THE LITERATURE PROGRAM OF THE NEBRASKA ENGLISH CURRICULUM FOR GRADE EIGHT IS CONCERNED WITH THE THEME OF THE HERO--HIS CHARACTERISTICS AND HOW THEY HAVE UNDERGONE CHANGE IN THE HISTORY OF WESTERN LITERATURE, AS SEEN IN VARIOUS LITERARY GENRES. THE STUDY OF HEROISM IS DIVIDED INTO THE FOLLOWING UNITS--(1) "THE MAKING OF HEROES," (2) "THE EPIC HERO," (3) "THE JOURNEY NOVEL HERO," (4) "THE HISTORICAL NOVEL HERO," AND (5) "THE HERITAGE OF THE FRONTIER." LANGUAGE UNITS ARE (1) "SYNTAX," USING AS BACKGROUND THE SEVENTH-GRADE UNIT ON FORM CLASSES, (2) "WORDS AND THEIR MEANINGS," AND (3) "THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE." THE COMPOSITION PROGRAM IS COORDINATED WITH BOTH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE PROGRAMS, AND STRESSES THE COMPARISON OF THE STUDENTS' OWN SYNTAX IN THEMES WITH THAT OF SUCH AUTHORS AS JOHN STEINBECK AND STEPHEN CRANE. INCLUDED IN THE PACKET ARE INTRODUCTIONS AND SUGGESTED TEACHING PROCEDURES FOR UNIT MATERIALS, BIBLIOGRAPHIES FOR TEACHERS, BACKGROUND CRITICAL ASSESSMENTS OF LITERARY WORKS TO BE TAUGHT, SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR STUDENT COMPOSITIONS, AND SUPPLEMENTARY STUDENT READING LISTS. THIS MANUAL IS AVAILABLE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA CURRICULUM CENTER, 231 ANDREWS HALL, LINCOLN, NEBRASKA 68508. THE RELATED STUDENT PACKET FOR GRADE EIGHT IS TE 000 062. (DL)