer, while the seasoned navigator will find tips on evaluating Internet sources and providing citations in school reports.


			Student Resources Infoplease.com Kids' Almanac The almanacs, dictionary, encyclopedia, and atlas available at this site provide access to thousands of facts sorted into easy-to-navigate categories. If you have trouble finding the information you need, the Homework Helpers in the Homework Center may be able to help. Research-It! Use the language, library, and geographical tools on this site to find a variety of information—from a rhyming word for your poem to a map of another country. Links to a variety of online reference works, such as the CIA Factbook, Biographical Dictionary, and Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, make this site a great resource for research assignments. Word Central Take a virtual walk through the halls of Word Central where you'll find the Science Lab (English Experiments), the Music Room (Rhyming Dictionary), the Computer Lab (Coding Chamber), and more. You'll find a different word game to play within each room. If you prefer, you can simply search the dictionary for word meanings and spellings. Be sure to visit the Cafeteria where you can feed your brain with the definition, origin, and uses of the Daily Buzzword. Study Skills Did you know that reading your class notes aloud can help you remember the information? And would you believe that taking breaks while studying can actually keep your mind open to learning more? At this Web site, you'll find these and other great tips and information that may help you improve your study skills and use your study time more effectively. The Write Site Journalists write stories about events by answering the questions what, who, when, where, how, and why. Understanding the role of the journalist and how a story is written can help you evaluate news statements more completely. The Write Site describes how reporters develop personal writing styles, conduct research, and use the Internet to uncover data. Visit this site to learn how journalists deliver the news. The History Channel Speech Archive At this site you can "hear the words that changed the world." The History Channel's Speech Archive includes recordings of some of the most famous speeches of the twentieth century. As you listen, try to determine how effective speakers use their voice to emphasize main points and to set the mood of their presentations. As these recordings demonstrate, delivery makes a speech memorable. The Peanuts Homepage In the Viewing and Representing unit in Writer's Choice, you learn how various media messages—from cartoons to advertisements to films—use elements of humor and design to make comments about a person or event. This site features more than one hundred cartoons that pay tribute to Charles Schulz, creator of the Peanuts cartoon strip. Compare and contrast the different ways in which the cartoonists use the voices of their own characters to say "goodbye" to Snoopy and the gang. About the Internet This guide from the Boston Public Library can help every student learn to use the Internet confidently and safely. Introductory Internet information and definitions can help the novice surfer, while the seasoned navigator will find tips on evaluating Internet sources and providing citations in school reports.