LAFS.3.RL.3.9Archived Standard

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Compare and contrast the themes, settings, and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters (e.g., in books from a series).
General Information
Subject Area: English Language Arts
Grade: 3
Strand: Reading Standards for Literature
Idea: Level 3: Strategic Thinking & Complex Reasoning
Cluster: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
Date Adopted or Revised: 12/10
Content Complexity Rating: Level 3: Strategic Thinking & Complex Reasoning - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 02/14
Status: State Board Approved - Archived
Assessed: Yes
Test Item Specifications
  • Item Type(s): This benchmark may be assessed using: TM , ST , MC item(s)

  • Assessment Limits :
    Items may ask the student to compare and/or contrast themes, settings, and plots from two or more texts. Items may require the student to use key details from texts to determine how these are similar or different. The themes and settings may be explicitly or implicitly stated. Items should not ask about one literary text and should be used with text sets written by the same author
  • Text Types :
    The items assessing this standard may be used with two or more grade-appropriate literary texts by the same author about the same or similar characters. Texts may vary in complexity.
  • Response Mechanisms :
    The Enhanced Item Descriptions section on page 3 provides a list of Response Mechanisms that may be used to assess this standard (excluding the Editing Task Choice item type). The Sample Response Mechanisms may include, but are not limited to, the examples below.
  • Task Demand and Sample Response Mechanisms :
    Task Demand

    Compare and/or contrast the themes, settings, and plots of texts written by the same author about the same or similar characters.

    Sample Response Mechanisms

    Selectable Text 

    • Requires the student to select words and phrases from different texts that demonstrate how the author treats themes and patterns of events in the texts. 
    Multiple Choice 
    • Requires the student to identify similarities or differences in the author’s depiction of themes, settings, and plot in the texts.
    Table Match 
    • Requires the student to complete a table that compares and/or contrasts themes, settings, or plots of two texts written by the same author.

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
5010010: English for Speakers of Other Languages-Elementary (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022 (course terminated))
5010020: Basic Skills in Reading-K-2 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2021, 2021 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
5010044: Language Arts - Grade Three (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
7710014: Access Language Arts - Grade 3 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
5011030: Library Skills/Information Literacy Grade 3 (Specifically in versions: 2016 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Related Resources

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

Lesson Plan

Strega Nona Plot and Summarizing:

This lesson focuses on identifying plot elements of Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola in order to explain how the character develops. Using a plot diagram and guiding questions, students will identify the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution in the book. Students will then use the plot information gathered to summarize the text and explain how the character develops.

Type: Lesson Plan

Student Center Activities

Comprehension: Compare-A-Story:

In this activity, students will identify similarities and differences between stories using a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: Side-by-Side Stories:

In this activity, students will identify similarities and differences between stories and record them on a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: Story Element Ease:

In this activity, students will identify and sort story elements (character, setting, problem, solution, theme, plot). They will then compare and contrast the elements of different stories.

Type: Student Center Activity

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.