ICSE Class 8 English Syllabus

The ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) Class 8 English syllabus is designed to enhance students' language skills, including reading, writing, comprehension, and literature appreciation. The syllabus is structured to provide a balanced approach to language learning, covering various aspects such as grammar, composition, comprehension, and literature. Below is a detailed overview of the latest ICSE Class 8 English syllabus:

1. English Language

This section focuses on developing students' language skills, including grammar, vocabulary, composition, and comprehension.

1.1. Grammar

  • Parts of Speech: Nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.
  • Tenses: Understanding and usage of various tenses (past, present, future) and their forms (simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous).
  • Active and Passive Voice: Transformation of sentences from active to passive voice and vice versa.
  • Direct and Indirect Speech: Converting sentences from direct to indirect speech and vice versa.
  • Sentence Structure: Types of sentences (simple, compound, complex), sentence formation, and sentence transformation.
  • Punctuation: Proper use of punctuation marks (full stops, commas, semicolons, colons, quotation marks, apostrophes).
  • Articles and Determiners: Correct usage of articles (a, an, the) and determiners (some, any, few, little, much, many).
  • Modals: Understanding and application of modal verbs (can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must, ought to).
  • Prepositions: Correct usage of prepositions in different contexts.
  • Conjunctions: Coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions.

1.2. Composition

  • Essay Writing:
    • Types of essays: Descriptive, narrative, expository, argumentative, and reflective.
    • Structure of an essay: Introduction, body, conclusion.
    • Developing ideas, coherence, and clarity in writing.
  • Letter Writing:
    • Formal letters: Format, tone, and structure (letters to the editor, application letters, letters of complaint, requests, etc.).
    • Informal letters: Personal letters to friends, relatives, etc., maintaining an appropriate tone.
  • Story Writing:
    • Crafting a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
    • Developing characters, plot, setting, and theme.
  • Report Writing:
    • Writing reports on events, functions, and activities.
    • Format and structure of a report.
  • Notice Writing:
    • Writing notices for school events, meetings, lost and found, etc.
    • Clarity and conciseness in notice writing.
  • Diary Entry:
    • Writing personal diary entries, expressing thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

1.3. Comprehension

  • Reading Comprehension:
    • Understanding and interpreting unseen passages.
    • Answering questions based on the passage, including multiple-choice, short answer, and long answer questions.
  • Summary Writing:
    • Summarizing the main points of a given passage.
    • Writing a concise and coherent summary without altering the meaning.

2. English Literature

This section aims to develop students' appreciation of literature through the study of prose, poetry, and drama.

2.1. Prose

  • Short Stories:
    • Reading and understanding short stories from the prescribed textbook.
    • Analyzing characters, plot, setting, and themes.
    • Answering questions related to the text, including character sketches, thematic analysis, and plot interpretation.
  • Essays and Articles:
    • Understanding and interpreting essays and articles.
    • Identifying the main idea, arguments, and supporting details.

2.2. Poetry

  • Poems:
    • Reading and appreciating poems from the prescribed textbook.
    • Understanding poetic devices (simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration, rhyme scheme, etc.).
    • Analyzing the themes, tone, and mood of the poems.
    • Answering questions related to the interpretation and appreciation of poetry.

2.3. Drama

  • Plays:
    • Reading and understanding one-act plays or excerpts from longer plays.
    • Analyzing characters, dialogue, plot, and themes.
    • Understanding the dramatic techniques used by the playwright.

3. Listening and Speaking Skills

This section focuses on enhancing students' oral communication skills through various activities.

3.1. Listening

  • Listening Comprehension:
    • Listening to audio clips, passages, or conversations.
    • Answering questions based on the audio content.
  • Note-taking:
    • Listening to lectures or speeches and taking effective notes.

3.2. Speaking

  • Debate and Discussion:
    • Participating in debates on various topics.
    • Developing arguments, presenting viewpoints, and countering opposition.
  • Oral Presentations:
    • Preparing and delivering speeches or presentations on assigned topics.
    • Focusing on clarity, coherence, and engagement with the audience.
  • Recitation:
    • Reciting poems or passages from memory.
    • Emphasizing intonation, expression, and clarity.

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