Download Grade 9 - English/Language Arts

GRADE LEVEL INDICATORS WRITTEN IN STUDENT LANGUAGE
English Language Arts – 9th Grade
I can:
Acquisition of Vocabulary
… define words I don’t know with context clues and by using comparison, contrast, and
cause and effect.
… analyze the relationships of words in statements (synonyms and antonyms, connotations
and denotation); and infer word meanings.
… judge literal and figurative meanings of words and phrases, and discuss the function of
figurative language.
… examine and discuss how history has influenced the English language.
… use knowledge of Greek, Latin and Anglo-Saxon roots, prefixes and suffixes to
understand complex words and new vocabulary.
… find the meanings and pronunciations of unknown words by using dictionaries,
thesauruses, glossaries, technology and text features.
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Reading Process: Print Concepts and
Comprehension and Self-Monitoring Strategies
use strategies like making predictions, recalling, summarizing, making inferences and
drawing conclusions to understand what I read.
answer literal, inferential, evaluative and synthesizing questions to show that I understand
what I read.
check my understanding by skimming, scanning, reading on, looking back, note taking or
summarizing what I read in text.
use criteria to choose books I like to read for different reasons.
read books for enjoyment, experience, and to gain information or perform a task.
Reading Applications: Informational, Technical and Persuasive Text
identify and understand organizational patterns like cause-effect, problem-solution and
techniques used by authors to connect with their audience.
look carefully at the organization of ideas from many sources on the same topic.
analyze information found in maps, charts, tables, graphs, diagrams and overlays.
determine whether the author’s ideas and the way they are presented make sense.
analyze an author’s direct and indirect argument.
analyze the way the author develops key points to support an argument or point-of-view.
compare and contrast the effectiveness of features used in consumer documents.
identify rhetorical devices used in common types of public documents.
Reading Applications: Literary Text
identify and explain how the author uses direct and indirect characterization.
analyze how setting influences literary elements.
identify how authors use conflicts, parallel plots and subplots in texts.
evaluate the point of view used in a literary text.
interpret universal themes found in different works by the same or different authors.
analyze how an author’s choice of genre affects the expression of a theme or topic.
explain how foreshadowing and flashback are used in plots of a literary text.
define and identify types of irony in literary texts.
analyze how the author expresses mood and tone through words, figurative language and
syntax.
… explain how authors use symbols to create meanings.
… identify sound devices used in literary texts.
I can:
Writing Processes
… produce writing ideas through discussions with others.
… conduct reading, interviews or surveys when appropriate.
… write a thesis statement for informational and narrative pieces.
… determine purpose and audience.
… use organizational strategies to plan writing.
… organize my writing to include an introduction, body and conclusion.
… change the structures of simple, compound and complex sentences.
… organize ideas into paragraphs, with topic sentences following paragraph form.
… use just-right language, action verbs, details, modifiers and style for audience and
purpose.
… use technology to write.
… reread and correct my writing and consistency of point of view.
… add and delete information and details to make ideas more clear.
… change the order of words, sentences and paragraphs to clarify meaning.
… use resources and reference materials to choose more effective vocabulary.
… proofread and edit writing to improve grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization.
… use rubrics, checklists and feedback to check the quality of writing.
… prepare writing for publication.
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Writing Applications
write narratives that use literary devices to impact style and tone and answer questions.
write business letters, letters to the editor and job applications that are stated clearly,
follow conventional style, include appropriate facts and details, and provide closure.
write essays or reports that ask questions and are accurate, organized and support the
main idea.
write persuasive compositions that develop a controlling idea, support arguments and cite
references.
produce informal writings for various reasons.
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Writing Conventions
spell correctly.
use correct capitalization and punctuation.
use clauses and phrases.
use the right structure to present items in a series.
use modifiers in the right place.
maintain the right verb tenses.
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Research
compose open-ended questions for research, and modify questions during inquiry and
investigation.
identify appropriate sources, and gather relevant information from multiple sources.
determine if sources are credible by analyzing them (authority, accuracy, objectivity).
compile and organize information; and select the right sources to support ideas, concepts
and themes.
integrate quotations and citations into text to keep a flow of ideas.
… use style guides to produce oral and written reports to give proper credit for source
acknowledgment.
… use a variety of communication techniques including oral, visual, written or multimedia
reports to present information about a topic or research question.
I can:
Oral and Visual Communication
… demonstrate active listening strategies.
… summarize the main idea and draw conclusions from presentations and visual media.
… interpret the speaker’s purpose in presentations and visual media.
… identify persuasive techniques used in presentations and media messages.
… select language appropriate to purpose and audience.
… use clear diction, tone; and adjust volume, phrasing and tempo to stress important ideas.
… adjust speaking content and style to match the needs of the situation, setting and
audience.
… give informational presentations.
… give formal and informal descriptive presentations to deliver relevant information and
descriptive details.
… give persuasive presentations.