Text Rendering Protocol: CCSS Appendix A
Today you will experience an approximation of close reading, text-dependent questioning, use of evidence, and discussion strategies that the
Common Core requires. Each member of your team will read a common text, annotate it, capture evidence and reflections on the recording form
on the next page, and then discuss with the team.
Select a:
Facilitator. This person’s job is to keep the group on task with this work. The Facilitator should read all of the following instructions with the
group and keep the group moving along through the steps.
Timekeeper. This person must have a timer and be willing to politely but firmly help the group transition at the appropriate times.
The protocol begins with everyone reading Why Text Complexity Matters from Appendix A from the Common Core State Standards (pp. 2-9). Take
15 minutes for this initial reading.
Then re-read to answer the following questions, underlining or highlighting the information needed to support your answers (some of these
questions are inferential and will require evidence from across the texts). Take 10 minutes to reread and make notes regarding these
questions:
1. What is the purpose of close reading?
2. What increases the complexity of texts and reading?
3. What is the relationship between close reading and complex text?
Finally, organize your thinking on the Text Rendering Recording Form on the next page. Take 5 minutes for this.
The facilitator needs to make sure everyone gets a chance to offer a sentence, phrase or word. Take 5 minutes for this.
1
Significant Sentence
1. What is the purpose of close
reading?
2. What increases the
complexity of texts and
reading?
3. What is the relationship
between close reading and
complex texts?
Significant Phrase
Significant Word