NY Next Generation ELA 9-10R4

ELAGrades 9–10Craft and Structure

The Standard

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings. Analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning, tone, and mood. Examine technical or key terms and how language differs across genres. (RI&RL)

New York State Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards

Teacher's field guide

What This Standard Means

What Students Need to Do

Students determine contextual, figurative, and connotative meanings and analyze their effects on meaning, tone, and mood. They examine technical or key terms and language differences across genres.

What Mastery Looks Like

The student interprets precise language with strong contextual evidence and analyzes its effect. The student explains how genre changes diction, terminology, or figurative choices.

Common Misconceptions

Students may define terms without considering rhetorical or literary effect. They may compare genres by topic while ignoring differences in language use.

How to Assess It

Give literary and informational excerpts on a related subject. Ask students to analyze one key term or phrase in each and compare the language’s effects.

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

  1. Annotate denotation, connotation, figurative meaning, and technical language in two genre samples.

  2. Ask students how genre changes what counts as precise or effective language.

  3. Play Language Effect Sort with quotations, genres, meanings, tones, and moods.

  4. Compare technical and public-facing explanations of the same scientific issue.

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