Grades 9–10 ELA (Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks)

Reading: Literature (RL)

• RL.9-10.1 Cite strong, thorough evidence to support analysis of what a literary text says and implies.
• RL.9-10.2 Work out a theme, analyze in detail how it emerges and is shaped by details, and summarize objectively.
• RL.9-10.3 Analyze how complex characters develop, interact with others and move the plot or theme forward.
• RL.9-10.4 Work out figurative and connotative meanings and analyze the effect of words with several meanings and of symbols or metaphors running through a text.
• RL.9-10.5 Analyze how an author's choices about structure, order of events (parallel plots) and time (pacing, flashback) create mystery, tension or surprise.
• RL.9-10.6 Analyze how a character's views and actions accept or reject the cultural norms or ideas of a time or place, drawing on world literature.
• RL.9-10.7 Analyze a critical response to a work (e.g. a book review or author documentary), summarize its argument and judge its evidence.
• RL.9-10.9 Analyze how an author reuses and reshapes source material, e.g. Shakespeare drawing on Ovid or the Bible.
• RL.9-10.10 Read and understand literary texts of many genres, cultures and perspectives at the grade/course level on your own.

Reading: Informational Text (RI)

• RI.9-10.1 Cite strong, thorough evidence to support analysis of what an informational text says and implies.
• RI.9-10.2 Work out a central idea, analyze how it emerges and is shaped by details, and summarize objectively.
• RI.9-10.3 Analyze how an author unfolds a series of ideas or events: their order, development and how they are linked.
• RI.9-10.4 Work out figurative, connotative and technical meanings and analyze the build-up or clash of word choices on meaning and tone.
• RI.9-10.5 Analyze in detail how sentences, paragraphs or larger sections develop and refine an author's ideas or claims.
• RI.9-10.6 Work out the author's point of view or purpose and analyze how rhetoric advances it.
• RI.9-10.7 Analyze accounts of a subject in different media and which details each one stresses or plays down.
• RI.9-10.8 Outline and judge an argument: valid reasoning, relevant and enough evidence; spot false statements, half-truths and fallacies.
• RI.9-10.9 Analyze landmark U.S. documents of historical and literary importance (e.g. the Gettysburg Address, "Letter from Birmingham Jail") and their themes.
• RI.9-10.10 Read and understand literary nonfiction of many genres, cultures and perspectives at the grade/course level on your own.

Writing (W)

• W.9-10.1 Write arguments on substantial topics or texts using valid reasoning and enough relevant evidence.
  • a. State exact claims, set them apart from counterclaims and organize so the links between claims, reasons and evidence are clear.
  • b. Develop claims and counterclaims fairly with evidence, weighing strengths and limits for what the reader knows.
  • c. Use words, phrases and clauses to link sections and show how claims, reasons, evidence and counterclaims relate.
  • d. Keep a style suited to reader and purpose while following the norms of the subject.
  • e. End with a conclusion that follows from and supports the argument.
• W.9-10.2 Write informative/explanatory texts that explain complex ideas clearly and accurately through well-chosen, organized content.
  • a. Introduce the topic, organize complex ideas to show key links and differences, and use headings, graphics or multimedia if helpful.
  • b. Develop the topic with well-chosen facts, extended definitions, details, quotations and examples for the reader.
  • c. Use varied transitions to link sections and show how complex ideas relate.
  • d. Use exact language and subject vocabulary to handle the topic's complexity.
  • e. Keep a style suited to reader and purpose while following the norms of the subject.
  • f. End with a conclusion that supports the explanation, e.g. by stating implications or importance.
• W.9-10.3 Write narratives using literary techniques, telling details and well-structured events.
  • a. Draw the reader in with a problem, situation or observation, one or more points of view and a narrator or characters.
  • b. Use dialogue, pacing, description, reflection and more than one plot line.
  • c. Order events with varied techniques so they build into a coherent whole.
  • d. Set mood and tone with exact words, telling details and figurative and sensory language.
  • e. End with a conclusion that reflects on what was experienced, observed or resolved.
• W.9-10.4 Produce clear, coherent writing whose development, organization and style fit the task, purpose and reader.
• W.9-10.5 Plan, revise, edit, rewrite or try a new approach, focusing on what matters most for the purpose and reader.
  • a. Use standard English conventions up to grades 9–10 Language Standards 1–3.
  • b. Choose accurate vocabulary for the reader, purpose and style, up to grades 9–10 Language Standards 4–6.
• W.9-10.6 Use technology, including web platforms, to produce, publish and update writing alone or with others, using links and flexible displays.
• W.9-10.7 Carry out short and longer research projects to answer a question or solve a problem, narrowing or widening the inquiry and combining sources.
• W.9-10.8 Gather information from authoritative sources with advanced searches, judge each source's usefulness, use it selectively and cite it, avoiding plagiarism.
• W.9-10.9 Draw on evidence from literary or informational texts in analysis, interpretation, reflection and research.
• W.9-10.10 Write regularly over long and short time frames for many tasks, purposes and readers.

Speaking and Listening (SL)

• SL.9-10.1 Start and take part well in different discussions on grades 9–10 topics, building on others' ideas and putting your own clearly and persuasively.
  • a. Come prepared and refer to evidence from texts and research to spark a well-reasoned exchange.
  • b. Agree rules for respectful discussion and decision making, goals, deadlines and roles with peers.
  • c. Move talk forward with questions linking to bigger themes, bring others in, and clarify, check or challenge ideas.
  • d. Respond to different views, sum up agreements and disagreements, and qualify or justify your views with new links.
• SL.9-10.2 Combine several sources in different formats and media, judging how credible and accurate each is.
• SL.9-10.3 Judge a speaker's viewpoint, reasoning, evidence and rhetoric, spotting fallacies and exaggerated or distorted evidence.
• SL.9-10.4 Present information and evidence clearly, briefly and logically so listeners can follow, suiting the purpose, audience and task.
• SL.9-10.5 Use digital media on purpose in presentations to deepen understanding of findings and evidence and add interest.
• SL.9-10.6 Adjust speech to the situation and task, showing command of formal English when needed.

Language (L)

• L.9-10.1 Use standard English grammar and usage in writing and speaking, keeping earlier skills.
  • a. Move and rearrange clauses and phrases while keeping pronoun agreement, logical tenses and sentence variety.
  • b. Use different kinds of phrases and clauses to add exact meaning, variety and interest.
  • c. Use parallel structure to make sentences, paragraphs and longer writing hang together.
• L.9-10.2 Use standard English capitals, punctuation and spelling when writing.
  • a. Join closely related independent clauses with a semicolon, with or without a conjunctive adverb.
  • b. Introduce a list or quotation with a colon.
  • c. Spell correctly, knowing some words have accepted variants (catalog/catalogue).
• L.9-10.3 Use knowledge of language to understand how it works in different contexts, make good choices and read or listen more fully.
  • a. Write and edit to follow a style manual (MLA, Turabian) suited to the subject and type of writing.
  • b. Revise and edit to cut needless repetition.
• L.9-10.4 Figure out what unfamiliar words and words with several meanings mean, choosing from a range of strategies.
  • a. Use context from the sentence, paragraph or text and a word's position or job as a clue.
  • b. Spot and use patterns of word change that show new meanings or parts of speech (analyze, analysis, analytical).
  • c. Check general and specialist references for pronunciation, exact meaning, part of speech or origin.
  • d. Confirm a first guess at a meaning from context or a dictionary.
• L.9-10.5 Understand figurative language, word relationships and shades of meaning.
  • a. Interpret figures of speech such as euphemism and oxymoron and analyze their role in the text.
  • b. Analyze small differences between words with similar meanings.
• L.9-10.6 Learn and use grades 9–10 academic and subject words, researching words on your own.