CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.9
The Standard
Compare and contrast findings presented in a text to those from other sources (including their own experiments), noting when the findings support or contradict previous explanations or accounts.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6—12
What This Standard Means
Students need to read a science or technical text and compare its findings with another source, such as a lab result, data table, video, article, or class experiment. They should name what matches, what differs, and what that means for the explanation being studied.
Mastery looks like a student using evidence from both sources to explain agreement or conflict. They do not just say “same” or “different.” They point to data, methods, conditions, or wording. Common trouble spots are confusing claims with findings, ignoring numbers, and treating any difference as a contradiction without checking context.
Ways to Teach It
- Give students a short article on plant growth and their own class lab data, then have them fill a two-column evidence comparison chart.
- Ask students to write: Which source gives the stronger explanation, the text or our data, and what evidence supports your choice?
- Use an exit ticket with one claim, one text finding, and one data result, then ask students to label support or contradiction.
- Have students compare a nutrition label claim with a lab-style report or trusted database entry about the same ingredient.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.9
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.RST.11-12.8
Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions in a science or technical text, verifying the data when possible and corroborating or challenging concl...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.9
Compare and contrast the information gained from experiments, simulations, video, or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a text on the same topic.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.1
Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to important distinctions the author makes and to any gaps or incon...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.9
Compare and contrast the most important points presented by two texts on the same topic.