High School ELA Iowa Standards

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Knowledge of Language

Conventions of Standard English

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and specialized reference materials, as appropriate.

Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression.

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Craft and Structure

Key Ideas and Details

Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.

Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.

Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.

Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.*

Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.

Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.

Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

Comprehension and Collaboration

Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.

Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.

Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.

Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

Range of Writing

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Production and Distribution of Writing

Text Types and Purposes*

Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.

Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others

Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.

Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Knowledge of Language

Conventions of Standard English

Language Standards

Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

Comprehension and Collaboration

Speaking and Listening Standards

Range of Writing

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Production and Distribution of Writing

Text Types and Purposes

Writing Standards

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Craft and Structure

Key Ideas and Details

Reading Standards for Informational Text

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Craft and Structure

Key Ideas and Details

Reading Standards for Literature

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Apply the understanding that usage is a matter of convention, can change over time, and is sometimes contested.

Resolve issues of complex or contested usage, consulting academic references (e.g., MerriamWebster’s Dictionary of English Usage, Garner’s Modern American Usage) as needed.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Demonstrate appropriate use of complex punctuation (e.g., hyphens, colons, semicolons, dashes, parenthesis, brackets, ellipsis) both grammatically and for emphasis.

Spell correctly, consulting references as needed.

Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.

Vary syntax for effect, consulting academic references (e.g., Tufte’s Artful Sentences) for guidance as needed; apply an understanding of syntax to the study of complex texts when reading.

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 11–12 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence, paragraph, or text; a word’s position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

Identify and correctly use patterns of word changes that indicate different meanings or parts of speech (e.g., conceive, conception, conceivable).

Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning, its part of speech, its etymology, or its standard usage.

Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or by using other reference materials).

Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

Interpret figures of speech (e.g., hyperbole, idiom, paradox) in context and analyze their role in the text.

Analyze nuances in the meaning of words with similar denotations.

Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

Analyze and cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves room for subjective interpretation and perspective.

By the end of grade 11, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 11–CCR text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 11–CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Determine two or more central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to provide a complex analysis; provide an objective summary of the text.

Analyze a complex set of ideas or complex sequence of events and explain how specific individuals, ideas, or events interact and develop over the course of the text.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze how an author uses and refines the meaning of a key term or terms over the course of a text.

Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the structure an author uses in their exposition or argument, including whether the structure makes points clear, convincing, and engaging.

Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness, or artistry of the text.

Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively), as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem.

Delineate and evaluate the reasoning in seminal U.S. texts, including the application of constitutional principles and use of legal reasoning and the premises, purposes, and arguments in works of public advocacy.

Analyze seventeenth-, eighteenth-, nineteenth-, and twentieth-century foundational U.S. documents of historical and literary significance for their themes, purposes, and rhetorical features.

Analyze and cite strong, clear, and thorough textual evidence to support what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including where the text leaves room for subjective interpretation and perspective.

By the end of grade 11, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 11-CCR text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of the grades 11-CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text.

Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed).

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful.

Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure specific parts of a text (e.g., the choice of where to begin or end a story, the choice to provide a comedic or tragic resolution) contribute to its overall structure and meaning as well as its aesthetic impact.

Analyze a case in which grasping point of view or perspective requires distinguishing what is directly stated in a text from what is really meant (e.g., satire, sarcasm, irony, or understatement).

Analyze multiple interpretations of a story, drama, or poem (e.g., recorded or live production of a play or recorded novel or poetry), evaluating how each version interprets the source text. (See list of possible texts in appendix.)

(Not applicable to literature)

Demonstrate knowledge of eighteenth-, nineteenth-, twentieth-, and twenty-first-century foundational works of American literature, including how two or more texts from the same period treat similar themes or topics.

Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 11–12 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Come to discussions prepared, having read and researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence from texts and other research on the topic or issue to stimulate a thoughtful, well-reasoned exchange of ideas.

Work with peers to promote civil, democratic discussions and decision-making, set clear goals and deadlines, and establish individual roles as needed.

Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that probe reasoning and evidence; ensure a hearing for a full range of positions on a topic or issue; clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions; and promote divergent and creative perspectives.

Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives; synthesize comments, claims, and evidence made on all sides of an issue; resolve contradictions when possible; and determine what additional information or research is required to deepen the investigation or complete the task.

Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.

Evaluate a speaker’s point of view (perspective), reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.

Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective, such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning, alternative or opposing perspectives are addressed, and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and a range of formal and informal tasks.

Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest.

Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, such as conducting interviews, participating in public performances, or debating an issue from either side, demonstrating a command of formal English when indicated or appropriate; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation. (See grades 11–12 Language standards 1 and 3 for specific expectations)

Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

Introduce precise, knowledgeable claim(s), establish the significance of the claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that logically sequences claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly and thoroughly, supplying the most relevant evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level, concerns, values, and possible biases.

Use words, phrases, and clauses as well as varied syntax to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.

Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.

Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented, summarizing key points of the argument.

Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

Introduce a topic; organize complex ideas, concepts, and information so that each new element builds on that which precedes it to create a unified whole; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., figures, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

Develop the topic clearly and thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic.

Use appropriate and varied transitions and syntax to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts.

Use precise language, domain-specific vocabulary, and techniques such as figures of speech (e.g., metaphor, simile, analogy) or text structure, to manage the complexity of the topic.

Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.

Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic).

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, wellchosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

Engage and orient the reader by setting out a problem, situation, or observation and its significance, establishing one or multiple point(s) of view, and introducing a narrator and/or characters.

Use narrative techniques, including dialogue, pacing, description, reflection, and multiple plot lines, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters; create a smooth progression of experiences or events.

Use a variety of techniques to sequence events so that they build on one another to create a coherent whole and build toward a particular tone and outcome (e.g., a sense of mystery, suspense, or resolution).

Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters.

Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on what is experienced, observed, or resolved over the course of the narrative.

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1– 3 above.)

Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1–3 up to and including grades 11–12.)

Use technology to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information.

Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a selfgenerated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. (W.11- 12.7)

Gather relevant information from multiple credible primary and secondary authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation.

Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Apply grades 11–12 Reading standards to literature (e.g., “Demonstrate knowledge of eighteenth-, nineteenth-, twentieth-, and twenty-first-century foundational works of American literature, including how two or more texts from the same period treat similar themes or topics”).

Apply grades 11–12 Reading standards to literary nonfiction (e.g., “Delineate and evaluate the reasoning in seminal U.S. texts, including the application of constitutional principles and use of legal reasoning and the premises, purposes, and arguments in works of public advocacy”).

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Knowledge of Language

Conventions of Standard English

Language Standards

Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

Comprehension and Collaboration

Speaking and Listening Standards

Range of Writing

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Production and Distribution of Writing

Text Types and Purposes

Writing Standards

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Craft and Structure

Key Ideas and Details

Reading Standards for Informational Text

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Craft and Structure

Key Ideas and Details

Reading Standards for Literature

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Use parallel structure.

Use various types of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent, dependent; noun, relative, adverbial) to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Use a semicolon (and perhaps a conjunctive adverb) to link two or more closely related independent clauses.

Use a colon to introduce a list or quotation.

Spell correctly, consulting references as needed.

Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.

Write and edit work so that it conforms to the guidelines in a style manual (e.g., MLA Handbook, APA Style) appropriate for the discipline and writing type.

Use a variety of strategies to determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 9–10 reading and content.

Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence, paragraph, or text; a word’s position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

Identify and correctly use patterns of word changes that indicate different meanings or parts of speech (e.g., analyze, analysis, analytical; advocate, advocacy).

Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning, its part of speech, or its etymology.

Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or by using other reference materials).

Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

Interpret figures of speech (e.g., euphemism, oxymoron, verbal irony, satire, idiom, paradox) in context and analyze their role in the text.

Analyze nuances in the meaning of words with similar denotations.

Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 9–10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 9–10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events, including the order in which the points are made, how they are introduced and developed, and the connections that are drawn between them.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper).

Analyze in detail how an author’s ideas or claims are developed by particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text (e.g., a section or chapter).

Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose.

Analyze various accounts of a subject told in different mediums (e.g., a person’s life story in both print and multimedia), determining which details are emphasized in each account.

Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify any false statements and fallacious reasoning.

Analyze seminal U.S. documents of historical and literary significance, including how they address related themes and concepts.

Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 9-10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of the grades 9-10 text complexity band proficiently.

Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).

Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.

Analyze a particular point of view, perspective, or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States, drawing on a wide reading of world literature.

Analyze the representation of a subject or a key scene in two different artistic mediums, including what is emphasized or absent in each treatment.

(Not applicable to literature)

Analyze how an author draws on and transforms source material in a specific work.

Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Come to discussions prepared, having read and researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence from texts and other research on the topic or issue to stimulate a thoughtful, well-reasoned exchange of ideas.

Work with peers to set rules for collegial discussions and decision-making (e.g., informal consensus, taking votes on key issues, presentation of alternate views), clear goals and deadlines, and individual roles as needed.

Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the current discussion to broader themes or larger ideas; actively incorporate others into the discussion; and clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions.

Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives, summarize points of agreement and disagreement, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views and understanding and make new connections in light of the evidence and reasoning presented.

Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally), evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.

Evaluate a speaker’s point of view (perspective), reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, identifying any fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or distorted evidence.

Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task.

Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest.

Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, such as conducting interviews, participating in public performances, or debating an issue from either side, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation. (See grades 9–10 Language standards 1 and 3 for specific expectations)

Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level and concerns.

Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.

Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.

Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences, scaffolding as needed.

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

Introduce a topic; organize complex ideas, concepts, and information to make important connections and distinctions; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., figures, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic.

Use appropriate and varied transitions to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts.

Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to manage the complexity of the topic.

Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.

Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic).

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

Engage and orient the reader by setting out a problem, situation, or observation and its significance, establishing one or multiple point(s) of view, and introducing a narrator and/or characters.

Use narrative techniques, including dialogue, pacing, description, reflection, and multiple plot lines, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters; create a smooth progression of experiences or events.

Use a variety of techniques to sequence events so that they build on one another to create a coherent whole (e.g., flashback, foreshadowing, and cause and effect).

Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters.

Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on what is experienced, observed, or resolved over the course of the narrative.

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1– 3 above).

Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1–3 up to and including grades 9–10.)

Use technology to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology’s capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.

Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a selfgenerated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

Gather relevant information from multiple credible primary and secondary authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Apply grades 9–10 Reading standards to literature (e.g., “Analyze how an author draws on and transforms source material in a specific work.”).

Apply grades 9–10 Reading standards to literary nonfiction (e.g., “Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify any false statements and fallacious reasoning”).

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Knowledge of Language

Conventions of Standard English

Language

Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

Comprehension and Collaboration

Speaking and Listening

Range of Writing

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Production and Distribution of Writing

Text Types and Purposes

Writing

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Craft and Structure

Key Ideas and Details

Reading Standards for Informational Text

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Craft and Structure

Key Ideas and Details

Reading Standards for Literature

Demonstrate standard English grammar and usage when communicating.

Use conventions of standard English when needed.

Use digital, electronic, and other resources and tools to improve uses of language as needed.

Demonstrate understanding of conventions of standard English.

Demonstrate conventions of standard English including capitalization, ending punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Spell most single-syllable words correctly and apply knowledge of word chunks in spelling longer words.

Use language to achieve desired outcomes when communicating.

Vary sentence structure using a variety of simple and compound sentence structures

Demonstrate knowledge of word meanings.

Use context to determine the meaning of unknown words.

Identify and use root words and the words that result when affixes are added or removed.

Consult reference materials (dictionaries, online vocabulary supports) to clarify the meaning of unfamiliar words encountered when reading.

Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and use.

Interpret simple figures of speech encountered while reading or listening.

Use general academic and domain-specific words and phrases across contexts.

Analyze a text to determine its meaning and cite textual evidence to support explicit and implicit understanding.

Demonstrate understanding while actively engaged in reading or listening to literary non-fiction.

Determine the central idea of a text; recount the text.

Determine how individuals, ideas, or events change over the course of the text.

Determine how words or phrases in a text, including words with multiple meanings and figurative language, impacts the meaning of the text.

Determine whether the structure of a text enhances an author’s claim.

Determine author’s point of view and compare and contrast it with own point of view.

Analyze information presented in different media on related topics to answer questions or solve problems.

Determine whether the claims and reasoning enhance the author’s argument in an informational text.

Compare and contrast arguments made by two different texts on the same topic.

Analyze a text to determine its meaning and cite textual evidence to support explicit and implicit understandings.

Demonstrate understanding while actively engaged in reading or listening to stories, dramas, and poems.

Recount the main events of the text which are related to the theme or central idea.

Determine how characters, the setting or events change over the course of the story or drama.

Determine how words or phrases in a text, including words with multiple meanings and figurative language, impact the meaning.

Determine how the author’s choice of where to end the story contributes to the meaning.

Determine the point of view when there is a difference between the author’s actual language and intended meaning.

Compare two or more interpretations (e.g., recorded or live production of a play or recorded novel or poetry) of a story, drama, or poem.

Demonstrate explicit understanding of recounted versions of foundational works of American literature.

Engage in collaborative discussions.

Prepare for discussions by collecting information on the topic.

Work with peers to set rules and goals for discussions.

Ask and answer questions to verify or clarify own ideas and understandings during a discussion.

Respond to agreements and disagreements in a discussion.

Determine the credibility and accuracy of information presented across diverse media or formats.

Determine whether the claims and reasoning enhance the speaker’s argument on a topic.

Present an argument on a topic using an organization appropriate to the purpose, audience, and task.

Use digital media strategically (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to support understanding and add interest.

Adapt communication to a variety of contexts and tasks using complete sentences when indicated or appropriate.

Write arguments to support claims.

Write an argument to support a claim that results from studying a topic or reading a text.

Support claims with reasons and evidence drawn from text.

Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Write to share information supported by details.

Introduce a topic clearly and write an informative or explanatory text that conveys ideas, concepts, and information including visual, tactual, or multimedia information as appropriate.

Develop the topic with relevant facts, details, or quotes.

Use complete, simple sentences, as well as compound and other complex sentences as appropriate.

Use domain specific vocabulary when writing claims related to a topic of study or text.

Provide a closing or concluding statement.

Write about events or personal experiences.

Write a narrative about a problem, situation, or observation including at least one character, details, and clearly sequenced events.

Organize the events in the narrative using temporal words to signal order and add cohesion.

Use descriptive words and phrases to convey a vivid picture of experiences, events, setting, or characters.

Provide a closing.

Produce writing that is appropriate to a particular task, purpose, and audience.

Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, and rewriting.

Use technology, including the Internet, to produce publish and update an individual or shared writing project.

Conduct research projects to answer questions posed by self and others using multiple sources of information.

Write answers to research questions by selecting relevant information from multiple resources.

Cite evidence from literary or informational texts.

Apply Grades 11-12 Essential Elements for Reading Standards to literature (e.g., “Compare and contrast elements of American literature to other literary works, self, or one’s world. [Compare themes, topics, locations, context, and point of view].”).

Apply Grades 11-12 Essential Elements for Reading Standards to informational texts (eg, “Compare and contrast reasoning and arguments used in one's work with those used in seminal U.S. texts.”).

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Knowledge of Language

Conventions of Standard English

Language

Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

Comprehension and Collaboration

Speaking and Listening

Range of Writing

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Production and Distribution of Writing

Text Types and Purposes

Writing

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Craft and Structure

Key Ideas and Details

Reading Standards for Informational Text

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Craft and Structure

Key Ideas and Details

Reading Standards for Literature

Demonstrate standard English grammar and usage when communicating.

Use a variety of parts of speech (nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, and prepositions) in writing or communication to convey information.

Demonstrate understanding of conventions of standard English.

Use a comma and conjunction to combine two simple sentences.

Spell most single-syllable words correctly and apply knowledge of word chunks in spelling longer words.

Use language to achieve desired outcomes when communicating.

Vary syntax when writing and communicating.

Demonstrate knowledge of word meanings.

Use context to determine the meaning of unknown.

Identify and use root words and the words that result when affixes are added or removed.

Consult reference materials (dictionaries, online vocabulary supports) to clarify the meaning of unfamiliar words encountered when reading.

See EE.L.9- 10.4.c.

Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and use.

Interpret common figures of speech.

Determine the intended meaning of multiple meaning words.

Use general academic and domain- specific words and phrases across contexts.

Determine which citations demonstrate what the text says explicitly as well as inferentially.

Demonstrate understanding while actively engaged in reading or listening to literary nonfiction.

Determine the central idea of the text and select details to support it.

Determine logical connections between individuals, ideas, or events in a text.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in text, including common idioms, analogies, and figures of speech.

Locate sentences that support an author’s central idea or claim.

Determine author’s point of view and compare with own point of view.

Analyze two accounts of a subject told in different mediums to determine how they are the same and different.

Determine how the specific claims support the argument made in an informational text.

Make connections between texts with related themes and concepts.

Determine which citations demonstrate what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

Demonstrate understanding of a text while actively engaged in reading or listening to stories, dramas, or poems.

Recount events related to the theme or central idea, including details about character and setting.

Determine how characters change or develop over the course of a text.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including idioms, analogies, and figures of speech.

Identify where a text deviates from a chronological presentation of events.

Determine a point of view or cultural experience in a work of literature from outside the United States and compare it with own point of view or experience.

Compare the representation of a subject or topic in two different artistic mediums (e.g., poetry and illustration).

Identify when an author draws upon or references a different text.

Engage in collaborative discussions

Prepare for discussions by collecting information on the topic.

Work with adults and peers to set rules for discussions.

Relate the topic of discussion to broader themes or ideas.

Indicate agreement or disagreement with others during discussions.

Determine the credibility of information presented in diverse media or formats.

Determine the speaker's point of view on a topic.

Present an argument on a topic with logically organized claims, reasons, and evidence.

Use digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to support understanding.

Adapt communication to a variety of contexts and tasks using complete sentences when indicated or appropriate.

Write claims about topics or texts.

Introduce a topic or text and write one claim and one counterclaim about it.

Write routinely over time for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Write to share information supported by details.

Introduce a topic clearly and use a clear organization to write about it including visual, tactual, or multimedia information as appropriate.

Develop the topic with facts or details.

Use complete, simple sentences as appropriate.

Use domain specific vocabulary when writing claims related to a topic of study or text.

Providing a closing or concluding statement.

Write about events or personal experiences.

Use descriptive words and phrases to convey a vivid picture of experiences, events, setting, or characters.

Write a narrative about a problem, situation, or observation including at least one character, details, and clearly sequenced events.

Provide a closing.

Organize the events in the narrative using temporal words to signal order as appropriate.

Produce writing that is appropriate for the task, purpose, and audience.

Develop writing by planning and revising own writing.

Use technology, including the Internet, to produce publish, and update individual or shared writing products.

Conduct research projects to answer questions posed by self and others using multiple sources of information.

Write answers to research questions by selecting relevant information from multiple resources.

Use information from literary and informational text to support writing.

Apply Essential Elements of Grade 9-10 Reading Standards to literature (e.g., “Identify when an author has drawn upon or included references to another text.”).

Apply Essential Elements of Grade 9-10 Reading Standards to informational texts (e.g., “Use sound reasons for supporting the claims and argument.”).

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Craft and Structure

Key Ideas and Details

Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole.

By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend history/social studies texts in the grades 11–CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.

Evaluate various explanations for actions or events and determine which explanation best accords with textual evidence, acknowledging where the text leaves room for subjective interpretation and perspective.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including analyzing how an author uses and refines the meaning of a key term over the course of a text (e.g., how Madison defines faction in Federalist No. 10).

Analyze in detail how a complex primary source is structured, including how key sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text contribute to the whole.

Evaluate authors’ differing points of view on the same historical event or issue by assessing the authors’ claims, reasoning, and evidence.

Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a question or solve a problem.

Evaluate an author’s premises, claims, and evidence by corroborating or challenging them with other information.

Integrate information from diverse sources, both primary and secondary, into a coherent understanding of an idea or event, noting discrepancies among sources.

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Craft and Structure

Key Ideas and Details

Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information.

By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend history/social studies texts in the grades 9–10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.

Analyze in detail a series of events described in a text; determine whether earlier events caused later ones or simply preceded them.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary describing political, social, economic, or geographical aspects of history/social studies.

Analyze how a text uses structure to emphasize key points or advance an explanation or analysis.

Compare the point of view of two or more authors for how they treat the same or similar topics, including which details they include and emphasize in their respective accounts.

Integrate quantitative or technical analysis (e.g., charts, research data) with qualitative analysis in print or digital text.

Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author’s claims.

Compare and contrast treatments of the same topic in several primary and secondary sources.

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Craft and Structure

Key Ideas and Details

Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to important distinctions the author makes and to any gaps or inconsistencies in the account.

By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 11–CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; summarize complex concepts, processes, or information presented in a text by paraphrasing them in simpler but still accurate terms.

Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks; analyze the specific results based on explanations in the text.

Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 11–12 texts and topics.

Analyze how the text structures information or ideas into categories or hierarchies, demonstrating understanding of the information or ideas.

Analyze the author’s purpose in providing an explanation, describing a procedure, or discussing an experiment in a text, identifying important issues that remain unresolved.

Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia) in order to address a question or solve a problem.

Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions in a science or technical text, verifying the data when possible and corroborating or challenging conclusions with other sources of information.

Synthesize information from a range of sources (e.g., texts, experiments, simulations) into a coherent understanding of a process, phenomenon, or concept, resolving conflicting information when possible.

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Craft and Structure

Key Ideas and Details

Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations or descriptions.

By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 9–10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text’s explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate summary of the text.

Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.

Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9–10 texts and topics.

Analyze the structure of the relationships among concepts in a text, including relationships among key terms (e.g., force, friction, reaction force, energy).

Analyze the author’s purpose in providing an explanation, describing a procedure, or discussing an experiment in a text, defining the question the author seeks to address.

Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words.

Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author’s claim or a recommendation for solving a scientific or technical problem.

Compare and contrast findings presented in a text to those from other sources (including their own experiments), noting when the findings support or contradict previous explanations or accounts.

Range of Writing

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Production and Distribution of Writing

Text Types and Purposes

Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.

Introduce precise, knowledgeable claim(s), establish the significance of the claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that logically sequences the claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

Develop claim(s) and counterclaims, supplying the most relevant data and evidence for each in a discipline-appropriate form that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level, concerns, values, and possible biases.

Use words, phrases, and clauses as well as varied syntax to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.

Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline.

Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from or supports the argument presented by summarizing main points.

Write routinely over extended time frames (time for reflection and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes.

Introduce a topic and organize complex ideas, concepts, and information so that each new element builds on that which precedes it to create a unified whole; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., figures, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

Develop the topic clearly and thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic.

Use varied transitions and sentence structures to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts.

Use precise language, domain-specific vocabulary and techniques, such as figures of speech or text structure, to manage the complexity of the topic; convey a knowledgeable stance in a style that responds to the discipline and context as well as to the expertise of likely readers.

Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation provided that includes articulating implications or the significance of the topic.

(See note; not applicable as a separate requirement)

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.

Use technology to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information.

Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

Gather relevant information from multiple credible primary and secondary print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the specific task, purpose, and audience, including recognition of bias; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation.

Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Range of Writing

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Production and Distribution of Writing

Text Types and Purposes

Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.

Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among the claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

Develop claim(s) and counterclaims, supplying data and evidence for each in a disciplineappropriate form and in a manner that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level and concerns.

Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.

Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline.

Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from or supports the argument presented.

Write routinely over extended time frames (time for reflection and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes.

Introduce a topic and organize ideas, concepts, and information to make important connections and distinctions; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., figures, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic.

Use varied transitions and sentence structures to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.

Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to manage the complexity of the topic and convey a style appropriate to the discipline and context as well as to the expertise of likely readers.

Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.

Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic).

(See note; not applicable as a separate requirement)

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.

Use technology to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology’s capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.

Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

Gather relevant information from multiple credible primary and secondary print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source, including recognition of bias in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.