CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.4
The Standard
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9—10 texts and topics.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6—12
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students figure out what technical words, phrases, and symbols mean within a science or technical passage. They use definitions, examples, diagrams, word parts, and nearby details to confirm each meaning.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can explain a technical term or symbol in their own words and point to evidence in the passage or graphic. They distinguish specialized meanings from everyday meanings and use the terms correctly in new sentences.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may choose the familiar everyday meaning of a word such as force, solution, or cell. They may ignore symbols, rely only on word parts, or copy a glossary definition without checking the passage.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Give students a four-sentence lab procedure containing one bold term and one symbol. Ask them to define both and underline the context clue supporting each meaning.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs a labeled circuit diagram and short manual excerpt, then have them annotate each symbol and term using context clues.
Ask students to explain how the word resistance changes meaning in a physics passage compared with everyday speech.
Play Context Clue Match: students pair technical terms with passage-based meanings, then cite the clue that proves each match.
Use a medication label or appliance manual and have students interpret three abbreviations, symbols, or specialized terms.
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Printable RST.9-10.4 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.4, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetLearning progression
Where This Standard Sits
See the whole path on the Reading: Science & Technical Subjects progression map.
What This Unlocks
Mastery here sets students up for these next.
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.4
Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.4
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.4
Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.
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