Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Department of Public Instruction, 125 S. Webster Street,
P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841 (800) 441-4563
http://dpi.state.wi.us/standards/
Wisconsin Content & Performance Standards by Grade 8
SOCIAL STUDIES, STANDARD B: HISTORY
B.8.1 Interpret the past using a variety of sources, such as biographies, diaries, journals, artifacts, eyewitness interviews, and other primary source materials, and evaluate the credibility of sources used
B.8.2 Employ cause-and-effect arguments to demonstrate how significant events have influenced the past and the present in United States and world history
B.8.3 Describe the relationships between and among significant events, such as the causes and consequences of wars in United States and world history
ENGLISH / LANGUAGE ARTS, STANDARD A: PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
A.8.4 Read to acquire information.
• Interpret and use technical resources such as charts, tables, travel schedules, timelines,
and manuals
• Compare, contrast, and evaluate the relative accuracy and usefulness of information from
different sources
• Identify and explain information, main ideas, and organization found in a variety of
informational passages
• Distinguish between the facts found in documents, narratives, charts, maps, tables and
other sources and the generalizations and interpretations that are drawn from them
ENGLISH / LANGUAGE ARTS, STANDARD E: MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY
E.8.1 Use computers to acquire, organize, analyze, and communicate information.
• Demonstrate efficient word-processing skills
• Construct and use simple databases
• Use manuals and on-screen help in connection with computer applications
• Perform basic computer operations on various platforms
• Collect information from various on-line sources, such as web pages, news groups, and
listservs
ENGLISH / LANGUAGE ARTS, STANDARD F: RESEARCH & INQUIRY
F.8.1 Conduct research and inquiry on self-selected or assigned topics, issues, or problems and use an appropriate form to communicate their findings.
• Formulate research questions and focus investigation on relevant and accessible sources
of information
• Use multiple sources to identify and locate information pertinent to research including
encyclopedias, almanacs, dictionaries, library catalogs, indexes to periodicals, and various
electronic search engines
• Conduct interviews, field studies, and experiments and use specialized resources (such as
almanacs, fact books, pamphlets, and technical manuals) when appropriate to an
investigation
• Compile, organize, and evaluate information, taking notes that record and summarize
what has been learned and extending the investigation to other sources
• Review and evaluate the usefulness of information gathered in an investigation
• Produce an organized written and oral report that presents and reflects on findings, draws
sound conclusions, adheres to the conventions for preparing a manuscript, and gives
proper credit to sources