South Dakota ELA 9-10.RI.4
The Standard
Distinguish among figurative, connotative, and technical meanings. Analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper).
South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students read an article or opinion and explain what comparisons, emotionally charged words, and field-specific terms mean in context. They show how several choices add up to a tone, such as cautious or urgent.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can explain why 'a flood of complaints' is figurative, 'crackdown' sounds harsher than 'enforcement,' and 'injunction' has a legal meaning. They can point to two or three word choices that support their reading of a passage’s tone.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may assume any unfamiliar word is a technical term or treat 'crackdown' and 'enforcement' as having the same feel. They may read 'a flood of complaints' literally or judge tone from one word alone.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: 'After a flood of complaints, the city called the plant's emissions reckless, and a judge issued an injunction.' Ask students to classify 'flood,' 'reckless,' and 'injunction,' then explain how the word choices shape the sentence’s tone.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Print two phone-ban lines, 'The policy violates student rights' and 'The ban sparks anger'; pairs highlight words that set each tone.
Ask why 'crackdown' sounds harsher than 'enforcement' in a news report about school rules; have students write two sentences explaining the difference.
Run a timed card sort with 'a flood of emails,' 'reckless decision,' and 'injunction'; students sort them by type of meaning.
Use a city boil-water notice and a news headline about it; students circle precise safety terms and words that create urgency.
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Related Standards
- 11-12.RI.4
Interpret figurative, connotative, and technical meanings. Analyze how an author uses and refines key term(s) as they shape meaning or tone.
- 11-12.RL.4
Interpret the impact of specific word choices and figurative language on meaning, mood, and tone, including words with multiple meanings (e.g., connotation, jar...
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