9th Grade ELA (Nebraska Standards)

Reading: Literary Text (RP)

• LA.10.RP.1 Analyze how two or more stated or implied themes develop across one or more literary texts.
• LA.10.RP.2 Analyze how characters, settings and key events add to a work's overall meaning.
• LA.10.RP.3 Analyze how choices of perspective or point of view affect meaning, significance or aesthetic effect.
• LA.10.RP.4 Analyze how structure and handling of time, such as foreshadowing or flashback, build mystery, tension or suspense.
• LA.10.RP.5 Analyze how an author draws on and changes source material in a particular work.
• LA.10.RP.6 Analyze a text's themes to draw conclusions, understand oneself and others, and raise new questions.
• LA.10.RP.7 Analyze several perspectives within and across a wide range of literary texts.
• LA.10.RP.8 Read and understand a wide range of literary texts at the top of the grades 9–10 range, with scaffolding as needed.

Reading Informational Text (RI)

• LA.10.RI.1 Analyze how two or more stated or implied central ideas develop across informational texts.
• LA.10.RI.2 Analyze how people, important events and key ideas together shape a text's meaning.
• LA.10.RI.3 Analyze an author's perspective or purpose and how rhetoric moves it forward.
• LA.10.RI.4 Analyze closely how sentences, paragraphs and larger sections develop and refine claims.
• LA.10.RI.5 Analyze informational texts of historical or cultural importance and how they treat related topics.
• LA.10.RI.6 Compare how different arguments on one topic are built and judge how effective and valid they are.
• LA.10.RI.7 Analyze how a series of events, ideas or perspectives unfolds within and across informational texts.
• LA.10.RI.8 Read and understand a wide range of informational texts at the top of the grades 9–10 range, with scaffolding as needed.

Vocabulary (V)

• LA.10.V.1 Use grade-level academic words correctly for different tasks and purposes.
  • LA.10.V.1.a Use context clues, such as overall meaning or a word's position or function, to work out meanings.
  • LA.10.V.1.b Recognize and use patterns of word forms that change meaning or part of speech, e.g. analyze/analysis.
  • LA.10.V.1.c Use general and specialized references to check meaning, pronunciation, part of speech or word origin.
• LA.10.V.2 Interpret an author's figurative, connotative and technical language in literary and informational texts.
  • LA.10.V.2.a Interpret figures of speech such as euphemism and oxymoron in context and explain their role.
  • LA.10.V.2.b Analyze shades of meaning among words with similar dictionary meanings.

Writing (W)

• LA.10.W.1 Write grammatically correct pieces of several paragraphs that convey meaning with variety and fluency.
  • LA.10.W.1.a Follow capitalization rules.
  • LA.10.W.1.b Use colons to introduce quotations, definitions or expansions, and semicolons with conjunctive adverbs.
  • LA.10.W.1.c Use knowledge of usage to revise one's own writing, settling complex or disputed usage questions.
  • LA.10.W.1.d Choose and use verbs with suitable voice and mood.
  • LA.10.W.1.e Spot and fix fragments, run-ons and inconsistent shifts in tense, number, voice, mood or parallel structure.
• LA.10.W.2 Use a writing process that loops back on itself to produce writing suited to audience and purpose.
  • LA.10.W.2.a Find and use resources and inquiry tools to plan, organize and draft.
  • LA.10.W.2.b Adapt writing habits to keep going on short and long tasks of growing length and complexity.
  • LA.10.W.2.c Revise using feedback from adults and peers to suit audience, purpose and structure.
  • LA.10.W.2.d Edit and proofread to improve style for the audience, purpose and task.
  • LA.10.W.2.e Use print and digital tools to produce, improve or publish writing alone or with peers.
• LA.10.W.3 Write literary pieces about experiences, events, themes and perspectives with suitable development, structure and style.
  • LA.10.W.3.a Orient the reader by setting out a problem or situation, several points of view and a narrator or characters.
  • LA.10.W.3.b Use techniques such as dialogue, pacing, description, reflection and more than one plot line.
  • LA.10.W.3.c Order events so each builds on the last into a coherent whole.
  • LA.10.W.3.d Use precise words, telling details and sensory language to paint a vivid picture and set mood and tone.
  • LA.10.W.3.e End by reflecting on what happened, what is unresolved and what new questions arise.
• LA.10.W.4 Write arguments that develop a perspective with reasons and evidence, organized for task, purpose and audience.
  • LA.10.W.4.a Order ideas logically, state a clear claim where suitable and separate main claims from alternate or supporting ones.
  • LA.10.W.4.b Engage with several viewpoints and sources to build and support nuanced claims through ongoing inquiry.
  • LA.10.W.4.c Use words, phrases and varied syntax to show how claims, counterclaims and evidence connect.
  • LA.10.W.4.d Adapt style and tone to the norms of the task and discipline.
  • LA.10.W.4.e End with a conclusion that follows from and supports the argument.
• LA.10.W.5 Write informative or explanatory pieces that share ideas, information and concepts clearly for the task, discipline and audience.
  • LA.10.W.5.a Introduce a specific focus and organize complex ideas to show links and differences, adding visuals or multimedia where useful.
  • LA.10.W.5.b Develop the topic with enough relevant facts, extended definitions, details, quotations and examples.
  • LA.10.W.5.c Use varied transitions, subject-specific words and varied syntax to handle a complex topic.
  • LA.10.W.5.d Keep a formal style and objective tone that suits the discipline.
  • LA.10.W.5.e End with a conclusion that supports the explanation and states the topic's significance.
• LA.10.W.6 Gather and use credible evidence from several authoritative sources and judge its relevance to the research question.
  • LA.10.W.6.a Work source material in selectively and accurately by quoting or paraphrasing, without plagiarizing.
  • LA.10.W.6.b Judge credibility, including the creator's expertise, motives, bias or deception, and wider perspective.
  • LA.10.W.6.c Use suitable note-taking formats to collect and organize information.
  • LA.10.W.6.d Show academic honesty: use several sources, varied in-text citations and a discipline's style guide.
  • LA.10.W.6.e Communicate online safely and ethically, sharing suitable information and respecting different views.

Speaking and Listening (SL)

• LA.10.SL.1 Start and take part in structured discussions and group work on grade-level topics and texts.
  • LA.10.SL.1.a Ask relevant questions to build on ideas, clarify thinking or check information.
  • LA.10.SL.1.b Interpret spoken and unspoken messages in conversation.
  • LA.10.SL.1.c Talk inclusively with peers and adults, building good relationships and respecting different perspectives.
  • LA.10.SL.1.d Listen actively and attentively, e.g. eye contact, notes, summarizing and questioning.
  • LA.10.SL.1.e Complete tasks by following complex multi-step directions.
• LA.10.SL.2 Present information, findings and evidence clearly and concisely, organized to suit task, purpose and audience.
  • LA.10.SL.2.a Adjust speaking skills such as eye contact, pacing and intonation to the purpose, situation and grade-level texts.
  • LA.10.SL.2.b Present a perspective with clear reasoning and valid evidence.
  • LA.10.SL.2.c Analyze a presentation's purpose and motives (social, commercial, political) and judge its credibility.
  • LA.10.SL.2.d Show awareness of word choice, including stereotypes and multiple meanings.
  • LA.10.SL.2.e Choose and use visual or digital tools to strengthen spoken communication and engagement.