Common Core’s Focus is on critical thinking skills and application of those skills:
(Less Focus) From
(Stronger Focus) To
Levels of Meaning (literary texts) or Purpose (informational texts)
Single level of meaning
Multiple levels of meaning
Explicitly stated purpose
Implicit purpose, may be hidden or obscure
Structure (Syntax)
Simple
Complex
Explicit
Implicit
Conventional (chiefly literary texts)
Unconventional (chiefly literary texts)
Events related in chronological order
Events related out of chronological order
Traits of a common genre or subgenre
Traits specific to a particular discipline (chiefly
informational texts)
Simple graphics
Sophisticated graphics
Graphics unnecessary or merely supplementary to
Graphics essential to understanding the text and may
understanding the text
provide information not otherwise conveyed in the text
Language Conventionality and Clarity (Diction, Style, Author’s Intent, Purpose, or Message))
Literal (Denotation)
Figurative or ironic (Connotation)
Clear
Ambiguous or purposefully misleading
Contemporary, familiar
Archaic or otherwise unfamiliar
Conversational
General academic and domain-specific
Knowledge Demands: Life Experiences (literary texts)
Simple theme
Complex or sophisticated themes
Single themes
Multiple themes
Common, everyday experiences or clearly fantastical
Experiences distinctly different from one’s own
situations (Short story; vignette; fantasy)
(Realistic fiction; historical fiction)
Single perspective
Multiple perspectives
Perspective(s) like one’s own
Perspective(s) unlike or in opposition to one’s own
Knowledge Demands: Cultural/Literary Knowledge (chiefly literary texts)
Everyday knowledge and familiarity with genre
Cultural and literary knowledge useful
conventions required
Low intertextuality (few if any references/allusions to
High intertextuality (many references/allusions to other
other texts)
texts)
Knowledge Demands: Content/Discipline Knowledge (chiefly informational texts)
Everyday knowledge and familiarity with genre
Extensive, perhaps specialized discipline-specific content
conventions required
knowledge required
Low intertextuality (few if any references to/citations of
High intertextuality (many references to/citations of other
other texts)
texts)
Need more information?
Please goto these links for print-outs and videos:
From the Ca. Dept. of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/cc/ccssresourcesparents.asp
From The Common Core State Standards Initiative: http://www.corestandards.org/whatparents-should-know/
Also from there for ELA and Literacy: http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/
Michelle Bennett 7th/8th Grade ELA 2015/16
Bloom’s Taxonomy and Depth of Knowledge Applications
Common Core Standards test a student’s level 2, 3, and 4 critical thinking skills:
Michelle Bennett 7th/8th Grade ELA 2015/16