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RI.LCS.8.1

Description: Interpret and analyze the author’s use of words, phrases, text features, conventions, and structures, and how their relationships shape meaning and tone in print and multimedia texts. Determine figurative, connotative, and technical meanings of words and phrases used in a text; analyze the impact of specific words, phrases, analogies, or allusions on meaning and tone.
Maps to Reading Plus skills: 4C, 5A, 6C

Exemplars

4C: Visualizing

4C: Visualizing

Description: Visualizing

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: H-11

H-11

Grade level: 8
Word count: 1765 words
Author: Ben Robinson
Synopsis: On a memorable night in Florida, Cassius Clay faces Sonny Liston, the world champion.
Excerpt: Swiftness and mobility are not generally the calling cards of a heavyweight, but Clay had both. His fights were like ballet performances, as he danced around his opponents instead of standing close and firing punches as most heavyweights do. Because of this, he was tough to catch. His quick hands allowed him to burst into collisions, and then his equally swift feet enabled him to back out before opponents knew what had happened.

Question: If you were watching a Clay boxing match, you most likely would see Clay
  1. dancing around his opponent.
  2. protecting his face with his hands.
  3. firing punch after punch at his opponent.
  4. never backing away from his opponent.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Describe an example of a particularly vivid scene from a selection. Explain what technique the author used to create such a clear picture of the setting or event you found memorable.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

5A: Examining Text Structure

5A: Examining Text Structure

Description: Examining Text Structure

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: H-24

H-24

Grade level: 8
Word count: 1674 words
Author: Travis J. Best
Synopsis: Jesse Ventura launched himself from the wrestling ring to the governor's mansion.
Excerpt: Without wrestling he never would have had the notoriety to run for office, or possibly even be in movies. Without holding the prestigious office of mayor he never could have hoped to successfully run for the even more prestigious one as governor.

Question: Based on this excerpt, which two answers describe the relationship between these two sentences?
  1. cause and effect
  2. chronological order
  3. problem and solution
  4. main idea and supporting detail
  5. right and wrong

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Explain an author's use of description in a selection, and how the description shaped the way you viewed and understood the person, object, or event described.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

6C: Recognizing Mood/Tone

6C: Recognizing Mood/Tone

Description: Recognizing Mood and Tone

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: H-30

H-30

Grade level: 8
Word count: 1737 words
Author: Tuck Danbridge
Synopsis: Jim Thorpe's tribal name, meaning "bright path," reflected his journey to fame.
Excerpt: Eventually Thorpe convinced his coach to let him give the pigskin a shot. Warner figured that as soon as Thorpe took a strong hit, he would just give up and return to contact-free track. But Jim was far too good at football for that to hold true. He "ran around past and through them not once, but twice," and proved that his athletic skills could translate to any sport. He walked over to his coach, tossed him the ball, and said "nobody is going to tackle Jim."

Question: In this excerpt, Thorpe's comment to his coach was probably spoken in a tone of
  1. confidence.
  2. appreciation.
  3. uncertainty.
  4. sympathy.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: What kinds of language or other text structure elements (tone) are used to create an excited or adventurous mood? Use details from a selection you have read to illustrate and explain your answer.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions