The Eighth Grade English curriculum increases the emphasis on critical reading, analytical writing, and clear communication through the study of literature, vocabulary, and writing. Persuasive writing skills and literary analysis are interwoven throughout the various units, as are creative and visual projects and opportunities for speaking in front of a group. Using the course texts—When the Emperor Was Divine, Maus I & II, The House on Mango Street, The Burial at Thebes, Things Fall Apart, Macbeth, and The Great Gatsby—the goal of the course is to develop and nurture critical thinking and writing skills through student-centered discussions and analytical writing.