Grades 9–10 ELA (New Jersey NJSLS)

Language (L)

• L.SS.9–10.1 Use English grammar, structure and conventions correctly when writing or speaking.
  • 1. Use parallel structure for parallel ideas.
  • 2. Use different kinds of phrases and clauses to add exact meaning and variety.
  • 3. Join related independent clauses with a semicolon, with or without a conjunctive adverb.
  • 4. Introduce a list or quotation with a colon.
  • 5. Recognize standard spelling conventions.
• L.KL.9–10.2 Use knowledge of language to make good choices of words and style and to understand texts more deeply.
  • 1. Use academic and subject words correctly at a college- and career-ready level.
  • 2. Vary words and sentence structure to show how language shapes meaning.
  • 3. Build word knowledge on your own for words that matter to understanding or expression.
• L.VL.9–10.3 Work out unknown and multiple-meaning words, including technical senses, with a range of strategies.
  • 1. Use context from the sentence, paragraph or whole text and a word's job.
  • 2. Spot and use patterns of word change that show different meanings or parts of speech.
  • 3. Analyze the combined effect of word choices on meaning and tone.
  • 4. Check print and online references for pronunciation, meaning, part of speech or word origin.
  • 5. Confirm a first guess at a meaning from context or a dictionary.
• L.VI.9–10.4 Understand figurative language, word relationships and connotations.
  • 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 the build-up of word choices and its effect on meaning and tone.

Reading Literature (RL)

• RL.CR.9–10.1 Cite strong, thorough evidence to support analysis of a literary text, including where it leaves things uncertain.
• RL.CI.9–10.2 Work out themes, analyze how they develop across the text and summarize it objectively.
• RL.IT.9–10.3 Analyze how authors develop ideas, complex characters and their interactions, plot and theme.
• RL.TS.9–10.4 Analyze how structure, order of events and handling of time create effects such as mystery or surprise.
• RL.PP.9–10.5 Work out the author's lens, including cultural experience, and analyze rhetorical devices that advance a viewpoint. (being checked)
• RL.MF.9–10.6 Analyze and evaluate different interpretations of a literary text in different formats.
• RL.CT.9–10.8 Analyze and reflect on how authors draw on and transform source material, and its historical and literary importance.

Reading Informational Text (RI)

• RI.CR.9–10.1 Cite strong, thorough evidence to support analysis of what an informational text says directly and implies.
• RI.CI.9–10.2 Work out central ideas, analyze how they develop and summarize the text objectively.
• RI.IT.9–10.3 Analyze how an author unfolds ideas: order of points, how they develop and links drawn between them.
• RI.TS.9–10.4 Analyze in detail how sentences, paragraphs and sections develop claims and ideas.
• RI.PP.9–10.5 Work out the author's purpose, including cultural knowledge, and analyze rhetorical devices that advance it.
• RI.MF.9–10.6 Analyze and evaluate different accounts of a subject in different formats to answer questions.
• RI.AA.9–10.7 Describe and judge an argument: validity of reasoning, relevance and sufficiency of evidence, and false statements.
• RI.CT.9–10.8 Analyze and reflect on key historical and scientific documents and the ideas they connect to.

Writing (W)

• W.AW.9–10.1 Write arguments backing claims with valid reasoning and enough relevant evidence from texts and other sources.
  • 1. State exact claims, set them apart from counterclaims and organize how the parts relate.
  • 2. Develop claims and counterclaims fairly with evidence, weighing strengths and limits of each.
  • 3. Use transitions to link sections and make clear how claims, reasons and evidence connect.
  • 4. Keep a style and tone suited to reader and purpose, following the norms of the subject.
  • 5. End with a conclusion that supports the argument.
• W.IW.9–10.2 Write informative texts that explain complex ideas clearly and accurately by choosing, organizing and analyzing content.
  • 1. Introduce the topic, organize complex ideas and use formatting, graphics or multimedia when helpful.
  • 2. Build the topic with well-chosen facts, definitions, details, quotations or examples for the reader.
  • 3. Use varied transitions to link sections and show how complex ideas relate.
  • 4. Use exact language and subject vocabulary to handle the topic's complexity.
  • 5. Keep a style and tone suited to reader and purpose, following the norms of the subject.
  • 6. End with a conclusion that supports the explanation, e.g. its implications or importance.
• W.NW.9–10.3 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 with varied techniques so they build on each other into a whole.
  • 4. Use exact words, telling detail and sensory language to paint a vivid picture.
  • 5. End with a conclusion that reflects on what happened in the narrative.
• W.WP.9–10.4 Strengthen writing by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, getting feedback and using style guides.
• W.WR.9–10.5 Carry out short and longer research projects, narrowing or widening the question and combining several sources.
• W.SE.9–10.6 Collect information from authoritative sources, judge its usefulness, use it selectively and cite it correctly.
• W.RW.9–10.7 Write regularly, over long and short time frames, for many tasks, purposes and readers.

Speaking and Listening (SL)

• SL.PE.9–10.1 Take part well in discussions, building on others' ideas and putting your own views clearly and persuasively.
  • 1. Come prepared, using texts and research to support a reasoned exchange.
  • 2. Agree discussion rules, goals, success criteria and roles with others.
  • 3. Move talk forward with questions linking to bigger themes, include others and clarify or challenge ideas.
  • 4. Respond thoughtfully to other views, sum up agreements and disagreements, justify your view and make links.
• SL.II.9–10.2 Combine several sources in different media, judging how credible and accurate each is.
• SL.ES.9–10.3 Judge a speaker's viewpoint, reasoning, evidence and rhetoric, spotting faulty logic or distorted evidence.
• SL.PI.9–10.4 Present information, findings and evidence clearly, briefly and logically for the task, purpose and audience.
• SL.UM.9–10.5 Use digital media in presentations on purpose to strengthen findings, reasoning and evidence and add interest.
• SL.AS.9–10.6 Adjust speech to many situations and tasks, showing command of formal English.