---
title: "8.T.SS.2: Craft & Language Choices (Georgia English Language Arts standard)"
code: 8.T.SS.2
cite_as: Georgia Standards of Excellence, English Language Arts, 8.T.SS.2
subject: ela
grades:
  - grade-8
language: en
canonical_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/8.T.SS.2
md_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/8.T.SS.2.md
alternate_language_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/es/standards/code/8.T.SS.2.md
source_url: https://case.georgiastandards.org/ims/case/v1p0/CFDocuments/391c3abe-c1ec-4a4a-a942-c9e152b35102
source_last_changed: 2025-11-14
data_built: 2026-09-18
publisher: Georgia Homeroom, a free public-interest project of Georgia Civic Data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Georgia Department of Education or any school district.
up: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/ela/grade-8.md
index: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/index.md
---

# 8.T.SS.2: Craft & Language Choices

Interpret and use language to craft engaging texts.

- Subject: English Language Arts
- Appears in: Grade 8, https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/ela/grade-8.md

## Expectations

- **8.T.SS.2.a**: Analyze how figurative language, connotative language, and/or literary device choices are used strategically to achieve specific purposes for target audiences. (I)
- **8.T.SS.2.b**: Use figurative language, literary devices, or connotative language for intentional effects when creating texts to achieve specific purposes or appeal to the target audience. (C)
- **8.T.SS.2.c**: Use formal or informal style characteristics as indicated by a text’s purpose, audience, and disciplinary context. (C)

## Georgia Milestones coverage

- English Language Arts Grade 8 (EOG). Texts — Constructing Texts. Structure & Style Students analyze and use organizational structures and style to shape ideas and information. (about 13% of the test; 8 points; shared with other standards, so count these points once and never add them up per standard)

## What mastery looks like

Georgia's Achievement Level Descriptors. The levels are cumulative: each includes the ones before it. Proficient is on grade level.

- **Beginning**: Identify figurative language, connotative language, or literary device choices that are used for a specific purpose. Determine situational use for formal or informal style.
- **Developing**: Describe the meaning of a provided excerpt of figurative language, connotative language, and/or literary device choices. Use figurative language, literary devices, or connotative language for intentional effect(s) in a section of text. Use formal or informal style for a given purpose, audience, or disciplinary context.
- **Proficient**: Analyze how figurative language, connotative language, and literary device choices are used in texts to strategically achieve specific purposes for target audience(s). Use figurative language, literary devices, or connotative language for intentional effect(s) when creating a section of text to achieve specific purpose(s) or appeal to the target audience. Use formal or informal style characteristics as indicated by a text’s purpose, audience, and disciplinary context.
- **Distinguished**: Use a variety of figurative language, literary devices, or connotative language for intentional effects throughout a text to achieve specific purposes or appeal to the target audience.

## The same standard across grades

- Kindergarten, K.T.SS.2: **Craft** Identify and use descriptive and engaging language. https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/K.T.SS.2.md
- Grade 1, 1.T.SS.2: **Craft** Identify and use descriptive and engaging language. https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/1.T.SS.2.md
- Grade 2, 2.T.SS.2: **Craft** Identify and use descriptive and engaging language. https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/2.T.SS.2.md
- Grade 3, 3.T.SS.2: **Craft** Use language to interpret meaning and craft engaging texts. https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/3.T.SS.2.md
- Grade 4, 4.T.SS.2: **Craft** Use language to interpret meaning and craft engaging texts. https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/4.T.SS.2.md
- Grade 5, 5.T.SS.2: **Craft** Use language to interpret meaning and craft engaging texts. https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/5.T.SS.2.md
- Grade 6, 6.T.SS.2: **Craft** Interpret and use language to craft engaging texts. https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/6.T.SS.2.md
- Grade 7, 7.T.SS.2: **Craft** Interpret and use language to craft engaging texts. https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/7.T.SS.2.md
- **Grade 8, 8.T.SS.2 (this standard)**: **Craft** Interpret and use language to craft engaging texts.
- Grade 9, 9.T.SS.2: **Craft** Analyze, evaluate, and craft language to produce intended effects in a wide variety of texts. https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/9.T.SS.2.md
- Grade 10, 10.T.SS.2: **Craft** Analyze, evaluate, and craft language to produce intended effects in a wide variety of texts. https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/10.T.SS.2.md
- Grade 11, 11.T.SS.2: **Craft** Analyze, evaluate, and craft language to produce intended effects in a wide variety of texts. https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/11.T.SS.2.md
- Grade 12, 12.T.SS.2: **Craft** Analyze, evaluate, and craft language to produce intended effects in a wide variety of texts. https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/12.T.SS.2.md

Source: Georgia Standards of Excellence, published by the Georgia Department of Education at case.georgiastandards.org.