Sample ELA Resources for California

Using the newspaper column that inspired the memoir Marley and Me, students learn to identify and interpret textual evidence. (CCSS focus on RI.6.1, RI.6.3­6.6, RI.6.8, W.6.9; also addresses W.6.2, W.6.10, L.6.5­6.6)  

Using a statement about marketing practices posted on the website of Mars, a candy company, students learn to evaluate online content and distinguish between primary and secondary sources. (CCSS focus on W.7.2, W.7.8, RI.7.1, RI.7.6; also addresses W.7.7, SL.7.2, SL.7.6)

Using Ray Bradbury’s short story “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh,” students are introduced to narrative techniques before drafting a “hero’s journey” narrative of their own.(CCSS focus on RL.8.3­8.4, W.8.3; also addresses RL.8.1-8.2, RL.8.10, W.8.3­8.4, W.8.10, L.8.4)

Using a coming of age story by Eugenia Collier, students reinforce their understanding of voice, inference, flashback, and juxtaposition. (CCRS focus on RL.9¬10.5, RL.9¬10.3, RL.9¬10.4; also addresses RL.9–10.1, RL.9–10.10, W.9–10.2a, W.9–10.2b, W.9–10.2c, W.9–10.2d, W.9–10.2f, W.9–10.4, W.9–10.5, L.9–10.4a, L.9–10.5b, L.9–10.6)

Using an essay by “Ace of Spades” author David Matthews, students examine narrative pacing techniques including word choices, sentence lengths, and use of descriptive details. (CCRS focus on RI.9¬10.1, W.9¬10.3b, L.9¬10.2; also addresses W.9–10.3a, W.9–10.3c, W.9–10.3d, W.9–10.4,
W.9–10.9; W.9–10.10; SL.9–10.1a; SL.9–10.1c, SL.9–10.6, L.9–10.2a, L.9–10.4, L.9–10.6)

Using a Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” speech and The Bill of Rights, students compare how the same theme is treated in different texts and analyze the use of rhetorical devices. (CCRS focus on RI.11¬12.2, RI.11¬12.4, RI.11¬12.8, RI.11¬12.9, SL.11¬12.1, SL.11¬12.1a, SL.11¬12.1d; also addresses RI.11–12.1, RI.11–12.6, RI.11–12.10, SL.11–12.1c, SL.11–12.1d)

Using an excerpt from Amy Tan’s novel “The Joy Luck Club” and a clip from the film of the same name, students explore the theme of being “a stranger in the village” before writing an essay based on an analogous experience. (CCRS focus on W.11¬12.5, SL.11-12.4a; also addresses RL.11–12.1, RL.11–12.3, RL.11–12.10, W.11–12.3b, W.11–12.10, L.11–12.5b)

Using an excerpt from a book of literary nonfiction, grade 9 students practice SOAPSTone and other close reading strategies.

Using a rebuttal letter written by Adlai Stevenson, students progress from reading and analyzing an argumentative text to writing one themselves.