Looking deeper at
Craft and Structure
for Reading
with Common Core Standards
Craft and Structure are numbers 4-6 in the Common Core standards. Did you know that 10 out of 14 assessed claims are based on these standards? Yet after some empirical data, it has been found that most Language Arts instruction resides in standards 1-3 -Key ideas and details. We need to be focusing more on these standards.
Let's break down each one of the craft and structure standards...
Craft and Structure Reading Standard #4
"Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone."
First of all, this is not about vocabulary lists and context clues. It's more about the author and their choices.
Some questions that should guide your lesson planning...
- Why do you think the author used this particular word?
- What images does the author paint when he uses the word _______?
Remember to focus on the intent of the author.
Craft and Structure Reading Standard #5
"Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole."
This can be easily confused with text structures used with informational text. This is not that. This is more about the authors choices in what structure the text is written in. Is it a narrative? A poem? Free verse?
Then within that structure, what is the big picture? Did the author write a long detailed paragraph to offer the most information? Or did the author choose a one sentence or a very small paragraph to pack a punch?
Craft and Structure Reading Standard #6
"Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text."
In the past when we asked author's purpose, the answer was inform, entertain or persuade. This standard goes much deeper than that! Here the analysis is on the point of view of the author or the specific purpose in writing this text.
As you can see all the questions focus on the author and the intentionality in using certain words or structures in demonstrating a point of view or writing for a specific purpose.
Hope this gave you a little more clarity. If you need help with close reading, check out these close reading guides I created for you!
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Remember to focus on the intent of the author.