1. Targeting the Common Core ELA Standards for Informational Text K-12
A framework for guaranteeing the design and delivery of CCSS aligned literacy curriculum to all students
An Abridged Version
Source: Common Core Standards. (2010). National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers.
Note: This document is provided to schools under the presumption of the Fair Use clause § of Copyright Law, Title 17, U.S. Code. The purpose and character of the CCSS document is intended only for educational purposes and not as a means to limit or redefine the purpose or intent of the original document.

2. College & Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading
1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text. 2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas. 3. Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. 4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone. 5. Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g.,a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole. 6. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text. 7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.* 8. Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence. 9. Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take. 10. Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
College & Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading

3. GRADE 5: Key Ideas and Details
Common Core Standard
Prerequisite Skills
Knowledge
Skills/Reasoning
1. Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Making inferences
Know and apply the use of quotation marks
Analyze the circumstance motivating a selected quotation
Difference between implied and explicit
Identifying the speaker and source of quotations
Explain how a quotation is related/supports an inference drawn
Distinguish between accurate quotation and misquotation
2. Determine two or more main ideas of a text and
explain how they are supported by key details;
summarize the text.
Identify a single main idea text
Identify more than one main idea in a text
Distinguish how details support one idea while other details support a separate idea
Summarize a simple text
Distinguish between obvious details and subtle details
Identify details supporting a main idea
3. Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.
Identify the what and why of certain events, procedures,
Define the term relationship
Define the term interaction
Infer how specific text information builds relationships between individuals, events, concepts, etc.
Identify the cause and effect of concepts, events and procedures
Make literal connections between text clues and interaction, relationships, and/or effects
Identify chronological patterns
Distinguish between historical scientific, and technical texts

4. GRADE 6: Key Ideas and Details
Common Core Standard
Prerequisite Skills
Knowledge
Skills/Reasoning
1. Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
Know and apply the use of quotation marks
Identify titles, author, publisher, date in citations.
Distinguish between published resources: articles, books, electronic media, etc.
Follow a prescribed pattern in developing a citation.
Relate text evidence to an analysis of what the text says explicitly.
Identifying the speaker and source of quotations
Distinguish between accurate quotation and misquotation
Analyze the circumstance motivating a selected quotation
Define analysis
Relate text evidence to inferences drawn from the text.
Explain how a quotation is related/supports an inference drawn
2. Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
Identify more than one main idea in a text
Identify the presence of similar and / or different main ideas among paragraphs in a text
Synthesize the relationships of main ideas to determine a central idea of a text
Distinguish between obvious details and subtle details
Distinguish between personal opinion and literal text references
Distill information from a complex text into a simplified summary.
Distinguish how details support one idea while other details support a separate idea
3. Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).
Define the term relationship
Define the term interaction
Define and identify anecdotes as short narratives
Extend text analysis beyond interactions and relationships to an analysis of how the author introduces, develops, illustrates, and elaborates.
Make literal connections between text clues and interaction, relationships, and/or effects
Infer how specific text information builds relationships between individuals, events, concepts, etc.

5. GRADE 7: Key Ideas and Details
Common Core Standard
Prerequisite Skills
Knowledge
Skills/Reasoning
1. Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
Identify titles, author, publisher, date in citations.
Distinguish between published resources: articles, books, electronic media, etc.
Follow a prescribed pattern in developing a citation.
Gather multiple pieces of text evidence
Use multiple pieces of text evidence to support an analysis of the central idea
Categorize text evidence as relevant, less relevant, irrelevant.
Define analysis
2. Determine two or more central ideas in a text and analyze their development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.
Identify the presence of similar and / or different main ideas among paragraphs in a text
Define the term objective as it applies to interpretation of text.
Distinguish between objective and subjective response
Distinguish between personal opinion and literal text references
Use of objective voice or perspective in providing a summary
Distill information from a complex text into an objective summary.
Identify multiple central ideas within a single text.
Analyze the development of central ideas (more than one) over the course of a text.
3. Analyze the interactions between individuals, events, and ideas in a text (e.g., how ideas influence individuals or events, or how individuals influence ideas or events).
Define and identify anecdotes as short narratives
Define the term “influence” as it applies to nature of a text: social political, scientific systems, etc.
Analyze the consequences and influences of people, events, and time.

6. GRADE 8: Key Ideas and Details
Common Core Standard
Prerequisite Skills
Knowledge
Skills/Reasoning
1. Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
Gather multiple pieces of text evidence .
Interpret explicit and implied meanings
Use multiple pieces of text evidence to support an analysis of the central idea.
Determine the author’s purpose and overall message
Categorize text evidence as relevant, less relevant, irrelevant.
Identify multiple pieces of text evidence to support overall analysis
Evaluate text for the most seeking the most significant or relevant evidence.
2. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Define the term objective as it applies to interpretation of text.
Identify the direct connection between supporting ideas and central ideas.
Analyze how repeated details and ideas build a central idea
Use of objective voice or perspective in providing a summary
Distill information from a complex text into a analytic yet objective summary.
Identify multiple central ideas within a single text.
Distinguish between objective and subjective response
Analyze the development of central ideas (more than one) over the course of a text.
3. Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (e.g., through comparisons, analogies, or categories).
Define the term “influence” as it applies to nature of a text: social political, scientific systems, etc.
Define analogies as forms of comparison
Identify implied comparisons
Analyze how the author connects the literal content of the text to related yet unique examples through a variety of comparisons.
Analyze the consequences and influences of people, events, and time.
Analyze how the author makes a text more understandable through the use of categorization, sometimes unique.

7. GRADE 5: Craft and Structure
Common Core Standard
Prerequisite Skills
Knowledge
Skills/Reasoning
4. Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.
Identify novel words
Recognize the multiple meaning of words
Distinguish between academic or discipline related words and general mature vocabulary
Fluent use of the dictionary
Fluent use of a glossary
Fluent use of thesaurus
5. Compare and contrast the overall structure (chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/ solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in two or more texts.
Identify the structure of a text
(paragraph or overall text structure)
Identify the structure of paragraphs within a text
Chronological
Comparison
Contrast
Cause/Effect
Problem/Solution
Compare 2 or more texts to identify similarities in text structure: events, ideas, concepts, and/or information.
Identify the overall structure of a text
Contrast 2 or more texts to identify differences in text structure: events, ideas, concepts, and/or information.
6. Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the point of view they represent.
Identify various points of view: author, self, and third-person accounts
Identify the perspective or point of view an author presented through a text
Compare how two different authors develop their perspectives and/or approach on a similar topic
Recognize similarities and differences among authors’ approaches to the same event or topic.

8. GRADE 6: Craft and Structure
Common Core Standard
Prerequisite Skills
Knowledge
Skills/Reasoning
4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.
Identify novel words
Recognize the multiple meaning of words
Define denotation
Define connotation
Infer the relationship of context clues to novel words in meaning making.
Distinguish between academic or discipline related words and general mature vocabulary
Identify figurative language
Metaphor
Simile
Fluent use of the dictionary
Fluent use of a glossary
Fluent use of thesaurus
Identify and use context clues
Comparison
Contrast
Appositive
Example
General Inference
Identify and use affixes
5. Analyze how a particular sentence, paragraph, chapter, or section fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the ideas.
Identify the structure of paragraphs within a text
Chronological
Cause/Effect
Problem/Solution
Identify transition words and relate those words to their function in a text
However
Nevertheless
Therefore
Because
Analyze the influence of individual elements of text by selecting specific sentences, paragraphs, quotations, etc. and explain their function to the text structure.
Identify the overall structure of a text
Identify the absence and presence of punctuation and its influence on meaning.
Compare 2 or more texts to identify similarities in text structure: events, ideas, concepts, and/or information.
Contrast 2 or more texts to identify differences in text structure: events, ideas, concepts, and/or information.
6. Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.
Identify the perspective or point of view an author presented through a text
Define and identify narrative writing, expository writing, persuasive writing
Analyze text passages or phrases to determine the author’s purpose
Recognize similarities and differences among authors’ approaches to
Explain the author’s technique or methods in achieving his/her purpose.
Compare how two different authors develop their perspectives and/or approach on a similar topic

9. GRADE 7: Craft and Structure
Common Core Standard
Prerequisite Skills
Knowledge
Skills/Reasoning
4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
Define denotation
Define connotation
Identify and use affixes
Define tone
Define diction
Analyze how word choice impacts or affects meaning and tone
Identify figurative language
Metaphor
Simile
Identify and use context clues
Comparison
Contrast
Appositive
Example
General Inference
5. Analyze the structure an author uses to organize a text, including how the major sections contribute to the whole and to the development of the ideas.
Identify transition words and relate those words to their function in a text
However
Nevertheless
Therefore
Because
Define cohesion
Analyze and explain how the beginning, middle, and end as well as illustrations and graphic sources contribute to the overall effect or message of the text.
Identify the absence and presence of punctuation and its influence on meaning.
Analyze the influence of individual elements of text by selecting specific sentences, paragraphs, quotations, etc. and explain their function to the text structure.
6. Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author
distinguishes his or her position from that of others.
Define and identify narrative writing, expository writing, persuasive writing
Analyze how the author distinguishes his/her position from that of others.
Analyze text passages or phrases to determine the author’s purpose
Explain the author’s technique or methods in achieving his/her purpose.

10. GRADE 8: Craft and Structure
Common Core Standard
Prerequisite Skills
Knowledge
Skills/Reasoning
4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
Define tone
Define diction
Define analogies
Analyze the relationships of words and ideas as expressed in analogies
Analyze how word choice impacts or affects meaning and tone
Define allusions
Make connections across texts and make inferences about the relationships between texts.
Analyze the effect of word choice or diction on tone.
5. Analyze in detail the structure of a specific paragraph in a text, including the role of particular sentences in developing and refining a key concept.
Define cohesion
Identify the function of opening sentences in a paragraph.
Identify the function of mid-paragraph sentences.
Identify the function of closing sentences in a paragraph.
Examine the component pieces of a significant or well-crafted paragraph to analyze the continuity of the paragraph’s overall structure.
Analyze and explain how the beginning, middle, and end as well as illustrations and graphic sources contribute to the overall effect or message of the text.
Identify the function and effect of transition words within a paragraph.
Identify the function and effect of punctuation within a paragraph.
6. Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or view-points.
Analyze how the author distinguishes his/her position from that of others.
Define conflicting viewpoints.
Recognize the author’s acknowledgement of conflicting viewpoints
Analyze how the author presents alternative points of view without diminishing the strength of their own argument or perspective.

11. GRADE 5: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
Common Core Standard
Prerequisite Skills
Knowledge
Skills/Reasoning
7. Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.
Define multi-media
Know the vocabulary of digital media
Generate multiple search terms for a single concept
Develop a problem-solving plan or strategy
Broaden and/or narrow topic search terms
Avoid distraction: focus on pertinent rather than tempting/interesting information
Implement a problem solving plan
Demonstrate flexibility in adjusting problem solving plan as necessary
8. Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).
Complete an graphic organizer that makes a correspondence between details/reasons and major points
Categorize or align reasons as details or evidence in an author’s argument
Categorize or align details as support or evidence in an author’s explanation
9. Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
Complete a graphic organizer that illustrates the similarities and differences between several texts, i.e. Venn diagram
Synthesize information from graphic organizer or text into a thesis or topic statement
Use discipline-appropriate vocabulary as gathered from the text or other sources
Organize information in a logical manner to support thesis or topic sentence
Present with grade level maturity (spoken or written presentation).

12. GRADE 6: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
Common Core Standard
Prerequisite Skills
Knowledge
Skills/Reasoning
7. Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent
understanding of a topic or issue.
Define multi-media
Know the vocabulary of digital media
Define Integrate
Define formats
Develop a problem-solving plan or strategy
Generate multiple search terms for a single concept
Use tools for taking notes: i.e. T-notes, Cornell notes, outline, etc.
Synthesize gathered information to show full understanding of a topic in a variety of formats: written, visual, oral, multi-media
Broaden and/or narrow topic search terms
Avoid distraction: focus on pertinent rather than tempting/interesting information
Implement a problem solving plan
Demonstrate flexibility in adjusting problem solving plan as necessary
8. Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.
Complete an graphic organizer that makes a correspondence between details/reasons and major points
Define argument
Define claim
Define reasons
Categorize reasons and claims
Categorize or align reasons as details or evidence in an author’s argument
Distinguish a claim from a reason
Distinguish claims that are supported by reasons
Distinguish claims that lack support
Categorize or align details as support or evidence in an author’s explanation
Evaluate the strength of a reason or evidence that supports a claim

13. 9. Compare and contrast one author’s presentation of events with that of another (e.g., a memoir written by and a biography on the same person).
Complete a graphic organizer that illustrates the similarities and differences between several texts, i.e. Venn diagram
Define memoir; distinguish from biography and autobiography
Use discipline-appropriate vocabulary as gathered from the text or other sources
Distinguish similarities and differences in the details presented by two authors on a single topic , event, etc.
Synthesize information from graphic organizer or text into a thesis or topic statement
Organize information in a logical manner to support thesis or topic sentence
Present with grade level maturity (spoken or written presentation).

14. GRADE 7: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
Common Core Standard
Prerequisite Skills
Knowledge
Skills/Reasoning
7. Compare & contrast a text to an audio, video, or multimedia version of the text, analyzing each medium’s portrayal of the subject (e.g., how the delivery of a speech affects the impact of the words).
Define integrate
Define formats
Define medium
List the various media available
Analyze the importance of context to the interpretation or understanding of an audio, video, or multimedia version of a text
Use tools for taking notes: i.e. T-notes, Cornell notes, outline, etc.
Define the tools of rhetoric in speechmaking
Verbal: word choice, tone, pace and pause, etc.
Nonverbal: facial expression, body language, etc.
Analyze the importance of rhetorical device to the delivery and interpretation/ understanding of an audio, video, or multimedia version of a text
Synthesize gathered information to show full understanding of a topic in a variety of formats: written, visual, oral, multi-media
Identify tools of rhetoric as they are demonstrated by speech makers
8. Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient to support the claims.
Define argument
Define claim
Define reasons
Define adjectives describing strong arguments: sound, relevant, sufficient, and valid
Sort evidence by validity and strength or pointless and weak.
Distinguish a claim from a reason
Evaluate the validity, relevance, soundness of reasons supporting a claim
Categorize reasons and claims
Distinguish claims that are supported by reasons
Distinguish claims that lack support
Evaluate the strength of a reason or evidence that supports a claim

15. 9. Analyze how two or more authors writing about the same topic shape their presentations of key information by emphasizing different evidence or advancing different interpretations of facts
Define memoir; distinguish from biography and autobiography
Evaluate multiple presentations on a similar topic to determine/distinguish author’s purpose
Distinguish similarities and differences in the details presented by two authors on a single topic , event, etc.
Identify apparent differences between the presentations of two or more authors in the same or different media,
Analyze the differences noted to determine the author’s motive and/or the effect on the overall message.
Author’s purpose

16. GRADE 8: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
Common Core Standard
Prerequisite Skills
Knowledge
Skills/Reasoning
7. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using
different mediums (e.g., print or digital text, video, multimedia) to present a particular topic or idea.
Define medium
List the various media available
Identify the apparent differences of the similar topic/ideas as presented in different mediums
Define the tools of rhetoric in speechmaking
Verbal: word choice, tone, pace and pause, etc.
Nonverbal: facial expression, body language, etc.
Define advantage and disadvantage as terms relating to academic or discipline related applications and not merely personal taste or preference.
Identify tools of rhetoric as they are demonstrated by speech makers
Recognize genre and medium choices that are determined by content and audience to be reached.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the medium in presenting the idea to the intended audience
Analyze the importance of context to the interpretation or understanding of an audio, video, or multimedia version of a text
Analyze the importance of rhetorical device to the delivery and interpretation/ understanding of an audio, video, or multimedia version of a text

17. 8. Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.
Define sound, relevant, sufficient, and valid
Define irrelevant
Define sufficient
Distinguish between relevant and irrelevant evidence presented in support of an argument
Sort evidence by validity and strength or pointless and weak.
Note the authority of evidence provided to support an argument or claim, i.e., author’s reliability, timeliness of data, etc.
Evaluate the credibility of evidence provided to support an argument or claim
Evaluate the validity, relevance, soundness of reasons supporting a claim
Note the degree of evidence provided to support an argument or claim
Evaluate the sufficiency of evidence provided to support an argument or claim
9. Analyze a case in which two or more texts provide conflicting information on the same topic and identify where the texts disagree on matters of fact or interpretation.
Identify apparent differences between the presentations of two or more authors in the same or different media,
Distinguish between fact, opinion
Define interpretation
Examine how an author’s viewpoint impacts his/her interpretation of facts and opinions
Evaluate multiple presentations on a similar topic to determine/distinguish author’s purpose
Define rhetorical devices of writing
Sensationalism
Yellow journalism
Loaded language
Evaluate the purpose of author’s use of rhetorical devices in the presentation of an argument.
Analyze the differences noted to determine the author’s motive and/or the effect on the overall message.