L.4.a
Description:
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 9–10 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies, recognizing the role culture plays in the development of language.
Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence, paragraph, or text; a word’s position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
Maps to Reading Plus skills:
4A, 4B
Exemplars
4A: Interpreting Word Meaning
4A: Interpreting Word Meaning
Description:
Interpreting Word Meaning
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
J-17
J-17
Grade level: 10
Word count: 2251 words
Author: Guy de Maupassant
Synopsis: Simple actions may sometimes lead to unexpected, dire consequences.
Excerpt:
He passed on, buttonholed by everyone, himself buttonholing his acquaintances, beginning over and over again his tale and his protestations, showing his pockets turned inside out to prove that he had nothing in them.
Question:
What do the terms "buttonholed" and "buttonholing" mean in this part of the selection?
- hold for comment or conversation
- work in a hasty or impatient manner
- inadequate in quantity or volume
- substitute for a lesser quality
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Explain how a character's actions or attitude can change the meaning of a word or phrase.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
4B: Interpreting Analogies
4B: Interpreting Analogies
Description:
Interpreting Analogies
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
J-11
J-11
Grade level: 10
Word count: 2199 words
Author: Diane Lang
Synopsis: Skylar and Jason's relationship is already strained when they're paired together for a class project. Will their "no-technology" challenge make them, or break them?
Excerpt:
"But getting back to this notion of living independently," he continued, "there's a little Walden-inspired experiment you'll be conducting over the next few weeks."
Ignoring the grumblings, Mr. Crawford continued, "Working in pairs, you'll each choose a meaningful passage to absorb, understand, and live by. I don't care which quotation you choose -- use the 'close your eyes and open the book' method if you want -- but I expect you to discuss it with your partner, live your life accordingly for two weeks, and we'll check-in periodically."
Ignoring the grumblings, Mr. Crawford continued, "Working in pairs, you'll each choose a meaningful passage to absorb, understand, and live by. I don't care which quotation you choose -- use the 'close your eyes and open the book' method if you want -- but I expect you to discuss it with your partner, live your life accordingly for two weeks, and we'll check-in periodically."
Question:
Mr. Crawford uses the phrase "Walden-inspired experiment" to mean an activity in which the students
- focus on living in thoughtful and significant ways.
- work toward improving individual literacy goals.
- research endangered plant and animal life.
- develop ecologically based community programs.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Describe how an author can use figurative language to create suspense and give an example from a selection.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions