Georgia State Standards for Language Arts: Grade 9

GA.ELA9RL. Literature and Composition - Reading and Literature

ELA9RL1. The student demonstrates comprehension by identifying evidence (e.g., diction, imagery, point of view, figurative language, symbolism, plot events and main ideas) in a variety of texts representative of different genres (e.g., poetry, prose [short story, novel, essay, editorial, biography], and drama) and using this evidence as the basis for interpretation.

ELA9RL1.1. The student identifies, analyzes, and applies knowledge of the structures and elements of fiction and provides evidence from the text to support understanding; the student:

ELA9RL1.1.a. Locates and analyzes such elements in fiction as language (e.g., diction, imagery, symbolism, figurative language), character development, setting and mood, point of view, foreshadowing, and irony.

ELA9RL1.1.b. Identifies and analyzes patterns of imagery or symbolism.

ELA9RL1.1.c. Relates identified elements in fiction to theme or underlying meaning.

ELA9RL1.2. The student identifies, analyzes, and applies knowledge of the purpose, structure, and elements of nonfiction and/or informational materials and provides evidence from the text to support understanding; the student:

ELA9RL1.2.a. Analyzes and applies knowledge of the characteristics of memoir, biography, and/or autobiography.

ELA9RL1.2.b. Analyzes and explains the purpose, structure, and elements of nonfiction works, including memoir, biography, and autobiography.

ELA9RL1.2.c. Analyzes and evaluates the effects of language (e.g., diction, imagery, symbolism, figurative language), structure, point of view, and selection of details in memoir, biography, and/or autobiography.

ELA9RL1.3. The student identifies and responds to differences in style and subject matter in poems by a variety of contemporary and canonical poets; the student:

ELA9RL1.3.a. Identifies and responds to the aesthetic effects of subject matter (e.g. topic, theme), sound devices (e.g., alliteration, onomatopoeia, rhyme scheme), figurative language (e.g., personification, metaphor, simile, hyperbole), and structure (e.g., fixed and free forms, rhymed and unrhymed, narrative and lyric) in a variety of poems.

ELA9RL1.3.b. Sorts and classifies poems by specified criteria (e.g., fixed and free forms, rhymed and unrhymed, narrative and lyric, and/or universal themes and topics).

ELA9RL1.4. The student identifies, analyzes, and applies knowledge of the themes, structures, and elements of dramatic literature and provides evidence from the text to support understanding; the student:

ELA9RL1.4.a. Identifies and analyzes types of dramatic literature (e.g., Shakespearean tragedy and comedy).

ELA9RL1.4.b. Analyzes the characters, structures, and themes of dramatic literature.

ELA9RL1.4.c. Identifies and analyzes dramatic elements, (e.g., exposition, rising action, climax, denouement, dialogue, monologue, soliloquy, aside, dramatic irony).

ELA9RL1.4.d. Identifies and analyzes how dramatic elements support and enhance interpretation of dramatic literature.

ELA9RL2. The student identifies, analyzes, and applies knowledge of theme in literary works from various genres and provides evidence from the works to support understanding. The student

ELA9RL2.a. Applies knowledge of the concept that the theme or meaning of a selection represents a universal view or comment on life or society and provides support from the text for the identified theme.

ELA9RL2.b. Evaluates how an author's choice of words advances the theme or purpose of a work.

ELA9RL2.c. Applies knowledge of the concept that a text can contain more than one theme.

ELA9RL2.d. Compares and contrasts the presentation of a theme or topic across genres and explains how the selection of genre affects the delivery of universal ideas about life and society.

ELA9RL3. The student deepens understanding of literary works by relating them to contemporary context or historical background. The student

ELA9RL3.a. Relates a literary work to non-literary documents and/or other texts from its literary period.

ELA9RL3.b. Relates a literary work to non-literary documents and/or other texts relevant to its historical setting.

ELA9RL4. The student employs a variety of writing genres to demonstrate a comprehensive grasp of significant ideas in selected literary works. The student composes essays, narratives, poems, or technical documents. The student

ELA9RL4.a. Demonstrates understanding of significant themes in specific literary works.

ELA9RL4.b. Supports important ideas and viewpoints through accurate and detailed references or allusions to the text.

ELA9RL4.c. Includes a formal works cited or bibliography when applicable.

ELA9RL5. The student understands and acquires new vocabulary and uses it correctly in reading and writing. The student

ELA9RL5.a. Identifies and correctly uses idioms, cognates, words with literal and figurative meanings, and patterns of word changes that indicate different meanings or functions.

ELA9RL5.b. Uses knowledge of Greek and Latin prefixes, suffixes, and roots to understand the meanings of new words.

ELA9RL5.c. Uses general dictionaries, specialized dictionaries, thesauruses, or related references as needed to increase learning.

GA.ELA9RC. Literature and Composition - Reading Across the Curriculum

ELA9RC1. The student reads a minimum of 25 grade-level appropriate books or book equivalents (approximately 1,000,000 words) per year from a variety of subject disciplines. The student reads both informational and fictional texts in a variety of genres and modes of discourse, including technical texts related to various subject areas.

ELA9RC2. The student participates in discussions related to curricular learning in all subject areas. The student

ELA9RC2.a. Identifies messages and themes from books in all subject areas.

ELA9RC2.b. Responds to a variety of texts in multiple modes of discourse.

ELA9RC2.c. Relates messages and themes from one subject area to those in another area.

ELA9RC2.d. Evaluates the merits of texts in every subject discipline.

ELA9RC2.e. Examines the author's purpose in writing.

ELA9RC2.f. Recognizes the features of disciplinary texts.

ELA9RC3. The student acquires new vocabulary in each content area and uses it correctly. The student

ELA9RC3.a. Demonstrates an understanding of contextual vocabulary in various subjects.

ELA9RC3.b. Uses content vocabulary in writing and speaking.

ELA9RC3.c. Explores understanding of new words found in subject area texts.

ELA9RC4. The student establishes a context for information acquired by reading across subject areas. The student

ELA9RC4.a. Explores life experiences related to subject area content.

ELA9RC4.b. Discusses in both writing and speaking how certain words and concepts relate to multiple subjects.

ELA9RC4.c. Determines strategies for finding content and contextual meaning for unfamiliar words or concepts.

ELA9W. Literature and Composition - Writing

ELA9W1. The student produces writing that establishes an appropriate organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a coherent focus throughout, and signals closure. The student

ELA9W1.a. Establishes a clear, distinctive, and coherent thesis or perspective and maintains a consistent tone and focus throughout.

ELA9W1.b. Selects a focus, structure, and point of view relevant to the purpose, genre expectations, audience, length, and format requirements.

ELA9W1.c. Constructs arguable topic sentences, when applicable, to guide unified paragraphs.

ELA9W1.d. Uses precise language, action verbs, sensory details, appropriate modifiers, and active rather than passive voice.

ELA9W1.e. Writes texts of a length appropriate to address the topic or tell the story.

ELA9W1.f. Uses traditional structures for conveying information (e.g., chronological order, cause and effect, similarity and difference, and posing and answering a question).

ELA9W1.g. Supports statements and claims with anecdotes, descriptions, facts and statistics, and specific examples.

ELA9W2. The student demonstrates competence in a variety of genres.

ELA9W2.1. The student produces narrative writing and applies polished narrative strategies acquired in grades 6-8 to other genres of writing such as reflective compositions, historical investigative reports, and literary analyses, by raising the level of critical thinking skills and rhetorical techniques.

ELA9W2.2. The student produces expository (informational) writing to convey information and ideas from primary and secondary sources accurately and coherently; the student:

ELA9W2.2.a. Engages the interest of the reader.

ELA9W2.2.b. Formulates a coherent thesis or controlling idea.

ELA9W2.2.c. Coherently develops the controlling idea and/or supports the thesis by incorporating evidence from at least one secondary source.

ELA9W2.2.d. Follows an organizational pattern appropriate to the type of composition.

ELA9W2.2.e. Attains closure (e.g., by including a detailed summary of the main points, restating the thesis, generalizing the thesis or controlling idea for additional purposes, or employing a significant quotation that brings the argument in the composition together).

ELA9W2.3. The student produces persuasive writing and applies persuasive strategies acquired in previous grades to other genres of writing such as expository compositions, historical investigative reports, and literary analyses, by raising the level of critical thinking skills and rhetorical techniques.

ELA9W2.4. The student produces technical writing that reports technical information and/or conveys ideas clearly, logically, and purposefully to a particular audience; the student:

ELA9W2.4.a. Engages the interest of the reader.

ELA9W2.4.b. Provides clear and purposeful information logically and correctly in order to address an intended audience appropriately.

ELA9W2.4.c. Uses appropriate vocabulary, tone, and style to take into account the nature of the relationship with, and the knowledge and interests of, the recipients.

ELA9W2.4.d. Uses varied levels, patterns, and types of language to achieve intended effects and aid comprehension.

ELA9W2.4.e. Provides detailed and accurate information or specifications to anticipate readers' problems, mistakes, and misunderstandings.

ELA9W2.4.f. Follows style conventions for specific types of documents (e.g., surveys or questionnaires, technical reports, research studies, proposals) and uses page formats, fonts, spacing, highlighting, and images that contribute to the readability and impact of the document.

ELA9W2.4.g. Combines text, images, and sound as well as other information from many sources (e.g., television broadcasts, videos, films, books, newspapers, magazines, CD-ROMs, the Internet, electronic media-generated images).

ELA9W2.4.h. Polishes and refines documents using such aids as advanced publishing software and graphic programs.

ELA9W2.4.i. Provides closure.

ELA9W3. The student uses research and technology to support writing. The student

ELA9W3.a. Formulates clear research questions and utilizes appropriate research venues (e.g., library, electronic media, personal interview, survey) to locate and incorporate evidence from primary and secondary sources.

ELA9W3.b. Uses supporting evidence from multiple sources to develop the main ideas within the body of an essay, composition, or technical document.

ELA9W3.c. Synthesizes information from multiple sources and identifies complexities and discrepancies in the information and the different perspectives found in each medium (e.g., almanacs, microfiche, news sources, in-depth field studies, speeches, journals, or technical documents).

ELA9W3.d. Integrates quotations and citations into a written text while maintaining the flow of ideas.

ELA9W3.e. Uses appropriate conventions for documentation in the text, notes, and bibliographies by adhering to an appropriate style manual (such as Modern Language Association Handbook, The Chicago Manual of Style, Turabian, American Psychological Association, etc.).

ELA9W3.f. Designs and publishes documents, using aids such as advanced publishing software and graphic programs.

ELA9W4. The student practices both timed and process writing and, when applicable, uses the writing process to develop, revise, and evaluate writing. The student

ELA9W4.a. Plans and drafts independently and resourcefully.

ELA9W4.b. Revises writing to improve the logic and coherence of the organization and controlling perspective.

ELA9W4.c. Revises writing for specific audiences, purposes, and formality of the contexts.

ELA9W4.d. Revises writing to sharpen the precision of word choice and achieve desired tone.

ELA9W4.e. Edits writing to improve word choice, grammar, punctuation, etc.

GA.ELA9C. Literature and Composition - Conventions

ELA9C1. The student demonstrates understanding and control of the rules of the English language, realizing that usage involves the appropriate application of conventions and grammar in both written and spoken formats. The student

ELA9C1.a. Demonstrates an understanding of proper English usage and control of grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, diction, and syntax.

ELA9C1.b. Correctly uses clauses (e.g., main and subordinate) and mechanics of punctuation (e.g., end marks, commas, semicolons, and quotation marks).

ELA9C1.c. Demonstrates an understanding of sentence construction (e.g., subordination, proper placement of modifiers) and proper English usage (e.g., consistency of verb tenses).

ELA9C2. The student demonstrates understanding of manuscript form, realizing that different forms of writing require different formats. The student

ELA9C2.a. Produces writing that conforms to appropriate manuscript requirements.

ELA9C2.b. Produces legible work that shows accurate spelling and correct use of the conventions of punctuation and capitalization.

ELA9C2.c. Reflects appropriate format requirements, including pagination, spacing, and margins, and integration of source material with appropriate citations (e.g., in-text citations, use of direct quotations, paraphrase, and summary, and weaving of source and support materials with writer's own words, etc.).

ELA9C2.d. Includes formal works cited or bibliography when applicable.

GA.ELA9LSV. Literature and Composition - Listening, Speaking, and Viewing

ELA9LSV1. The student participates in student-to-teacher, student-to-student, and group verbal interactions. The student

ELA9LSV1.a. Initiates new topics and responds to adult-initiated topics.

ELA9LSV1.b. Asks relevant questions.

ELA9LSV1.c. Responds to questions with appropriate information.

ELA9LSV1.d. Actively solicits another person's comments or opinions.

ELA9LSV1.e. Offers own opinion forcefully without domineering.

ELA9LSV1.f. Volunteers contributions and responds when directly solicited by teacher or discussion leader.

ELA9LSV1.g. Gives reasons in support of opinions expressed.

ELA9LSV1.h. Clarifies, illustrates, or expands on a response when asked to do so; asks classmates for similar expansions.

ELA9LSV1.i. Employs group decision-making techniques such as brainstorming or a problem-solving sequence (e.g., recognizes problem, defines problem, identifies possible solutions, selects optimal solution, implements solution, evaluates solution).

ELA9LSV1.j. Divides labor to achieve the overall group goal efficiently.

ELA9LSV2. The student formulates reasoned judgments about written and oral communication in various media genres. The student delivers focused, coherent, and polished presentations that convey a clear and distinct perspective, demonstrate solid reasoning, and combine traditional rhetorical strategies of narration, exposition, persuasion, and description.

ELA9LSV2.1. When responding to written and oral texts and media (e.g., television, radio, film productions, and electronic media), the student:

ELA9LSV2.1.a. Assesses the ways language and delivery affect the mood and tone of the oral communication and impact the audience.

ELA9LSV2.1.b. Analyzes the types of arguments used by the speaker, including argument by authority, emotion, and logic.

ELA9LSV2.1.c. Formulates judgments about ideas under discussion and supports those judgments with convincing evidence.

ELA9LSV2.1.d. Compares and contrasts the ways in which media genres (e.g., televised news, news magazines, documentaries, online information) cover the same event.

ELA9LSV2.1.e. Creates an appropriate scoring guide to prepare, improve, and assess presentations.

ELA9LSV2.1.f. Develops and applies criteria for assessing the effectiveness of the presentation, style, and content of films and other forms of electronic communication.

ELA9LSV2.1.g. Identifies the aesthetic effects of a media presentation (e.g., layout, lighting, color, camera angles, background, etc.).

ELA9LSV2.1.h. Identifies differences between the voice, tone, and diction used in media presentations (e.g., documentary films, news broadcasts, taped interviews) and informal speech.

ELA9LSV2.2. When delivering and responding to presentations, the student:

ELA9LSV2.2.a. Delivers narrative, expository, or persuasive presentations that incorporate the same elements found in that mode or genre of writing.

ELA9LSV2.2.b. Applies appropriate interviewing techniques (e.g., prepares and asks relevant questions; makes notes of responses; uses language that conveys maturity, sensitivity and respect; responds correctly and effectively to questions).

ELA9LSV2.2.c. Delivers oral responses to literature that incorporate the same elements found in written literary analysis.

ELA9LSV2.2.d. Uses props, visual aids, graphs, or electronic media to enhance the appeal and accuracy of presentations.