Search the California Content Standards

Standard:
Distinguish how different words with related meanings (e.g., fun versus thrilling, possibly versus certainly) and figurative language (e.g., the stream slithered through the parched land) produce shades of meaning and different effects on the audience.

Standard:
Plan and deliver oral presentations on a variety of topics in a variety of content areas (e.g., providing an opinion speech on a current event, reciting a poem, recounting an experience, explaining a science process), with light support.

Standard:
Combine clauses in a wide variety of ways (e.g., creating compound and complex sentences) to make connections between and join ideas, for example, to express cause/effect (e.g., The deer ran because the mountain lion approached them), to make a concession (e.g., She studied all night even though she wasn’t feeling well), to link two ideas that happen at the same time (e.g., The cubs played while their mother hunted), or to provide reasons to support ideas (e.g., The author persuades the reader by _________ ).

Standard:
Condense clauses in a variety of ways (e.g., through various types of embedded clauses and some nominalizations as in, They were a very strong army. They had a lot of enemies. They crushed their enemies because they were strong. → Their strength helped them crush their numerous enemies) to create precise and detailed sentences.

Standard:
Justify opinions or persuade others by providing detailed and relevant textual evidence (e.g., quoting from the text directly or referring to specific textual evidence) or relevant background knowledge, with light support.

Standard:
Express attitude and opinions or temper statements with nuanced modal expressions (e.g., probably/certainly/definitely, should/would, might) and phrasing (e.g., In my opinion. . . ).

Standard:
Explain how phrasing, different words with similar meaning (e.g., stingy, economical, frugal, thrifty), or figurative language (e.g., The room was depressed and gloomy. The room was like a dank cave, littered with food wrappers, soda cans, and piles of laundry) produce shades of meaning, nuances, and different effects on the audience.

Standard:
Plan and deliver longer oral presentations on a variety of topics and content areas, using reasoning and evidence to support ideas, as well as growing understanding of register.

Standard:
Combine clauses in a wide variety of ways (e.g., creating compound and complex sentences) to make connections between and join ideas, for example, to express a reason (e.g., He stayed at home on Sunday because he had an exam on Monday), to make a concession (e.g., She studied all night even though she wasn’t feeling well), or to link two ideas that happen at the same time (e.g., The students worked in groups while their teacher walked around the room).

Standard:
Condense ideas in a variety of ways (e.g., through various types of embedded clauses, ways of condensing, and nominalization as in, They destroyed the rain forest. Lots of animals died --- The destruction of the rain forest led to the death of many animals) to create precise and detailed sentences.