10th Grade Essential Skills

Targeted Skill / Question / Power Standard / Performance Tasks
Connotation / In the sentence, how does the connotation of the words reflect the attitude on ____? Cite strong and thorough textual evidence. / RI 1
W 1, 2, 4, 5
Supporting Details / How does the author introduce additional depth to the conflict between ______and ______? Cite strong and thorough textual evidence. / RI 1
W 1, 2, 4, 5
Essential Idea
(Key Idea) / Which statement summarizes the central / essential idea of the selection?
How does the author connect ideas in the selection?
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence. / RI 1, 2
W 1, 2, 4, 5
Objective Summary / What is an objective summary of the selection? Cite strong and thorough textual evidence.
How could you summarize the text without showing bias? / RI 1, 2
W 1, 2, 4, 5
Impact of Statement / What is the significance of the statement below from ___? Cite strong and thorough textual evidence. / RI 1
W 1, 2, 4, 5
Words in Context / In ___, what effect does the word “___” have on the selection?
Based on ___, what does the author mean when he/she uses the word “___?”
In line ___, what is the meaning of the phrase, “______?”
In the selection, the use of the word “___” conveys ___ about character X?
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence.
How does the specific language used by the author reflect the context of the text?
Based on the use of the word in the sentence, what can you deduce the word ___ means? / RL 4
RI 1
L 3, 4, 6
W 1, 2, 4, 5
Knowledge of Language
(Synonyms / Antonyms) / Which lines support the theme? Use textual evidence to support your answer.
What is the effect of the phrase below from ___ on the overall selection?
Based on the context of ___, which of the following could serve as a(n) synonym/antonym for ___?
Which group of words conveys the author’s attitude about the topic?
In the excerpt ___, why does the author choose to end the selection with a rhetorical question?
When the author states that ___, evaluate the impact this statement has on ___.
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence.
What effect do repeated grammatical patterns have on the reader’s understanding of the material? / RL 1, 2, 4
RI 1, 4
L 1, 2
W 1, 2, 4, 5
Author’s Craft / What does the speaker achieve with the description of ___?
How does the description of ___ develop the theme of the selection?
How does the author unfold her ideas about ___?
How does the author use language to advance his/her point of view? / RL 5
RI 6
W 1, 3, 4, 5
Imagery / How does the author use imagery to impact the mood? / W 1, 3, 4, 5
Comparisons / Using ___ and ___ (lines), compare the effect each has on the overall meaning of the text.
Compare characters ___ and ___ and evaluate the effect each has on developing the theme of the text.
How do ___ (medium) and ___ (medium) compare? How are they different? What is emphasized or absent in each treatment? / RL 7
W 1, 2, 4, 5
Figurative Language
(Effects of) / Which statement describes the connotation between the selection and the ___ (figurative language) both at the same time?
How does the use of personification help develop the setting?
What is the meaning of the ___ (figurative language) in the paragraph below?
What is the effect of the ___ (figurative language) in the sentences below?
What figure of speech does the author use and for what purpose? Does this figure of speech improve the reader’s understanding of the text? / RL 4
L 5
W 1, 4, 5
Role of the Narrator / How does the speaker’s cultural background affect her perception of ______?
How does the speaker’s point of view affect her impression of ____?
How does the author use the role of the narrator to enhance / emphasize ___?
How does the speaker change from the first to last stanzas/paragraphs of the ___? / RL5
W 1, 4, 5
Role of the Author / Which details best point to the author’s discovery of ___? Cite strong and thorough textual evidence. / RI 1
W 1, 4, 5
Author vs. Narrator / Which section of the text reveals that the author is also the narrator?
Which section of the text reveals that the author is not the narrator? / W 1, 4, 5
Point of View / How does the author’s use of third-person point of view reinforce the reader’s understanding of ___’s internal conflict?
What viewpoints does the author emphasize or not emphasize? Use examples from the text.
After reading and analyzing texts about ___, what additional information can be gained by viewing and analyzing other mediums relevant to ___? / RL 6, 9
RI 1, 7
SL 3
W 1, 4, 5
Conflict / How does the author introduce additional depth to the conflict between ___ and ___? / W 1, 4, 5
Argumentation / How does the following sentence from paragraph ___ contribute to the development and refinement of the author’s claim? Cite strong and thorough textual evidence.
Is the reasoning of the author’s specific claims valid and is the evidence relevant and sufficient to support the claim? Cite strong and thorough textual evidence.
How will you use key evidence to support your claim?
Is this source of information credible or accurate? Cite strong and thorough textual evidence. / RI 1, 5, 8
SL 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
W 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
Making Inferences / What can be inferred from ___ (paragraph/line)? Cite strong and thorough textual evidence.
What assumptions can the reader make about ___? Cite strong and thorough textual evidence.
What can be inferred from the author’s focus on ___? Cite strong and thorough textual evidence. / RI 1
W 1, 2, 4, 5
Structure / Text Organization / How does the author structure the text?
What is the significance of the structure?
What is the purpose of beginning the selection with ___ and then moving to ___?
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence.
How does the author introduce, develop, and draw connections between ideas and events? Use examples from the text in your analysis. / RL 5
RI 1, 3
W 1, 2, 4, 5
Poetic Devices / How does the author’s use of rhyme scheme enhance the theme of the poem? / W 1, 4, 5
Characterization / What is one possible reason why character X does ___(action)?
What does character X’s reaction to ___ (action) reveal about his/her character?
How do character X’s feelings about ___ help develop the theme of the selection?
How does the development of character X over the course of the text advance the plot? Use examples from the text. / RL 3
W 1, 4, 5
Implied Meaning / What is implied from the sentence of paragraph ___?
What does the author mean when she describes ___ as “___?”
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence. / RI 1
W 1, 2, 4, 5

L. Talton, P. Morse - 2013