• identify meanings of a variety of words using a variety of strategies;
• demonstrate understanding of what they read using a variety of strategies, such as making inferences, predictions, and generalizations; drawing conclusions; determining cause/effect relationships; and reasoning inductively and deductively;
• interpret and compare/contrast complex story elements, literary devices, ideas, and an author’s purpose and viewpoint;
• use knowledge of the distinctive characteristics of various genres to interpret elements;
• research a topic by selecting and analyzing information from multiple print and electronic sources;
• identify accurate parenthetical citations and bibliographic entries using a model;
• use analytical, critical, and/or creative thinking in response to a writing task;
• construct a response with a central idea, logical organization, relevant elaboration, and varied, effective transitions;
• demonstrate an awareness of audience through varied vocabulary and sentence structure; and
• demonstrate reasonable command of sentence formation, usage, mechanics, and spelling.

• identify meanings of grade-level words using various strategies;
• demonstrate understanding of what they read by identifying ideas and information from texts using various strategies such as sequencing; making simple inferences, predictions, and generalizations; drawing conclusions; and identifying stated cause/effect relationships;
• identify and compare story elements, literary devices, main ideas, and an author’s purpose and viewpoint;
• identify the distinctive characteristics of various genres;
• research a topic by selecting relevant information from a variety of print and electronic sources;
• identify accurate bibliographic entries using a model;
• demonstrate some evidence of critical and/or creative thinking in response to a writing task;
• construct a response with a central idea, some conscious organization, some supporting information, and simple transitions;
• demonstrate audience awareness through some variety in vocabulary and sentence structure; and
• demonstrate partial command of sentence formation, usage, mechanics, and spelling.

English Language Arts Grade 9 Final

• identify meanings of commonly used words;
• demonstrate partial understanding of what they read using strategies such as identifying simple sequences, drawing simple conclusions, making predictions and simple generalizations, and identifying stated cause/effect relationships;
• identify simple literary elements, devices, main ideas, and an author’s stated purpose;
• research a topic by locating and selecting some information from print and electronic sources;
• identify accurate bibliographic entries for commonly used sources using a model;
• demonstrate a limited response to a writing task;
• construct a response with a weak central idea, some evidence of organization, minimal details, and few transitions;
• demonstrate a limited awareness of audience through selection of simple or inappropriate vocabulary, and lack of sentence variety; and
• demonstrate little or no command of sentence formation, usage, mechanics, and spelling.

• demonstrate an understanding of what they read;
• identify simple story or literary elements, and elements of an author’s style;
• make simple or broad connections between texts and personal experiences;
• locate information in commonly used sources;
• develop an appropriate response to a writing task;
• construct a response with a focused central idea, an observable organizational pattern, and sufficient supporting details;
• show audience awareness through use of appropriate vocabulary, varied sentence structure, and personal style; and
• demonstrate acceptable command of sentence formation, usage, mechanics, and spelling.