Grade 8 Spring — Capstone Composition, Public Speaking, Formal Style Mastery, and the K-8 Writing Portfolio
Lesson 15 60 min eng.g8.s.lesson_15.pass_two_content_research

Pass-2 CONTENT — research-evidence integration + 5 more Tier-2 Set 18 words

Objectives
  • Students complete Pass-2 CONTENT audit of capstone draft.
  • Students integrate research-driven evidence with synthesis moves from G8-fall.
  • Students learn 5 more Tier-2 Set 18 words (exordium, decorum, sprezzatura, gravitas, kairos).
Vocabulary
Pass-2 CONTENTresearch evidencesynthesis movesexordiumdecorumsprezzaturagravitaskairos

Lesson plan

Warm-up

5 min

Quick-share: name 1 source you're citing in your capstone and 1 specific claim it supports.

Teacher moves
  • Affirm specific source-claim linking
  • Connect: today we audit research-evidence integration

Direct instruction

15 min

Today: PASS-2 CONTENT audit + 5 more Tier-2 Set 18 words. Pass 2 has 8 criteria: (1) Research-driven evidence in each body paragraph. (2) ≥5 sources integrated; ≥10 MLA-cited references. (3) Synthesis moves from G8-fall applied. (4) CEA paragraphs from G7-spring used. (5) Counter-argument is steel-manned. (6) So-what is clear and audience-specific. (7) Tier-2 Set 18 words used (≥5 of 20). (8) Etymology-informed diction visible in ≥3 places. The Pass-2 question: does the CONTENT of each paragraph carry an argument with evidence? Or is it filler? Audit each body paragraph against criterion 1 — does it have research evidence, or just opinion? Now the 5 new Tier-2 words. EXORDIUM (Lat. exordiri 'to begin' — the introduction of a speech). DECORUM (Lat. 'fitting/becoming' — appropriateness to occasion; the speaker's behavior matched to context). SPREZZATURA (Italian — 'studied carelessness' — the appearance of effortlessness; a 16th-century courtly virtue, still useful for the polished capstone speaker who makes hard work look easy). GRAVITAS (Lat. 'weight/seriousness' — serious dignity in bearing — a Roman virtue, useful for the capstone speech). KAIROS (Greek — 'right time/season' — the opportune moment for an argument; classical rhetoric's term for timing). These 5 words round out the rhetorical-craft vocabulary. Notice: all 5 have non-English etymology — Italian, Latin, Greek. The capstone is steeped in classical rhetorical tradition.

Key examples
  • Opinion without evidence is the capstone's most common weak spot. Pass-2 catches it.
    model Revision: add research evidence. Cite IPCC AR6 or a peer-reviewed climate study. Specifically: who said it, when, where. Connect the source to the paragraph's claim.
    prompt Sample Pass-2 audit finding: 'Paragraph 4 says climate change is urgent but cites no source. Just my opinion.' Revision priority?
  • Kairos is one of the most useful Tier-2 Set 18 words. When you argue for urgency, you're appealing to kairos.
    model 'The kairos for arguing about climate is now — the next decade of policy choices will determine outcomes for centuries.' Notice: 'kairos' carries the sense of OPPORTUNE moment, not just chronological moment.
    prompt Use 'kairos' in a sentence about your capstone.
Checks for understanding
  • Pair-share: name 1 body paragraph that needs more research evidence.
  • Cold Call: define 'decorum' in your own words.
Media
M-8-S-WR-15-A Chart
MG-11 anchor with Pass-2 CONTENT band detail visible (8 criteria with 4-point scoring per). Print-ready 18x24.

MG-11 anchor with Pass-2 CONTENT band detail visible (8 criteria with 4-point scoring per). Print-ready 18x24.

MG-11 Chart Physical / non-image

4-pass capstone revision rubric anchor: 4-band card with criteria per pass and conference connection. PASS 1 — STRUCTURE (8 criteria). (1) Audience-aware thesis present in paragraph 1. (2) Audience choice (academic/civic/creative) named and consistent. (3) 5-9 paragraphs with clear organization. (4) Body paragraphs develop sub-claims (not summary). (5) Counter-argument paragraph present and refuted. (6) Conclusion with restated thesis and so-what. (7) Word-count target met (1500-2000 typical; reduced/stretch noted). (8) Title is specific and audience-aware. PASS 2 — CONTENT (8 criteria). (1) Research-driven evidence in each body paragraph. (2) ≥5 sources integrated; ≥10 MLA-cited references. (3) Synthesis moves from G8-fall applied. (4) CEA paragraphs from G7-spring used. (5) Counter-argument is steel-manned (best version of opposition, not strawman). (6) So-what is clear and audience-specific. (7) Tier-2 Set 18 words used (≥5 of 20). (8) Etymology-informed diction visible in ≥3 places. PASS 3 — SENTENCE (10 criteria). (1) Formal register consistent across full piece. (2) Sentence-length variation (short / medium / long across paragraphs). (3) Verbals used deliberately (≥3 places). (4) Active/passive voice chosen deliberately (≥2 each justified). (5) Conditional or subjunctive used purposively (≥1). (6) No unjustified voice/mood shifts. (7) Cohesion within paragraphs (repeated key terms; thread-tracing — Williams). (8) Coherence across paragraphs (thesis-paragraph echoes — Williams). (9) Connotation-precise diction (no thesaurus-mismatches). (10) Sentence rhythm matches register (academic/civic/creative). PASS 4 — MECHANICS (8 criteria). (1) MLA 9th in-text 6-case precision. (2) Works Cited 6-source-type templates correct. (3) Hanging indent; alphabetization. (4) Pause-and-break punctuation (comma/dash/ellipsis) correct. (5) Dash-colon distinction applied deliberately. (6) Ellipsis-for-omission ethical. (7) Spelling verified with reference materials. (8) Title page / header formatted per MLA. CONFERENCE CONNECTION: each pass triggers a teacher conference checkpoint (4 conferences total during the capstone arc, one per pass). Print-ready 18x24.

M-8-S-VOC-15-B Chart
MG-12 anchor with exordium / decorum / sprezzatura / gravitas / kairos highlighted in gold; etymology per word. Print-re

MG-12 anchor with exordium / decorum / sprezzatura / gravitas / kairos highlighted in gold; etymology per word. Print-ready 18x24.

MG-12 Chart
Tier-2 Set 18 capstone/audience-awareness vocabulary anchor: 20-word grid with definitions, etymology notes, and capston

Tier-2 Set 18 capstone/audience-awareness vocabulary anchor: 20-word grid with definitions, etymology notes, and capstone-use examples. Words: audience (Lat. audire 'to hear'; the recipient of one's communication); register (Lat. regestum 'recorded'; the level of formality matched to context); rhetoric (Gk. rhētōr 'orator'; the art of effective communication); persona (Lat. 'mask of actor'; the writerly identity assumed for an audience); exigence (Lat. exigere 'to demand'; the situational urgency calling for communication); kairos (Gk. 'right time/season'; the opportune moment for an argument); ethos (Gk. 'character'; the writer's credibility); pathos (Gk. 'suffering/feeling'; emotional appeal); logos (Gk. 'word/reason'; rational appeal); modulation (Lat. modulari 'to measure'; varying voice pitch or volume); pace (Lat. passus 'step'; rhythm of delivery); modulate (verb form of modulation); cadence (Lat. cadere 'to fall'; rhythmic flow of sentences or speech); anaphora (Gk. ana 'back' + phora 'carrying'; repetition at beginnings of clauses); antithesis (Gk. anti 'against' + thesis 'placing'; contrast of ideas in parallel structure); peroration (Lat. perorare 'to argue fully'; the conclusion of a speech); exordium (Lat. exordiri 'to begin'; the introduction of a speech); decorum (Lat. 'fitting/becoming'; appropriateness to occasion); sprezzatura (It. 'studied carelessness'; the appearance of effortlessness); gravitas (Lat. 'weight/seriousness'; serious dignity in bearing). CAPSTONE-USE EXAMPLES per word. Bottom rule: 'Tier-2 Set 18 is rhetoric-and-audience vocabulary. Most words have classical etymology — use the etymonline routine for full context.' Print-ready 18x24.

Guided practice

25 min
Tasks
  • Pass-2 CONTENT audit of capstone draft. Score 8 criteria. Note weakest 2.
    scaffold MG-11 Pass-2 rubric; self-audit template
  • Integrate 1 new piece of research evidence into the weakest body paragraph. Use a synthesis move from G8-fall (e.g., 'X argues ___; this supports my claim because ___').
    scaffold G8-fall synthesis moves card

Formative assessment

3 min
Exit ticket
  • Submit Pass-2 audit with weakest 2 named.
  • Submit the new evidence-integration sentence.
scoring Both with substance = mastery

Closure

2 min
Moves
  • Restate: Pass-2 CONTENT demands research-grounded argument
  • Preview lesson 16: Pass-3 SENTENCE + verbals/voice/mood check 3

Homework

25 min
Tasks
  • Complete Pass-2 revisions. Continue capstone draft. Schedule writing conference 2 for next week.

Exercises in this lesson

eng.g8.s.ex_28
Complete Pass-2 CONTENT audit. Score 8 Pass-2 criteria. Identify weakest body paragraph; integrate 1 new research evidence with synthesis move.
pass two content audit · diff 3
eng.g8.s.ex_29
Use 5 Tier-2 Set 18 classical-rhetoric words (ethos, pathos, logos, kairos, decorum, gravitas, sprezzatura, exordium, peroration —...
vocab use classical set · diff 3

Differentiation

Scaffolds
  • MG-11 Pass-2 rubric
  • G8-fall synthesis moves card
  • Reduced-audit: focus on criteria 1-4
Extensions
  • Integrate 2-3 new evidence pieces across body paragraphs
  • Apply Pass-2 to your peer's draft (peer audit)
English Learners
  • Bilingual Pass-2 rubric
  • Source-evidence integration with peer rehearsal
Ieps 504s
  • Pre-printed Pass-2 audit template
  • Reduced evidence-integration to 1 sentence add

Teacher notes

Pass-2 CONTENT is where capstones gain depth — research-driven evidence transforms opinions into arguments. Coach students to AUDIT each paragraph: 'what source supports this claim?' If the answer is 'none,' revise. Tier-2 Set 18 words like kairos and exigence are abstract — pair with concrete examples. Sprezzatura is fun to teach — it captures the polished-but-not-strained quality of mature writing. Save Tier-2 Set 18 final round for lesson 17.