CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.9
The Standard
Compare and contrast one author's presentation of events with that of another (e.g., a memoir written by and a biography on the same person).
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Informational Text
What This Standard Means
Students need to read two nonfiction texts about the same event or person and notice how each writer shapes the story. They should track what details are included, what is left out, the order of events, word choice, tone, and point of view.
Mastery looks like a student saying, “Both texts describe the same moment, but one makes it feel personal, while the other sounds more factual,” then proving it with evidence from both texts. Students often get stuck summarizing both pieces instead of comparing how the authors present the information.
Ways to Teach It
- Give pairs a memoir excerpt and biography excerpt, then have them color-code shared facts, unique details, and tone words.
- Ask students to write: Which author seems closer to the event, and how can you tell from the text?
- Use an exit ticket with one shared fact, one difference in presentation, and one quoted phrase from each text.
- Compare two news articles about the same school event, then discuss how headline, details, and word choice change the reader’s view.
Before This Standard
If students are struggling here, check these first.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.9
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What This Unlocks
Mastery here sets students up for these next.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.9
Compare and contrast the themes, settings, and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters (e.g., in books from a series).
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.6
Compare and contrast a firsthand and secondhand account of the same event or topic; describe the differences in focus and the information provided.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.6
Compare the point of view of two or more authors for how they treat the same or similar topics, including which details they include and emphasize in their resp...