Virginia SOL 4.RI.2

4.RI.2 is a Standards of Learning standard. These are the knowledge and skills expectations under it.

• 4.RI.2.A

  Explain how authors select an organizational pattern (e.g., cause/effect, comparison/contrast, problem/solution) using transitional words and phrases to support...

• 4.RI.2.B

  Apply knowledge of text features and search tools in multiple print and digital sources to locate and categorize information efficiently and gain meaning.

• 4.RI.2.C

  Explain the author’s purpose for writing, including what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe based on the connections between particular sentences ...

01

What Students Need to Do

Students identify how an informational text is organized and use transition words as evidence. They explain how that structure helps the author answer, explain, or describe something. They use headings, indexes, menus, hyperlinks, and search tools to find and sort information across print and digital sources.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

Students correctly name a pattern such as cause and effect, comparison and contrast, or problem and solution. They cite connected sentences, paragraphs, and transitions to explain the author’s purpose. They quickly locate relevant details in more than one source and sort them into useful categories.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students often name a pattern from one signal word without checking how the whole text is built. They may confuse topic with purpose, naming volcanoes rather than explaining what the author wants readers to understand. They may trust the first search result or mistake decorative images for useful text features.

04

How to Assess It

Give students a two-paragraph article with a heading, one transition, and a linked source. Ask them to name the pattern, underline evidence, state the author’s purpose, and locate one related fact through the link.

1. 01

   Give pairs sentence strips from a cause-and-effect article; have them order the strips and label transitions that reveal the pattern.

2. 02

   Ask students to write: How do two connected paragraphs help the author explain the topic, and which words show that connection?

3. 03

   Play Structure Sort: teams match short passages, transition cards, and purpose cards, then defend each match with one sentence.

4. 04

   Use park websites and brochures to plan a class visit, sorting facts into hours, costs, rules, and activities.

• 12.RI.2

  The 12th Grade version of this standard.

• 9.RI.2

  The 9th Grade version of this standard.

• 5.RL.2

  The 5th Grade version of this standard.

• 3.RL.2

  The 3rd Grade version of this standard.