Kentucky Reading and Writing C.9-10.3.e

ELAGrades 9–10Composition

The Standard

C.9-10.3: Use narratives strategically in other modes of writing, utilizing effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured sequences for an intended purpose, including but not limited to introducing an idea and/or supporting a claim.

Use precise words and phrases, telling details

Kentucky Academic Standards for Reading and Writing (2025) · Text Types and Purpose

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students choose words that let readers picture a specific moment. They add details that help readers understand what happened, then cut details that distract.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can change “She went outside” to “She hurried onto the porch, pulling her coat tight against the rain.” The added words make the action and setting clear without slowing the story down.
Common Misconceptions: Students may use fancy words that do not fit the scene. They may pile on details that do not help readers picture the moment, or name a feeling without showing what caused it.
How to Assess It: Give students the sentence “I was nervous when I opened the door.” Ask them to rewrite it in two sentences using a clear action and one detail a reader can picture.

Lesson moves

Place an object in a paper bag; students feel it and write three details a partner could use to identify it.
Compare “I was scared” with “My hands shook at the doorknob”; ask which line makes the moment easier to picture and why.
Put six vague sentences on cards; partners take turns replacing weak verbs and adding one useful detail.
Have students write a lost-item notice for the school office, using details that would help someone recognize the item.

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