ELA.9.C.4.1

Conduct research to answer a question, drawing on multiple reliable and valid sources, and refining the scope of the question to align with findings.

Clarifications

Clarification 1: There is no requirement that students research the additional questions generated.
General Information
Subject Area: English Language Arts (B.E.S.T.)
Grade: 9
Strand: Communication
Standard: Researching
Date Adopted or Revised: 08/20
Status: State Board Approved

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
0500300: Executive Internship 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
0500370: Voluntary Public Service (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
1700300: Research 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
1700370: Critical Thinking and Study Skills (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
1700380: Career Research and Decision Making (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
2400300: Leadership Skills Development (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2020, 2020 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
1001320: English Honors 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
1001800: Florida's Preinternational Baccalaureate English 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
1002300: English 1 Through ESOL (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
1007300: Speech 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2019, 2019 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
1007330: Debate 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2019, 2019 - 2021, 2021 and beyond (current))
1007340: Debate 2 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2019, 2019 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
1009300: Writing 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
1700360: Florida's Preinternational Baccalaureate Inquiry Skills (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
1001310: English 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
1001315: English 1 for Credit Recovery (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
1006375: Social Media 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2021, 2021 and beyond (current))
7910120: Access English 1 (Specifically in versions: 2013 - 2015, 2015 - 2017, 2017 - 2018, 2018 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
1007305: Speech 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2019, 2019 - 2021, 2021 and beyond (current))
1005345: Humane Letters 1 Literature (Specifically in versions: 2019 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
1700600: GEAR Up 1 (Specifically in versions: 2020 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
1005346: Humane Letters 1 Literature Honors (Specifically in versions: 2020 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
1006305: Fundamentals of Journalism (Specifically in versions: 2021 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
1700305: Fundamentals of Research (Specifically in versions: 2021 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
ELA.9.C.4.AP.1a: Conduct research to answer a question, drawing on a reliable and valid source.
ELA.9.C.4.AP.1b: Clarify the scope of a question to align with research findings.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plans

The Odyssey: Lesson Two: City-States, Democracy and Republicanism :

This lesson is #2 in an ELA/Civics Integrated Text Unit designed to support students with the integration of civics into the ELA classroom through the reading and study of Homer’s The Odyssey. After reading excerpts from Part 1 of The Odyssey, students will complete a research activity and include information in their writing plan for a comparative analysis of democracy in Ancient Greece and republicanism in the United States.

Type: Lesson Plan

The Odyssey: Lesson #1: Epic Heroes in Greece and America:

This is lesson 1 in a series of integrated civics lessons for the text The Odyssey by Homer. After reading and discussing Book One of The Odyssey, students will analyze how Odysseus fits the description of an epic hero by creating a trading card. Additionally, students will research one of the Founders of the United States to create a trading card as they determine and analyze how he fits the description of an epic hero.

Type: Lesson Plan

Comparing Unsecured Loans:

Students will conduct research to identify, compare, and discuss characteristics of personal loans, student loans, and unsecured credit cards in this lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Comparing Secured Loans:

Students will conduct research to identify, compare, and discuss characteristics of auto loans, mortgages, and secured credit cards, in this lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

County Hurricane Emergency Management Plan (CHEMP) Part 2:

This 5-part student-centered activity places students in the role of a local emergency management team that is tasked by the County Board of Commissioners to develop a County Hurricane Emergency Management Plan (CHEMP). In part 2, student teams will utilize the research they conducted in part 1 to develop part of a County Hurricane Emergency Management Plan (CHEMP). Teams will complete a plan worksheet and upload it along with any relevant attachments to an online collaborative platform for feedback. The teacher’s role will be to facilitate plan development and assist with the document upload process.

Type: Lesson Plan

County Hurricane Emergency Management Plan (CHEMP) Part 1:

This 5-part student-centered activity places students in the role of a local emergency management team that is tasked by the County Board of Commissioners to develop a County Hurricane Emergency Management Plan (CHEMP). In part 1, the class will divide into teams responsible for different aspects of the CHEMP. Students will conduct research on the state’s expectations for local emergency management plans, the likely impacts of hurricanes in the local area, and the resources available to address preparation, response, and recovery in the event of a major hurricane. The teacher’s role will be to present the task and facilitate student research as they investigate their portion of the plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Finding Reliable Primary Sources in Speech & Debate:

In this lesson, students will analyze primary sources found in various social media to determine their reliability by incorporating lateral reading exercises and applying the CRAAP (Currency, Relevancy, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose) method.  To practice, students will compare multiple perspectives on the Declaration of Independence.

Type: Lesson Plan

Art as a Career:

In part 1 of this unit, students identified the work of several local artists. They became familiar with various visual art related careers. In this lesson, part 2, students will choose one visual art related career to research in order to determine requisite skills, identify qualifications, analyze supply-and-demand, compare market location, and estimate potential earnings for the chosen career.

Type: Lesson Plan

Sources of Income:

Students will conduct research to explore then compare and contrast different sources of income, in this lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

The Importance of Professionalism in the Workplace:

Using the case study, "Training Day: The Importance of Professionalism in the Workplace," students will research proper business etiquette and effective workplace communication. 

Type: Lesson Plan

Factors Affecting Income:

Students will conduct research to synthesize information on two different career choices, their education requirements, and necessary technical skills then analyze how different factors can affect income, in this lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Unsecured and Secured Loans:

Students will conduct research to identify characteristics of secured and unsecured loans, in this lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

A Multimedia Introduction to the Epic Hero: Homer's Odyssey:

In this introduction to Homer's The Odyssey, students will work with peers and technology to determine the elements of an epic hero and the hero archetype. They will analyze how the definition of the hero has changed over time and present their findings through the use of multimedia presentations. In the end, students will be prepared to apply this knowledge to Homer's epic poem.

Type: Lesson Plan

Don't Bite Your Thumb at Me, Sir! Using Storyboards to bring Act One of Romeo and Juliet to Life:

In this lesson, students will create story boards to show their analysis of plot, characters, and setting in Act One of Romeo and Juliet. Students will then use the information analyzed with the the reading of Act One and the story board creations to answer a short response question.

Type: Lesson Plan

Styrofoam Eliminators:

This Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) is written at a 5th grade level. The Styrofoam Eliminators MEA provides students with an engineering problem in which they must work as a team to design a procedure to select the best alternative to using Styrofoam trays in school cafeterias.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Type: Lesson Plan

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier- An Intro to Analysis & Argumentation Part III of III:

This is lesson three in a three part series that covers Ismael Beah's memoir, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. Students will have read chapters 15-21 before this lesson. In this lesson, students will use all evidence gleaned from their reading of the memoir, the graphic organizer and student handout information from the first two lessons, and conduct additional research to create a multimedia presentation.

Type: Lesson Plan

Avoiding Debt:

Using the case study, “A Journey to Becoming Debt Free,” students will engage in a discussion about the case, do research on what good versus bad credit looks like, consider the causes and effects of incurring debt, and research different methods for avoiding debt. Students will summarize their findings and post their summaries on a discussion board to share with the class.

Type: Lesson Plan

Completing a Job Application:

Using the case study, Filling a Job Vacancy, students will complete a job application for the medical assistant position at ABC Pediatrics. Then students will research job applications for other positions and compare them to the Job Application Worksheet.

Type: Lesson Plan

Dietary Lifestyle Decision:

Using the case study, “The Healthy Meal Choice,” students will survey and discuss their ideas about personal choices regarding food lifestyle choices, and the impact on changing meal planning to include dietary changes for medical condition and family integration. Upon consensus within the group, students will research and plan updated meals for the family in the case study.

Type: Lesson Plan

Fundraising Activity:

This lesson is part 2 in a series of 3 lessons where students determine a group or cause in need of funding, create a fundraising plan, and present their plan to a “board of directors.” In part 1, students researched and compared fundraising ideas from various sources, including their own experience with fundraising activities or events. Students also researched fundraising rules in the state of Florida to determine the necessary forms and information needed to legitimize their fundraisers. In this lesson plan, part 2, students will use their research to determine an innovative way to fundraise for their chosen group or cause and will prepare an outline and an oral presentation to be given in part 3 of the lesson series.

Type: Lesson Plan

Guilt Trip:

Using the case study, Guilt Trip, students will have a better understanding of market segmentation and how it is not only defined by demographics but also lifestyle preferences. They will also have a better understanding of how their own personality types influence their choices as well as their relationships with others, including their friends. Accordingly, this will further facilitate their understanding of how individual personality traits influence travel decisions, particularly where two or more travelers are involved.

Type: Lesson Plan

Hard and Soft Skills:

Students will be able to define hard and soft skills and why they are important to the workplace. Students will also research specific Information Technology hard skills and self-assess their own hard and soft skills. Students will develop strategies and goals to strengthen their career skills in this lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Hospitality and Federal Regulations:

Using the case study, “Will this Stay be ADA compliant?” students will identify federal regulations that public and private businesses must adhere to for guests.

Type: Lesson Plan

Meal Planning and Budgeting for Families:

Using the case study, “Dining Out Dilemma: How to Meal Plan and Budget for Busy Families," students will research and identify meal planning, budgeting and comparative shopping strategies that families can use to save money.

Type: Lesson Plan

Medical Career Research:

Using the case study, "Filling a Job Vacancy," students will discuss the job outlook of and research a medical career of interest to explore levels of education, credentialing requirements including licensure and certification, employment opportunities, workplace environments, and career growth potential (job outlook).

Type: Lesson Plan

Researching Employee Benefits:

Using case study, Employers Supporting Employees, students will conduct research on a variety of employer-provided benefits. Students will then use their research to brainstorm an idea for an outcome to the case study.

Type: Lesson Plan

Researching Job Openings:

Using the case study, "Filling a Job Vacancy," students will create a sample job opening description for a medical receptionist. Then, students will research local job openings in the medical field.

Type: Lesson Plan

Summer Job or Future Career: Researching Careers in Agriculture:

Using the case study, “Summer Job or Future Career?” students will research possible careers in the agriculture industry. They will research how many years of college they will need and the projected pay. They will also investigate the job outlook, or need, for this field in Florida.

Type: Lesson Plan

To Sue or Not to Sue?:

Using the case study, “Inspiration vs Copyright Infringement,” students will use the case study to create arguments to affirm and negate both sides of an argument presented in the case. The students will use their notes, research, and personal knowledge to build their cases. At the end of the class, students will write a summary explaining the case using evidence and research.

Type: Lesson Plan

Understanding Digital Media Job Skills:

Using the case study, “Digital Media Job Interview,” students will identify skills required for certain digital media careers. They can make connections to information and skills learned in the classroom, such as application platforms for digital audio recording or other digital media jobs, to real world situations such as in job searching and interviews for entry-level job positions.

Type: Lesson Plan

Teaching Idea

Source Analysis: Presidential Views on U.S. Involvement in Vietnam:

In this activity intended for the debate classroom, students will access the Library of Congress and National Archives’ online resource portals to research and gather the unique perspectives of Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford on America’s involvement in the Vietnam War.

Students will then present orally the comparative and contrasting political and philosophical viewpoints.

Type: Teaching Idea

STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity

Styrofoam Eliminators:

This Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) is written at a 5th grade level. The Styrofoam Eliminators MEA provides students with an engineering problem in which they must work as a team to design a procedure to select the best alternative to using Styrofoam trays in school cafeterias.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.