Virginia SOL 8.RI.2

What SOL 8.RI.2 means

Evaluate author's use of text features, analyze impact of stylistic choices, and understand author's perspective/purpose in informational texts.

Practice Grade 8 English SOL questions

Free Grade 8 English questions from official Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests — good practice while you work on 8.RI.2 and the rest of the course. Pick an answer to check it instantly, or open “Show answer” to review.

1. 1. To support his request, the letter writer describes —

   Ahow Ms. Jackson became a teacherBawards Ms. Jackson has wonChow students perceive Ms. JacksonDspeeches Ms. Jackson has given
   Show answer

   Answer: C — how students perceive Ms. Jackson

2. 2. Which lesson might a student have learned from Ms. Jackson?

   FReal learning takes effort.GNever settle for second best.HSome people are naturally bright.JSeek advice when making decisions.
   Show answer

   Answer: F — Real learning takes effort.

3. 3. To demonstrate Ms. Jackson’s involvement, the letter writer mentions —

   Adrama performancesBspeech contestsCmusical concertsDgraduation ceremonies
   Show answer

   Answer: C — musical concerts

4. 4. Which sentence makes the strongest argument for Ms. Jackson?

   FAs an eighth-grade student, I would like you to consider Ms. Jackson.GThe ceremony is an important event.HThe speaker should understand where students have been and are going.JI hope you will consider asking Ms. Jackson to speak.
   Show answer

   Answer: H — The speaker should understand where students have been and are going.

→ Take the full free Grade 8 English SOL practice test

Skills you’ll practice for 8.RI.2

• Evaluating author's use of text features
• Understanding how text features enhance and support reader's comprehension
• Analyzing how author's word choice impacts meaning and credibility
• Analyzing how author's organizational pattern impacts meaning and credibility
• Analyzing how author's language structure impacts meaning and credibility
• Analyzing how author's viewpoints impact meaning and credibility
• Analyzing how author's qualifications impact meaning and credibility
• Analyzing how authors establish and convey perspective or purpose
• Understanding how authors acknowledge and respond to conflicting evidence or viewpoints

Key concepts covered by 8.RI.2

• text features
• author's use
• evaluation
• comprehension
• enhancement
• support
• word choice
• meaning
• credibility
• analysis
• organizational pattern
• language structure
• viewpoints
• qualifications
• author's perspective
• author's purpose
• conflicting evidence
• author's response
• understanding

How to study and practice SOL 8.RI.2

Start with a quick diagnostic to see whether 8.RI.2 is already solid, then work each skill above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see our Virginia SOL practice tests guide and how to study for the SOL test.

→ Take the free Grade 8 English SOL practice test

Related Grade 8 English standards in Reading Informational Text

• 8.RI — Use textual evidence to comprehend and build knowledge from complex informational texts.
• 8.RI.1 — Identify main ideas, summarize, analyze author's unfolding of ideas, and evaluate arguments in informational texts.
• 8.RI.3 — Integrate and compare concepts across informational texts.

Frequently asked questions about SOL 8.RI.2