SmarterBalancedAssessmentConsortium

Claims,Targets,andStandardAlignmentforELA

TheSmarterBalancedAssessmentConsortium(SBAC)hascreatedahierarchycomprisedofclaimsandtargetsthattogethercanbeusedtomake
statementsaboutstudentachievement.Theclaimisabroadstatementthatwilloutlinetheoutcomesachievedwithmasteryofthestandards
withinit.Withineachclaimareavarietyofassessmenttargetsthatfurtherclarifytheknowledgeandspecificskillsthatcrossoveraclusterof
standards.
Thefollowingtableslayouttheclaimsandtargetsforclaims14.Eachtargetmayfeatureastandardoravarietyofstandardsthatmakeupthe
skill(s)ofthetarget.EachtargetalsofeaturesaDepthofKnowledgelevel(s)anditemtype(s)inwhichthetargetmaybeassessed.

ItemTypes:
MCMultipleChoice,SingleCorrectResponse
MAMatchingTables
MSMultipleChoice,MultipleCorrectResponse
WR/CRWrittenResponse
HTHotText,SelectTextandReorderText
ST/CRShortText
EBSREvidencebasedSelectedResponse
DepthofKnowledge:
1Recall
2Skill/Concept
3StrategicThinking
4ExtendedThinking

Underlinedstandardcontentnoteswhateachassessmenttargetcouldassess.
Underlinedstandardtitlenotesthatmorethanonetextormorethanonetextformatisneededforassessmentitems.

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Grade4ELA

Claim

Target
1:KeyDetails:Givenaninference
orconclusion,useexplicitdetails
andimplicitinformationfromthe
texttosupporttheinferenceor
conclusionprovided.
2:CentralIdeas:Identifyor
summarizecentralideas/key
events.

1:Studentscanread
closelyandanalyticallyto
comprehendarangeof
increasinglycomplex
literaryandinformational
text.

3:WordMeanings:Determine
intendedmeaningsofwords,
includingwordswithmultiple
meanings(academic/tier2words),
basedoncontext,word
relationships(e.g.,synonyms),
wordstructure(e.g.,common
GreekorLatinroots,affixes),oruse
ofresources(e.g.,dictionary,
thesaurus),withprimaryfocuson
determiningmeaningbasedon
contextandtheacademic(tier2)
vocabularycommontocomplex
textsinalldisciplines.

Standards

DOK

ItemTypes

4.RL.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when

explaining what the text says explicitly and when 1,2 MC,MS,HT
drawinginferencesfromthetext.
4.RL.2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem
fromdetailsinthetext;summarizethetext.

MC,MS,
EBSR,HT

ST/CR

4.RL.4Determinethemeaningofwordsandphrasesas
they are used in a text, including those that allude to
significant characters found in mythology (e.g.,
Herculean).
4.L.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and
multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4
reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of
strategies.

1,2 MC,MS,HT

4.L.5c Demonstrate understanding of words by relating

them to their opposites (antonyms) and to words with
similar but not identical meanings (synonyms).

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Grade4ELA

Claim

Target

Standards
DOK
4.RL.3Describeindepthacharacter,setting,oreventin
4:ReasoningandEvidence:Make
astoryordrama,drawingonspecificdetailsinthetext
aninferenceorprovidea
(e.g.,acharacter'sthoughts,words,oractions).
conclusionandusesupporting
4.RL.6 Compare and contrast the point of view from
evidencetojustify/explain
which different stories are narrated, including the
inferences(character
3
differencebetweenfirstandthirdpersonnarrations.
development/actions/traits;first
4.RL.9 Compare and contrast the treatment of similar
orthirdpersonpointofview;
themesandtopics(e.g.,oppositionofgoodandevil)and
theme;authorsmessage).
patternsofevents(e.g.,thequest)instories,myths,and

1:Studentscanread
traditionalliteraturefromdifferentcultures.
closelyandanalyticallyto
5:AnalysisWithinorAcrossTexts: 4.RL.3Describeindepthacharacter,setting,oreventin
comprehendarangeof
Examineorcomparerelationships astoryordrama,drawingonspecificdetailsinthetext
increasinglycomplex
(literaryelements:setting,conflict, (e.g.,acharacter'sthoughts,words,oractions).
literaryandinformational
3,4
dialogue,pointofview,
4.RL.6 Compare and contrast the point of view from
text.
characterization)withinoracross which different stories are narrated, including the
texts.
differencebetweenfirstandthirdpersonnarrations.
6:TextStructuresandFeatures:
Relateknowledgeoftext
4.RL.5 Explain major differences between poems,
structures,genrespecificfeatures, drama, and prose, and refer to the structural elements
orformats(visual/graphic/auditory of poems (e.g., verse, rhythm, meter) and drama (e.g., 2,3
effects)toobtain,interpret,
casts of characters, settings, descriptions, dialogue,
explain,orconnectinformation
stagedirections)whenwritingorspeakingaboutatext.
withintext.

ItemTypes

EBSR,HT,
ST/CR

MC,MS,
EBSR,HT

MC,MS

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Grade4ELA

Claim

1:Studentscanread
closelyandanalytically
tocomprehenda
rangeofincreasingly
complexliteraryand
informationaltext.

Target
7:LanguageUse:Interpret
figurativelanguage,literary
devices,orconnotative
meaningsofwordsandphrases
usedincontextandtheimpact
ofthosewordchoiceson
meaningortone.

Standards
DOK
4.RL.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they
are used in a text, including those that allude to significant
charactersfoundinmythology(e.g.,Herculean).
2,3
4.L.5Demonstrateunderstandingoffigurativelanguage,word
relationships,andnuancesinwordmeanings.

ItemTypes

MC,MS

4.RI.1Refertodetailsandexamplesinatextwhenexplaining
what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences
fromthetext.
4.RI.7 Interpret information presented visually, orally, or
1,2 MC,MS,HT
quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines,
animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and
explain how the information contributes to an understanding
ofthetextinwhichitappears.
MC,MS,
9:CentralIdeas:Identifycentral
4.RI.2Determinethemainideaofatextandexplainhowitis 2
EBSR,HT
ideas,keyevents,or
supportedbykeydetails;summarizethetext.
procedures.
3
ST/CR
8:KeyDetails:Givenan
inferenceorconclusion,use
explicitdetailsandimplicit
informationfromthetextto
supporttheinferenceor
conclusionprovided.

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Grade4ELA

Claim

Target
10:WordMeanings:Determine
intendedmeaningsofwords,
includingacademic/tier2words,
domainspecific(tier3)words,
andwordswithmultiple
meanings,basedoncontext,
wordrelationships(e.g.,
synonyms),wordstructure(e.g.,
commonGreekorLatinroots,
affixes),oruseofresources
(e.g.,dictionary,glossary),with
primaryfocusontheacademic
1:Studentscanread vocabularycommontocomplex
closelyandanalytically
textsinalldisciplines.
tocomprehenda
rangeofincreasingly
complexliteraryand
informationaltext.
11:ReasoningandEvidence:
Makeaninferenceorprovidea
conclusionandusesupporting
evidencetojustify/explain
inferences(author'slineof
reasoning,pointof
view/purpose,relevanceof
evidenceorelaborationto
supportclaims,concepts,ideas).

Standards
DOK ItemTypes
4.RI.4 Determine the meaning of general academic and
domainspecificwordsorphrasesinatextrelevanttoagrade
4topicorsubjectarea.
4.L.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and
multiplemeaning words and phrases based on grade 4
reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of
strategies.
1,2 MC,MS,HT
4.L.5c Demonstrate understanding of words by relating them
to their opposites (antonyms) and to words with similar but
notidenticalmeanings(synonyms).

4.RI.3 Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a

historical, scientific, or technical text, including what
happenedandwhy,basedonspecificinformationinthetext.
4.RI.6 Compare and contrast a firsthand and secondhand
accountofthesameeventortopic;describethedifferencesin
focusandtheinformationprovided.
4.RI.7 Interpret information presented visually, orally, or
quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines,
animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and
explain how the information contributes to an understanding
ofthetextinwhichitappears.
4.RI.8 Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to
supportparticularpointsinatext.
4.RI.9Integrateinformationfromtwotextsonthesametopic
inordertowriteorspeakaboutthesubjectknowledgeably.

EBSR,HT,
ST/CR

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Grade4ELA

Claim

Target
12:AnalysisWithinorAcross
Texts:Interpret,explain,or
connectinformationpresented
withinoracrosstexts(e.g.,
compare/contrast,show
cause/effect,andintegrate
information).

Standards
DOK
4.RI.3 Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a
historical, scientific, or technical text, including what
happenedandwhy,basedonspecificinformationinthetext.
3,4
4.RI.6 Compare and contrast a firsthand and secondhand
accountofthesameeventortopic;describethedifferencesin
focusandtheinformationprovided.

4.RI.5 Describe the overall structure (e.g., chronology,

1:Studentscanread
13:TextStructures/Features: comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas,
concepts,orinformationinatextorpartofatext.
closelyandanalytically
Relateknowledgeoftext
tocomprehenda
structuresortextfeatures(e.g., 4.RI.7 Interpret information presented visually, orally, or
2,3
rangeofincreasingly
graphs,charts,timelines)to
quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, timelines,
complexliteraryand
obtain,interpret,explain,or
animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and
informationaltext.
integrateinformation.
explain how the information contributes to an understanding
ofthetextinwhichitappears.
14:LanguageUse:Interpret
4.L.5Demonstrateunderstandingoffigurativelanguage,word
figurativelanguage,literary
relationships,andnuancesinwordmeanings.
devices,orconnotative
4.L.5a Explain the meaning of simple similes and metaphors
meaningsofwordsandphrases (e.g.,asprettyasapicture)incontext.
2,3
usedincontextandtheimpact
4.L.5bRecognizeandexplainthemeaningofcommonidioms,
ofthosewordchoiceson
adages,andproverbs.
meaningortone.

ItemTypes

MC,MS,
EBSR,HT

MC,MS

MC,MS

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Grade4ELA

Claim

2:Studentscan
produceeffective
writingforarange
ofpurposeand
audiences.

Target

Standards
DOK
4.W.3a Orient the reader by establishing a situation and
introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event
sequencethatunfoldsnaturally.
1a:WriteBriefTexts:Writeoneor
4.W.3bUsedialogueanddescriptiontodevelopexperiences
moreparagraphsdemonstrating
andeventsorshowtheresponsesofcharacterstosituations.
specificnarrativetechniques(use
4.W.3c Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to
ofdialogue,sensoryorconcrete
managethesequenceofevents.
details,description),chronology,
4.W.3d Useconcretewordsandphrasesandsensorydetails 3
appropriatetransitionalstrategies
toconveyexperiencesandeventsprecisely.
forcoherence,orauthorscraft
4.W.3e Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated
appropriatetopurpose(closure,
experiencesorevents.
detailingcharacters,plot,setting,
4.4.W.9aApplygrade4Readingstandardstoliterature(e.g.,
oranevent).
Describeindepthacharacter,setting,oreventinastoryor
drama, drawing on specific details in the text [e.g., a
charactersthoughts,words,oractions].).
4.W.3a Orient the reader by establishing a situation and
introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event
sequencethatunfoldsnaturally.
1b:ReviseBriefTexts:Reviseone
4.W.3bUsedialogueanddescriptiontodevelopexperiences
ormoreparagraphsdemonstrating
andeventsorshowtheresponsesofcharacterstosituations.
specificnarrativetechniques(use
4.W.3c Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to
ofdialogue,sensoryorconcrete
managethesequenceofevents.
details,description),chronology,
4.W.3d Useconcretewordsandphrasesandsensorydetails 2
appropriatetransitionalstrategies
toconveyexperiencesandeventsprecisely.
forcoherence,orauthorscraft
4.W.3e Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated
appropriatetopurpose(closure,
experiencesorevents.
detailingcharacters,plot,setting,
4.W.9a Apply grade 4 Reading standards to literature (e.g.,
oranevent).
Describeindepthacharacter,setting,oreventinastoryor
drama, drawing on specific details in the text [e.g., a
charactersthoughts,words,oractions].).

ItemTypes

WR/CR

MC,MS,HT

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Grade4ELA

Claim

2:Studentscan
produceeffective
writingforarange
ofpurposeand
audiences.

Target
3a:WriteBriefTexts:Write
oneormore
informational/explanatory
paragraphsdemonstrating
abilitytoorganizeideasby
statingafocus(mainidea),
includingappropriate
transitionalstrategiesfor
coherence,orsupporting
evidenceandelaboration,or
writingbodyparagraphs,ora
conclusionthatisappropriate
topurposeandaudienceand
relatedtotheinformationor
explanationpresented.
3b:ReviseBriefTexts:Revise
oneormore
informational/explanatory
paragraphsdemonstrating
abilitytoorganizeideasby
statingafocus(mainidea),
includingappropriate
transitionalstrategiesfor
coherence,orsupporting
evidenceandelaboration,or
writingbodyparagraphs,ora
conclusionthatisappropriate
topurposeandaudienceand
relatedtotheinformationor
explanationpresented.

Standards
DOK
4.W.2a Introduce a topic clearly and group related information in
paragraphs and sections; include formatting (e.g., headings),
illustrations,andmultimediawhenusefultoaidingcomprehension.
4.W.2b Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details,
quotations,orotherinformationandexamplesrelatedtothetopic.
4.W.2cLinkideaswithincategoriesofinformationusingwordsand
phrases(e.g.,another,forexample,also,because).
4.W.2d Use precise language and domainspecific vocabulary to 3
informaboutorexplainthetopic.
4.W.2e Provide a concluding statement or section related to the
informationorexplanationpresented.

ItemTypes

WR/CR

4.W.9b Apply grade 4 Reading standards to informational texts

(e.g.,Explainhowanauthorusesreasonsandevidencetosupport
particularpointsinatext).
4.W.2a Introduce a topic clearly and group related information in
paragraphs and sections; include formatting (e.g., headings),
illustrations,andmultimediawhenusefultoaidingcomprehension.
4.W.2b Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details,
quotations,orotherinformationandexamplesrelatedtothetopic.
4.W.2cLinkideaswithincategoriesofinformationusingwordsand
phrases(e.g.,another,forexample,also,because).
4.W.2d Use precise language and domainspecific vocabulary to
informaboutorexplainthetopic.
4.W.2e Provide a concluding statement or section related to the
informationorexplanationpresented.

MC,MS,HT

4.W.9b Apply grade 4 Reading standards to informational texts

(e.g.,Explainhowanauthorusesreasonsandevidencetosupport
particularpointsinatext).

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Grade4ELA

Claim

2:Studentscan
produceeffective
writingforarange
ofpurposeand
audiences.

Target

Standards
DOK
4.W.1a Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and
6a:WriteBriefTexts:Write create an organizational structure in which related ideas are
groupedtosupportthewriter'spurpose.
oneormoreparagraphs
demonstratingabilitytostate 4.W.1bProvidereasonsthataresupportedbyfactsanddetails.
4.W.1cLinkopinionandreasonsusingwordsandphrases(e.g.,for
anopinionabouttopicsor
instance,inorderto,inaddition).
sources;setacontext,
organizeideas,develop
4.W.1d Provide a concluding statement or section related to the
3
supportingevidence/reasons opinionpresented.
andelaboration,ordevelopa 4.W.8 Recall relevant information from experiences or gather
conclusionthatisappropriate relevantinformationfromprintanddigitalsources;takenotesand
topurposeandaudienceand categorizeinformation,andprovidealistofsources.
relatedtotheopinion
4.W.9b Apply grade 4 Reading standards to informational texts
presented.
(e.g.,Explainhowanauthorusesreasonsandevidencetosupport
particularpointsinatext).
4.W.1a Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and
6b:ReviseBriefTexts:Revise create an organizational structure in which related ideas are
groupedtosupportthewriter'spurpose.
oneormoreparagraphs
demonstratingabilitytostate 4.W.1bProvidereasonsthataresupportedbyfactsanddetails.
4.W.1cLinkopinionandreasonsusingwordsandphrases(e.g.,for
opinionsabouttopicsor
instance,inorderto,inaddition).
sources;setacontext,
organizeideas,develop
4.W.1d Provide a concluding statement or section related to the
2
supportingevidence/reasons opinionpresented.
andelaboration,ordevelopa 4.W.8 Recall relevant information from experiences or gather
conclusionappropriateto
relevantinformationfromprintanddigitalsources;takenotesand
purposeandaudienceand
categorizeinformation,andprovidealistofsources.
relatedtotheopinion
4.W.9b Apply grade 4 Reading standards to informational texts
presented.
(e.g.,Explainhowanauthorusesreasonsandevidencetosupport
particularpointsinatext).

ItemTypes

WR/CR

MC,MS,HT

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Grade4ELA

Claim

2:Studentscanproduce
effectivewritingfora
rangeofpurposeand
audiences.

Target

8:LanguageandVocabularyUse:
Strategicallyuselanguageand
vocabulary(includingacademicor
domainspecificvocabulary)
appropriatetothepurposeand
audiencewhenrevisingor
composingtexts.

9:Edit:Applyoreditgrade
appropriategrammarusage,
capitalization,punctuation,and
spellingtoclarifyamessageand
editnarrative,
explanatory/informational,and
opiniontexts.
3:Studentscanemploy
effectivespeakingand
listeningskillsforarange
ofpurposesand
audiences.

4:Listen/Interpret:Interpretand
useinformationdeliveredorally.

Standards
DOK ItemTypes
4.W.2d Use precise language and domainspecific
vocabularytoinformaboutorexplainthetopic.
4.W.3d Use concrete words and phrases and sensory
detailstoconveyexperiencesandeventsprecisely.
4.L.6 Acquire and use accurately gradeappropriate
generalacademicanddomainspecificwordsandphrases, 1,2 MC,MS,HT
including those that signal precise actions, emotions, or
states of being (e.g., quizzed, whined, stammered) and
that are basic to a particular topic (e.g., wildlife,
conservation, and endangered when discussing animal
preservation).
4.L.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of
standard English grammar and usage when writing or
speaking.
1,2 MC,MS,HT
4.L.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of
standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
whenwriting.
4.SL.2 Paraphrase portions of a text read aloud or
information presented in diverse media and formats,
1,2,
includingvisually,quantitatively,andorally.
3
4.SL.3 Identify the reasons and evidence a speaker
providestosupportparticularpoints.

MC,MS,
EBSR,MA

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Grade4ELA

Claim

4:Studentscanengagein
research/inquiryto
investigatetopics,andto
analyze,integrate,and
presentinformation.

Target

2:InterpretandIntegrate
Information:Locateinformation
tosupportcentralideasand
subtopicsthatareprovided;
selectandintegrateinformation
fromdataorprintandnonprint
textsourcesforagivenpurpose.

3:Analyze
Information/Sources:
Distinguishrelevant/irrelevant
information.

Standards
DOK
4.RI.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when
explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing
inferencesfromthetext.
4.RI.6 Compare and contrast a firsthand and secondhand
account of the same event or topic; describe the
differencesinfocusandtheinformationprovided.
4.RI.7 Interpret information presented visually, orally, or
quantitatively(e.g.,incharts,graphs, diagrams,timelines,
animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and
explain how the information contributes to an
2
understandingofthetextinwhichitappears.
4.RI.9 Integrate information from two texts on the same
topic in order to write or speak about the subject
knowledgeably.
4.W.8 Recall relevant information from experiences or
gatherrelevantinformationfromprintanddigitalsources;
takenotesandcategorizeinformation,andprovidealistof
sources.
4.W.9Drawevidencefromliteraryorinformationaltextsto
supportanalysis,reflection,andresearch.
4.RI.7 Interpret information presented visually, orally, or
quantitatively(e.g.,incharts,graphs, diagrams,timelines,
animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and
explain how the information contributes to an
understandingofthetextinwhichitappears.
4.W.8 Recall relevant information from experiences or 2
gatherrelevantinformationfromprintanddigitalsources;
takenotesandcategorizeinformation,andprovidealistof
sources.
4.W.9Drawevidencefromliteraryorinformationaltextsto
supportanalysis,reflection,andresearch.

ItemTypes

MC,MS,
HT,MA

MC,MS

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Grade4ELA

Claim

Target

4:Studentscanengagein
research/inquiryto
investigatetopics,andto
analyze,integrate,and
presentinformation.

4:UseEvidence:Citeevidence
tosupportconjecturesor
opinionsbasedonprior
knowledgeandevidence
collectedandanalyzed.

Standards
DOK
4.RI.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when
explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing
inferencesfromthetext.
4.RI.6 Compare and contrast a firsthand and secondhand
account of the same event or topic; describe the
differencesinfocusandtheinformationprovided.
4.RI.7 Interpret information presented visually, orally, or
quantitatively(e.g.,incharts,graphs, diagrams,timelines,
animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and
explain how the information contributes to an
understandingofthetextinwhichitappears.
2
4.RI.9 Integrate information from two texts on the same
topic in order to write or speak about the subject
knowledgeably.
4.W.1b Provide reasons that are supported by facts and
details.
4.W.8 Recall relevant information from experiences or
gatherrelevantinformationfromprintanddigitalsources;
takenotesandcategorizeinformation,andprovidealistof
sources.
4.W.9Drawevidencefromliteraryorinformationaltextsto
supportanalysis,reflection,andresearch.

ItemTypes

MC,MS,HT

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