• GRADE 9

     

    The Penn-Delco School District’s Secondary Language Arts Curriculum is based on the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.

     

    A.   Students in Grade 9 who meet the reading standards are able to:

    • Identify, evaluate and analyze differences in format among various informational sources.
    • Use context clues to expand their reading vocabulary by identifying and correctly using new words.
    • Demonstrate understanding and interpretation of both fiction and non-fiction text by comparing, contrasting, making inferences and doing critiques.
    • Continue to demonstrate fluency and comprehension.
    • Read and understand essential content of information in texts and documents in all academic areas.
    • Use and understand a variety of media and evaluate the quality of the material.
    • Read works of literature and analyze using literary elements such as characterization, plot, setting, theme, point of view, voice and tone.
    • Analyze the literary elements used by one or more authors in similar genres.
    • Analyze literary devices including rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, meter, personification, simile, hyperbole, metaphor, irony, satire, foreshadowing and flashback.
    • Analyze and evaluate poetry in terms of diction, irony, understatement, overstatement and paradox.
    • Read and analyze drama.

     

    B.   Students in Grade 9 who meet the writing standards are able to:

    • Write original short stories, poems and plays using literary conflict, dialogue and literary elements.
    • Write complex informational pieces including research papers, analyses, evaluations and essays.
    • Write persuasive pieces including a clearly stated position, convincing arguments, an anticipated counter argument and a strong conclusion.
    • Write a personal resume.
    • Write with a distinct focus identifying topic, task and audience.
    • Write well developed content with details specific and relevant to the topic.
    • Write with logical organization.
    • Write with attention to stylistic aspects of composition such as sentence length and variety, precise language, voice and tone.
    • Revise writing to improve content, organization and style.
    • Edit writing to reflect correctness in conventions of language: spelling, punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure and parts of speech.

     

    C.   Students in Grade 9 who meet the speaking and listening standards are able to:

    • Listen to others, ask clarifying questions, synthesize information and take notes.
    • After listening to selections of fiction and non-fiction, predict solutions, relate to prior knowledge, summarize what has been heard and identify new words and concepts.
    • Speak using skills appropriate to formal speech situations.
    • Vary sentence structure, adjust pace and volume and use standard English.
    • Contribute to discussions, ask questions and respond with relevant information.
    • Participate in small and large group discussions and presentations.
    • Participate in interviews.
    • Participate in debates.

     

    D.   Students  in Grade 9 who meet the characteristics and functions of the English language standard are able to:

    • Describe the influence of historical events on the English language.
    • Analyze when differences in language are a source of negative or positive stereotypes.
    • Analyze regional and time period differences in speech.
    • Identify sources of word origins.

     

    E.   Students in Grade 9 who meet the research standard are able to:

    • Locate information using appropriate sources and strategies and evaluate the importance and quality of the sources.
    • Use traditional and electronic sources.
    • Develop a thesis statement based on the research.
    • Give precise formal credit for others’ ideas and information