CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.2
The Standard
Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6—12
What This Standard Means
Students need to identify the main ideas in a history or social studies text, not just pull out interesting facts. They also need to track how the author builds those ideas through events, claims, causes, or evidence across the whole source.
Mastery looks like a short, accurate summary that names the central idea and explains how it develops from beginning to end. Students often get stuck by copying sentences, listing details in order, or treating the first paragraph as the main idea without checking the full text.
Ways to Teach It
- Hands-on: Give students a printed primary source and have them highlight one central idea in yellow and three supporting moments in blue.
- Prompt: Write a three-sentence summary explaining the main idea, how it starts, and how it changes or grows by the end.
- Quick assessment: Show a short excerpt and ask students to choose the best central idea from four options, then underline proof.
- Real-world connection: Use a news explainer on a current policy issue and have students track how the main claim is developed.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.2
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
What This Unlocks
Mastery here sets students up for these next.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2
Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.2
Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text's explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurat...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.2
Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; provide an accurate summary of the text distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.