Sample Cognitive Targets for the NAEP Assessment
and the Correlation to the College- and Career-Ready Anchor Standards for English Language Arts
Both Literary and
Informational Text
Locate/Recall
CCRS Anchor
Standard
Identify textually explicit
information and make simple
inferences within and across
texts, such as:
Integrate/Interpret
Make complex inferences within and across
texts to:


Definitions
RL. 1.

Facts
RL. 2.

Supporting details
RL. 3.
RI. 1.
RI. 2.



Specific to Informational Text
Specific to Literary Text
RI. 3.
Identify textually explicit
information within and across
texts, such as:
 Character traits
 Sequence of events or
actions
 Setting
RL. 1.
Compare or connect ideas,
problems, or situations s
RL. 5.
Determine unstated assumptions in
an argument
Describe how an author uses
literary devices and text features
RI. 1.
RL. 1.
RL. 2.
RL. 2.

Identify or interpret a character’s
motivations and decisions
RL. 3.

Examine relations between theme
and setting or characters
Topic sentence or
main idea
RI. 1.

Author’s purpose
RI. 2.

Causal relations
RI. 3.
RI. 7.

Evaluate the author’s
perspective or point of view
within or across texts
RL. 6.
Take different perspectives in
relation to a text
RL. 5.
RI. 4.
RI. 5.
RI. 6
Consider text(s) critically to:
Integrate ideas to determine theme
Make complex inferences within and across
texts to:
RL. 4
RI. 5.

Identify textually explicit
information within and across
texts, such as:
Judge author’s craft and
technique
RI. 3.
Infer mood or tone
RL. 4.
CCRS Anchor
Standard


RI. 2.

Explain how rhythm, rhyme, or form in
poetry contribute to meaning
Locate specific information in
text or graphics
RL. 3.
Make complex inferences within and across
texts to:
RL. 3.
Critique/Evaluate
Consider text(s) critically to:
Describe problem and solution,
cause and effect
Identify figurative language

CCRS Anchor
Standard

Evaluate the role of literary
devices in conveying meaning
RL. 4

Determine the degree to which
literary devices enhance a
literary work
RL. 6

Evaluate a character’s
motivations and decisions

Analyze the point of view used
by the author
RL. 1.
RL. 5.
RL. 5.
Consider text(s) critically to:

Summarize major ideas

Draw conclusions and provide
supporting information
RI. 5.

Find evidence in support of an
argument
RI. 8.

Distinguish facts from opinions

Determine the importance of the
information within and across texts

Analyze the presentation of
information

Evaluate the way the author
selects language to influence
readers
RI. 1.
RI. 6.

Evaluate the strength and quality
of evidence used by the author
to support his or her position

Determine the quality of
counterarguments within and
across texts

Judge the coherence, logic, or
credibility of an argument
RL = Reading Literature. Literary texts include fiction, literary nonfiction and poetry.
RI – Reading Intormational Texts. Informational texts include exposition, argumentation and persuasive text, and document and procedural materials
Cognitive Targets taken from: NAEP 2009 Reading Assessment Specifications
RI. 4.
RI. 5.
RI. 6.
RI. 7.
RI. 8
Implementation of the CCRS is excellent preparation for success on the NAEP