Standard: 9-10.RI.10 – 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.
Grade level: Grade 9-10
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Reading: Informational Text
Teacher Overview
This standard aims to ensure that students in grades 9-10 can read and comprehend literary nonfiction at a level appropriate for their grade band. It emphasizes the importance of being able to understand complex texts independently by the end of grade 10, which is crucial for success in higher education and various career paths. Students should be familiar with literary nonfiction, basic reading strategies, and have experience with middle school level texts.
Students will be able to independently read and comprehend complex literary nonfiction texts, preparing them for advanced studies and real-world applications requiring strong reading skills.
Common Misconception 1
A common misconception is that all nonfiction texts are purely factual and do not require critical analysis. This is incorrect because nonfiction texts often contain the author’s perspective, purpose, and potential biases, which must be evaluated for a thorough understanding.
Intervention 1
Provide lessons on identifying the author’s purpose, perspective, and biases. Use examples from various nonfiction texts to practice these skills.
Common Misconception 2
Another misconception is that scaffolding is only for struggling readers. In reality, scaffolding is a valuable tool for all learners, as it provides necessary support while they engage with complex texts.
Intervention 2
Introduce different scaffolding techniques such as graphic organizers, guided questions, and peer discussions. Show how these can help all students, regardless of their proficiency level.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should have a basic understanding of literary nonfiction and its characteristics, as well as experience with reading and comprehending texts at the middle school level. They should also be familiar with basic reading strategies such as summarizing, questioning, and making inferences.
Subsequent Knowledge
After mastering this standard, students will be able to critically analyze more complex texts, synthesize information from multiple sources, and apply critical thinking skills to real-world problems. They will also be prepared for advanced coursework in English Language Arts and other subjects that require strong reading comprehension skills.
Instructional Activities
- Analyzing and discussing a current news article
- Reading and interpreting a historical speech
- Evaluating a scientific report for credibility
- Comparing different business case studies
