South Dakota ELA 9-10.RST.6
The Standard
Analyze how the author’s purpose or point of view shapes the style and content when providing an explanation, describing a procedure, or discussing an experiment in a text.
South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025) · Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students figure out why someone wrote a science or technical text and what view the writer takes. They explain how that choice affects the wording and the details included.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given a lab procedure and an experiment summary, students can explain why one uses commands while the other presents measurements and careful claims. They point to a phrase or detail in each text as evidence.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may confuse a writer's point of view with the use of first-person pronouns. They may spot a warning or measurement without explaining why the writer included it.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Read, "Wear goggles before adding vinegar; record the gas volume every 30 seconds." Explain why the writer uses commands and includes both a warning and a measurement step.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Have pairs test two paper towels with measured water, then write a lab note for scientists and an instruction card for classmates.
Ask: Why does a lab report include measurements while a safety card uses commands? Write two sentences using an example from each.
Give teams four cards: a procedure, a product claim, a lab report, and an explanation. Have them sort by purpose and defend one word choice.
Compare a thermometer manual with an online product review; students circle safety warnings and opinions, then explain why each writer included them.
Free download
Printable 9-10.RST.6 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 9-10.RST.6, 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 worksheetKeep exploring
Related Standards
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.
Also for this standard:Make a WorksheetMake a QuizMake a Sub Lesson