English Language Arts Grades 9-10 (2023)
Course Preface
Printable Version (pdf)

 

Core Standards of the Course

Speaking and Listening (9-10.SL)
Students will learn to collaborate, express and listen to ideas, integrate and evaluate information from various sources, use media and visual displays as well as language and grammar strategically to help achieve communicative purposes, and adapt to context and task.

Standard 9-10.SL.1:
Participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations on topics, texts, and issues.

1. Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives in democratic discussions that involve decision-making and role-taking; synthesize comments, claims, and evidence.
   
2. Participate in conversations by asking and responding to questions and provide the opportunity to consider a range of perspectives and clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions with evidence.
   
3. Identify contradictions when applicable, and determine if additional information or research is required to deepen the investigation or conversation.
   

Standard 9-10.SL.2:
Interpret and evaluate the credibility of multiple sources of information presented in various formats and media to solve problems and make informed decisions.

Standard 9-10.SL.3:
Use appropriate language, grammar, organization, development, and delivery styles appropriate to purpose and audience for formal or informal contexts.

1. Convey a clear perspective by concisely presenting and citing information, findings, and supporting evidence so that listeners can follow the line of reasoning.
   

Reading (9-10.R)
Students will learn to proficiently read and comprehend grade level literature and informational text, including seminal U.S. documents of historical and literary significance, at the high end of the grade level text complexity band, with scaffolding as needed. *Standard R.4 includes an asterisk to refer educators back to the Text Complexity Grade Bands and Associated Lexile Ranges in the introduction of the standards.

Standard 9-10.R.1:
Mastered in preschool.

Standard 9-10.R.2:
Mastered in grade 3.

Standard 9-10.R.3:
Mastered in grade 5.

Standard 9-10.R.4:
Read grade-level text* with accuracy and fluency to support comprehension. (RL & RI)

Standard 9-10.R.5:
Cite relevant textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as what inferences can be drawn from the text, including identifying where the text implies ambiguity. (RL & RI)

Standard 9-10.R.6:
When reading texts, including those from diverse cultures, determine a theme, analyze its development in detail, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary that includes textual evidence. (RL)
When reading texts, including those from diverse cultures, determine two or more main ideas, analyze the main ideas, relationship to supporting ideas, and provide an objective summary that includes textual evidence. (RI)

Standard 9-10.R.7:
Analyze how plot elements and dialogue interact, shape the characters, and propel the action. (RL)
Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events through comparisons, analogies, or categories. (RI)

Standard 9-10.R.8:
Determine the meaning and impact of words and phrases on meaning, tone, and mood. Analyze figurative language and connotative meanings. Examine domain-specific vocabulary and how language differs across genres and text types. (RL & RI)

Standard 9-10.R.9:
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. (RL & RI)

1. Identify and correctly use patterns of word parts that indicate different meanings or parts of speech.
   
2. Determine and consult appropriate reference materials to find the pronunciation of a word, its precise meaning, its part of speech, or its etymology including Greek or Latin affixes and roots.
   

Standard 9-10.R.10:
Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the structures an author uses in an exposition, argument, or narrative, including whether the structure makes points or events clear, effective, convincing, or engaging. (RL & RI)

Standard 9-10.R.11:
Analyze how an author's geographic location, identity or background, culture, and time period affect the perspective, point of view, purpose, and implicit/explicit messages of a text. (RL & RI)

Standard 9-10.R.12:
Compare a text to another text in a different medium analyzing the portrayal of the subject, evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using the different mediums, and explain how and why the content stays faithful to or departs from the text or script. (RL & RI)

Standard 9-10.R.13:
Not applicable to RL.
Delineate and evaluate an argument and specific claims in a text, assessing the validity or fallacy of key statements by examining whether the supporting evidence is relevant and sufficient. Recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced. (RI)

Standard 9-10.R.14:
Analyze two or more works of fiction with similar themes or topics, drawing on patterns of events, characters types, and stylistic choices. (RL)
Analyze how two or more texts about the same topic shape their presentations by emphasizing different evidence or advancing different interpretations of facts; identify where the texts disagree on matters of fact or interpretation. (RI)

Writing (9-10.W)
Students will learn to write for a variety of tasks, purposes, and audiences using appropriate grammar/conventions, syntax, and style.

Standard 9-10.W.1:
Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of complex topics or texts using logical reasoning and relevant evidence, and provide a conclusion that follows from and supports the argument presented.

1. Introduce claims, distinguish the claims from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among claims, counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.
   
2. Develop claims and counterclaims by supplying evidence from accurate, credible sources for each; point out the strengths and limitations that consider the audience.
   
3. Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claims and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claims and counterclaims.
   
4. Use appropriate conventions and style for the audience, purpose, and task.
   

Standard 9-10.W.2:
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey related ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content, and provide a conclusion that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.

1. Introduce a topic; organize related ideas and information to make important connections and distinctions; utilize formatting, graphics, and multimedia to show relationships.
   
2. Develop the topic with relevant facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, and examples.
   
3. Use appropriate and varied transitions to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among related ideas.
   
4. Use precise language and content-specific vocabulary to clarify the relationships of the ideas.
   
5. Use appropriate conventions and style for the audience, purpose, and task.
   

Standard 9-10.W.3:
Write narrative texts to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-structured event sequences, well-chosen details, and provide a resolution that connects to what is experienced, observed, or resolved over the course of the narrative.

1. Engage and orient the reader by describing a problem, situation, or observation.
   
2. Establish one or multiple point(s) of view, and introduce a setting, narrator and/or characters.
   
3. Use narrative techniques such as dialogue, pacing, description, reflection, and multiple plot lines, to develop characters and well-structured event sequences.
   
4. Utilize varied syntax techniques and descriptive language to create a mood and tone appropriate to purpose, task, and audience.
   
5. Use appropriate conventions and style for the audience, purpose, and task.
   

Standard 9-10.W.4:
Conduct more sustained research projects to craft an argument, answer a question, or provide an analysis.

1. Gather, assess, and synthesize information from credible sources on the topic.
   
2. Reflect on the evidence and generate ideas to demonstrate understanding of the topic and purpose.
   
3. Avoid plagiarism by quoting, paraphrasing, and citing, using a standard format for citation of evidence.
   
4. Interact and collaborate with others throughout the writing process.
   

Standard 9-10.W.5:
Mastered in grade 5.

---

http://www.uen.org - in partnership with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).  Send questions or comments to USBE Specialist - Naomi  Watkins and see the Language Arts - Secondary website. For general questions about Utah's Core Standards contact the Director - Jennifer  Throndsen.

These materials have been produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. Copies of these materials may be freely reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit should be given to Utah State Board of Education. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of the Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200.