CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.9a

ELA4th GradeResearch to Build and Present Knowledge

The Standard

Apply grade 4 Reading standards to literature (e.g., "Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text [e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions].").

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts

What This Standard Means

Students need to use what they know from reading literature to write about it clearly. They should describe a character, setting, or event in depth, then support each point with exact details from the story, such as actions, thoughts, dialogue, or narration.

Mastery looks like a paragraph or short response that makes a clear point, names specific text evidence, and explains how the evidence supports the idea. Students often get stuck retelling the whole plot, using vague evidence, or dropping in a quote without explaining why it matters.

Ways to Teach It

  • Give pairs a character evidence chart with columns for thoughts, words, actions, and what each detail shows.
  • Ask students to write: How does the main character change, and which two details prove it?
  • Use an exit ticket with one claim about a setting and two exact details from the text.
  • Connect to movie reviews by having students explain a character using one scene and one line of dialogue.

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What This Unlocks

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

Related Standards

Standard text verified against corestandards.org on July 10, 2026.

Page updated July 10, 2026.

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