English Language Arts Standards » Language » Grade 9-10

Conventions of Standard English

• 1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-1

• Use parallel structure.*

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-1a

• Use various types of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent, dependent; noun, relative, adverbial) to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-1b

• 2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-2

• Use a semicolon (and perhaps a conjunctive adverb) to link two or more closely related independent clauses.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-2a

• Use a colon to introduce a list or quotation.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-2b

• Spell correctly.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-2c

Knowledge of Language

• 3. Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-3

• Write and edit work so that it conforms to the guidelines in a style manual (e.g., MLA Handbook, Turabian’s Manual for Writers) appropriate for the discipline and writing type.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-3a

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

• 4. 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.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-4

• 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.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-4a

• Identify and correctly use patterns of word changes that indicate different meanings or parts of speech (e.g., analyze, analysis, analytical; advocate, advocacy).

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-4b

• Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning, its part of speech, or its etymology.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-4c

• Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary).

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-4d

• 5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-5

• Interpret figures of speech (e.g., euphemism, oxymoron) in context and analyze their role in the text.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-5a

• Analyze nuances in the meaning of words with similar denotations.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-5b

• 6. Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

  Suggested tag: cc-9-10e-l-6