Grades 11–12 ELA (New Jersey NJSLS)

Language (L)

• L.SS.11–12.1 Use the English language system and structure correctly when writing or speaking.
  • 1. Know that usage is a matter of convention that changes over time and place and can be argued about.
  • 2. Hyphenate according to convention.
  • 3. Recognize spelling conventions.
• L.KL.11–12.2 Use knowledge of language to understand how it works and make effective choices.
  • 1. Use academic and subject words correctly at a college- and career-ready level.
  • 2. Vary sentence syntax for effect and use knowledge of syntax to read complex texts.
  • 3. Build word knowledge on your own for words that matter to understanding or expression.
• L.VL.11–12.3 Work out unknown and multiple-meaning words, including technical senses, with a range of strategies.
  • 1. Use context from the sentence, paragraph or text and a word's position.
  • 2. Spot and correctly use changes in word form that signal new meanings or parts of speech.
  • 3. Analyze how a writer or speaker sharpens the meaning of a key term across a text or talk.
  • 4. Use general and specialist references for pronunciation, meaning, part of speech, origin or usage.
  • 5. Confirm a first guess at a meaning from context or a dictionary.
• L.VI.11–12.4 Understand figurative language, word relationships and shades of meaning.
  • 1. Interpret figures of speech in context and analyze what they do in the text.
  • 2. Analyze small differences between words with similar meanings.
  • 3. Analyze how the meaning of a key term grows or is refined across a text.
  • 4. Analyze how word choices affect meaning and tone, including fresh or beautiful language.

Reading Literature (RL)

• RL.CR.11–12.1 Cite thorough evidence to analyze what a literary text says and implies, including what stays uncertain.
• RL.CI.11–12.2 Work out two or more themes, analyze how they develop and interact, and summarize objectively.
• RL.IT.11–12.3 Analyze how an author's choices shape elements of a story or play such as setting, order of events and characters.
• RL.TS.11–12.4 Evaluate an author's structural choices and how they add to meaning and artistic effect.
• RL.PP.11–12.5 Evaluate the perspectives in two or more related texts and argue which view is more convincing.
• RL.MF.11–12.6 Combine complex information from different sources and formats to settle conflicts or build new interpretations.
• RL.CT.11–12.8 Analyze and reflect on important literary and historical texts, including how works of one period treat similar themes.

Reading Informational Text (RI)

• RI.CR.11–12.1 Cite a range of thorough evidence to analyze what an informational text says and implies.
• RI.CI.11–12.2 Work out two or more central ideas, analyze how they develop and interact, and summarize objectively.
• RI.IT.11–12.3 Analyze how an author's choices develop complex ideas or sequences of events and how these interact.
• RI.TS.11–12.4 Evaluate whether a text's structure makes its points clear, convincing and engaging.
• RI.PP.11–12.5 Analyze an author's purpose, separating what is said from rhetoric and how style shows the viewpoint.
• RI.MF.11–12.6 Combine complex information from different sources and formats to settle conflicts or go beyond the text.
• RI.AA.11–12.7 Describe and evaluate the reasoning, premises, purposes and arguments of key U.S. and world texts.
• RI.CT.11–12.8 Analyze and reflect on important historical and scientific documents, including primary sources and technical advances.

Writing (W)

• W.AW.11–12.1 Write arguments backing claims with valid reasoning and enough relevant evidence.
  • 1. State exact claims and why they matter, set them apart from opposing claims and organize logically.
  • 2. Develop claims and counterclaims without fallacies, weighing strengths and limits for the reader.
  • 3. Use transitions to link sections and make clear how claims, reasons and evidence connect.
  • 4. Keep a style and tone suited to reader, purpose and subject norms.
  • 5. End with a conclusion that supports the argument, e.g. its implications or importance.
• W.IW.11–12.2 Write informative texts that explain complex ideas clearly and accurately through chosen, organized content.
  • 1. Introduce the topic, build ideas step by step and use formatting, graphics or multimedia when helpful.
  • 2. Develop the topic fully with the most significant facts, definitions, details, quotations and examples.
  • 3. Use varied transitions and syntax to link sections and show how complex ideas relate.
  • 4. Use exact language, subject vocabulary and devices such as metaphor or analogy to handle complexity.
  • 5. Keep a style and tone suited to reader, purpose and subject norms.
  • 6. End with a conclusion that supports the explanation, e.g. its implications or importance.
• W.NW.11–12.3 Write narratives with effective technique, well-chosen detail and well-structured events.
  • 1. Draw the reader in with a situation, point of view and narrator or characters.
  • 2. Use dialogue, pacing, description, reflection and more than one plot line.
  • 3. Order events so they build to a particular tone and outcome.
  • 4. Use exact words, telling detail and sensory language to paint a vivid picture.
  • 5. End with a conclusion that reflects on the events or how they were resolved.
• W.WP.11–12.4 Strengthen writing by planning, revising and editing and by reflecting on your own progress.
• W.WR.11–12.5 Carry out short and longer research projects, narrowing or widening the question and combining several sources.
• W.SE.11–12.6 Collect information from several authoritative sources, judge them, use them selectively and cite correctly.
• W.RW.11–12.7 Write regularly, over long and short time frames, for many tasks and purposes.

Speaking and Listening (SL)

• SL.PE.11–12.1 Take part well in discussions, building on others' ideas while putting your own clearly.
  • 1. Come prepared, using research and evidence to support a thoughtful exchange.
  • 2. Work with peers to keep discussion civil and democratic, set goals and give roles.
  • 3. Ask and answer probing questions, make sure all positions are heard and challenge ideas.
  • 4. Respond to differing views, pull claims together, resolve contradictions and spot what needs more research.
• SL.II.11–12.2 Combine information from different media to make decisions, judging credibility and noting discrepancies.
• SL.ES.11–12.3 Judge a speaker's viewpoint, reasoning, evidence and rhetoric, including stance, word choice and tone.
• SL.PI.11–12.4 Present findings, evidence and reasoning clearly, briefly and logically for the task, purpose and audience.
• SL.UM.11–12.5 Use digital media in presentations on purpose to deepen understanding and add interest.
• SL.AS.11–12.6 Adjust speech to many situations and tasks, using formal English when suitable.