District 211 Critical Learning Standards
for English
District 211's Critical Learning Standards (CLS) are districtwide statements of what students should know and be able to do in specific disciplines. Each subject area has its own set of CLS that are designed to create a guaranteed, viable curriculum for students across all of the district's schools.
In English, the CLS are drawn from the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English-Language Arts. These nationwide standards are broken down into two levels: one for grades 9 and 10, and another for grades 11 and 12. The District 211 CLS for English are split into similar levels, as seen below:
D211 CLS for English - Freshman/Sophomore Level Courses
- CENTRAL MEANING/THEME: Explain the central meaning/theme using key details from a text
- EVIDENCE: Cite appropriate textual evidence to support both literal and inferential analysis
- LITERARY ELEMENTS: Explain how the author uses literary elements to construct meaning
- VOCABULARY: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text
- ARGUMENT: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
- GRAMMAR: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English
D211 CLS for English - Junior/Senior Level Courses
- AUTHOR'S PURPOSE: Analyze how the rhetorical strategies contribute to the author’s purpose and meaning
- EVIDENCE: Cite appropriate textual evidence from multiple sources to support both explicit and implicit analysis
- CONTEXT: Students will be able to explain how the historical, cultural and/or religious values of a particular time period influence a text
- VOCABULARY: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text
- ARGUMENT: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
- GRAMMAR: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English