CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.9-10.2
The Standard
Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6—12
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students explain a historical event, scientific procedure, experiment, or technical process using accurate facts and subject-specific words. They organize ideas clearly, connect details with transitions, and maintain an objective tone.
What Mastery Looks Like
- The writing has a clear focus, logical order, accurate evidence, and precise subject terms. A reader can understand the event, experiment, or process without needing missing steps explained.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may list facts or steps without explaining how they connect. They may add unsupported opinions, assume readers know technical terms, or copy source wording instead of paraphrasing. Some omit citations or end without tying the explanation together.
How to Assess It
- Give students a diagram and six facts about water treatment. Ask them to write one organized paragraph using accurate details, a technical term, two transitions, and a concluding sentence.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups mixed-up cards showing an experiment, then have them sequence the cards and write a clear explanation of the procedure.
Ask students to explain how cause and effect differ from simple chronology, using a historical event studied in class.
Run a transition sort where students match phrases such as “as a result” and “next” to cause, sequence, or comparison.
Have students write instructions for a school device or routine that a new student could follow without help.
Free download
Printable WHST.9-10.2 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.9-10.2, 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 Writing: History, 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.W.4.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.2
The 7th Grade version of this standard.
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