English Language Development

Snapshot 7.10. Debating Challenging Topics: Race, Religion, and Income

Integrated ELA/Literacy, ELD, and Civics in Grade Twelve (cont.)

CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy: RI-RH.11–12.7, 8; W.11–12.1; W-WHST.11–12.7, 8; SL.11–12.1, 3, 4b; L.11–12.3, 6

CA ELD Standards (Bridging): ELD.PI.11–12.2, 9, 10, 11a

Additional Information

Haney-López, Ian F. 2008. “Debating Racially Charged Topics.” In Everyday Antiracism: Getting Real About School,

edited by Mica Pollock, 242–245. New York: The New Press.

Duncan-Andrade, Jeffrey M. R., and Ernest Morrell. 2008. The Art of Critical Pedagogy: Possibilities for Moving from

Theory to Practice in Urban Schools. New York: Peter Lang.

Using Language Conventions

In high school fewer language conventions are introduced. Rather, students are expected to
demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage taught in previous
grades and refine their use in writing and speaking. The same is true of the use of conventions for
capitalization, punctuation, and spelling in writing. Teachers need to consider the standards identified
in the Language strand with an asterisk from previous grades (figure 7.10). Based on teachers’
observations of students’ writing and speaking, teachers may identify one or more of the standards
from previous grades that need to be reinforced through focused instruction.

New to grades eleven and twelve are the following:

• Applying the understanding that usage is a matter of convention, can change over time, and is
  sometimes contested (L.11–12.1a)


• Resolving issues of complex or contested usage, consulting references as needed (L.11–12.1b)


• Observing hyphenation conventions (L.11–12.2a)
  Students learn these new conventions by identifying models of the conventions in the texts they
  read and then emulating those models in their own writing. To improve their use of conventions,
  students need to write frequently, write pieces of varying lengths, and write multiple drafts. During
  the editing process (after revisions have been made) teachers and students identify the conventions
  in their papers that most need correction. The aim is for students to develop awareness of their use of
  conventions in their writing and edit their papers independently. Focused and judicious feedback from
  the teacher is necessary.

Content Knowledge

Students in grades eleven and twelve use their knowledge
of language and literacy to learn content in ELA and other
subjects. Literature, in its various forms, is the basis of much of
the instruction in ELA, although students do read and write about
literary nonfiction and nonfiction in ELA and in other content
areas. In grades eleven and twelve the focus of literature is often
American and British literature. At the end of this grade-span
section, vignettes use a work of American literary nonfiction to
illustrate teaching and learning in ELA and ELD. In the following
snapshot, ELA and literacy are integrated in economics instruction
in a grade-twelve class.

Grades 11 and 12 Chapter 7 | 783