8th Grade Point of View (8.3.R.4)

Which passage is not written from the third person point of view?

• I could barely see the road as the rain poured down. My brother and I clutched the map, hoping the storm would pass soon.

• “Marcus, please hand out the science papers,” Ms. Lopez said. Marcus hesitated, then shuffled to the front of the room, nervous about dropping the stack of tests.

• The children splashed in the creek, and Sarah felt a spark of joy. She had always wanted to join them, but her parents said it wasn’t safe. Why don’t they trust me? she wondered.

• “Don’t forget to come home right after practice,” Jordan’s dad reminded him. Though he usually stayed late to shoot baskets, Jordan followed his father’s instructions. When he walked in the door, his friends yelled, “Surprise!”

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CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Read the passage and answer the question.

I stood at the counter of Benny’s Burgers, staring at the poster taped to the register: “Burger-Eating Contest—Winner Gets $250.” Wow! That was a lot of money. My family could use it since Mom had just lost her job.

Turning to my friends, I whispered, “I’m definitely entering.”

“You might actually win,” Carlos grinned. “Nobody eats faster than you!”

“Yeah, and I’ll come cheer you on,” said Tasha.

Pushing the door open, I marched outside already imagining myself with the trophy.

Who is the narrator?

• Carlos

• Benny

• The next door neighbor watching from the bushes.

• The unknown "I" character

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Read the passage and answer the question. Mrs. Turner adored spending Saturday mornings with her grandchildren. Watching Ella twirl in her ballet slippers, Jay shoot hoops in the driveway, and Mia and Max build forts in the backyard always filled her with joy. Her grandchildren loved their visits too. Ella and Mia begged for Grandma’s bedtime stories. Jay and Max loved hearing about her childhood on the farm. Mrs. Turner believed memories were treasures, and she tried to pass them along to her family in every story she told. This passage is narrated in—

• second person

• third person limited

• first person

• third person omniscient

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Music Practice

by Jordan Ellis

The silence in the house felt heavy.
I plunked a key on the piano—just one note.
Slowly, a melody filled the air.
The chords rose and echoed off the walls.
I glanced over; my dog lifted his head from his bed.
“Sorry, buddy,” I whispered, softening my touch.
The song slowed, but then—
I heard another sound.
Not from me.
A violin!
I peeked through the doorway, and there stood my sister, bow in hand, joining me in harmony.

From what point of view is the poem told?

• first person

• second person

• third person

• It shifts from first person to third person

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

How would this story be different if told from Moore’s point of view?

In 1965, Gordon Moore predicted that computer chips would double in power about every two years. His prediction, known as “Moore’s Law,” influenced scientists and engineers for decades. While many experts before him studied patterns in computing, Moore was the first to connect these patterns with long-term innovation. His bold statement changed the way technology companies planned for the future.

• The reader would know more about how Moore felt about making his prediction.

• The reader would know more about how computers are built today.

• The reader would know more about the other scientists’ personal lives.

• The reader would know more about every new invention in history.

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

From which point of view is this passage written?

You step onto the stage, the bright lights blinding your eyes. The auditorium is silent as hundreds of faces stare back. You grip the microphone tighter, reminding yourself that you’ve practiced this song all summer. This is your chance to show them what you can do.

• first person

• third person omniscient

• third person limited

• second person

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

How does the point of view affect the story?

• The reader knows only what the narrator thinks and sees.

• The reader feels like he or she is part of the story.

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

How would the story be different if written from third person point of view?

A Special Saturday

by Jordan Ellis

I wasn’t sure why my mom woke me up so early on a Saturday. Pulling the curtains wide, she announced, “We’ve got an adventure today, Lily!”

Mom and I don’t usually spend much time together—she’s always working, and I’m usually doing school stuff. But she seemed extra excited, so I hurried to get ready.

At breakfast, I finally asked, “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” she said with a grin.

After a short drive, we pulled into the stable where rows of horses stood. I gasped—I’d always wanted to learn horseback riding but had never told her. That day, she taught me how to brush a horse, sit in the saddle, and ride slowly down the trail.

As the sun climbed higher, I realized I’d never felt so close to my mom.

• The reader would know Lily secretly wished her dad had come instead.

• The reader would know more about Lily’s mother’s excitement.

• The reader would see Lily as grateful to her mother.

• The reader would see Lily as nervous around horses.

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Which passage is written from the first person point of view?

• The train sped down the track, leaving clouds of smoke behind. The station buzzed with travelers carrying bags and shouting farewells.

• I stood on the diving platform, staring at the pool below. My knees trembled, but I told myself I had practiced this dive a hundred times.

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Which passage is written from the first person point of view?

• Maya tucked her notebook under her arm and ran to class, hoping her poem would be chosen for the contest.

• The computer flickered, and Thomas gasped at the message: I'm watching you. His heart pounded as he stepped back from the screen.

• I pedaled as fast as I could up the hill. My legs burned, but the thought of candy at the shop at the bottom made it worth it.

• The mountain trail wound upward, and Jackson stopped to sip from his water bottle, staring at the snowy peaks above.

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6