Proven RL.9-10.1 Worksheet: "My Shadow" Poem — Grade 9

This Grade 9 ELA worksheet provides targeted practice on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic poem, "My Shadow." Students will analyze the poem's literary devices, tone, and theme through a series of structured questions. The resource is designed to build critical evidence-based reading skills essential for high school literature assessments and mastery of key standards.

At a Glance

• Grade: 9 · Subject: ELA / Literature
• Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1 — Cite strong textual evidence to support analysis of a text.
• Skill Focus: Poetry Analysis, Citing Textual Evidence, Literary Devices
• Format: 2 pages · 8 problems · Answer key & rubric included · PDF
• Best For: Standards-based assessment, test prep, or poetry units
• Time: 25–35 minutes

What's Inside

This two-page resource contains a complete analysis of "My Shadow." Page one has four multiple-choice questions on vocabulary, rhyme, and personification. Page two presents four extended-response items on tone, purpose, and summary. A full answer key and performance rubric are included for efficient grading.

Mastery Evidence

This tool provides clear evidence of mastery against the `RL.9-10.1` standard. The rubric defines performance at three levels: Approaching, Meeting, and Exceeding. The initial multiple-choice tasks gauge foundational comprehension, while the extended responses require deeper analysis. Scores can be entered directly into standards-based gradebooks or used as documentation for IEP progress monitoring.

Standards Alignment

The primary alignment for this resource is CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1, which requires students to "Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text." The worksheet also supports standard RL.9-10.4 by requiring analysis of word choice and tone. Both standard codes can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

How to Use It

This worksheet is an excellent formative assessment after a poetry lesson or as focused test review. For a 30-minute activity, have students complete the multiple-choice section independently, then discuss the extended-response questions in pairs. Circulate to observe how students locate and cite specific lines, which helps identify those needing support with finding textual evidence.

Who It's For

This resource is for Grade 9 ELA students developing literary analysis skills. Its structured format scaffolds learning for students needing help with complex texts. Pair this worksheet with an anchor chart on literary devices and a brief direct instruction lesson for a complete learning cycle.

Meeting high school ELA standards requires students to perform complex analytical tasks, as noted in the NAEP framework for literature. This worksheet targets CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1, a critical skill requiring students to cite strong textual evidence to support their analysis of a literary work. By engaging with Robert Louis Stevenson’s "My Shadow," students practice this skill in a focused, measurable way. According to research by Fisher & Frey (2014), a gradual release of responsibility—moving from structured multiple-choice questions to more open-ended analysis—is highly effective for building student independence and deep comprehension. This two-page resource, with its 8 distinct tasks, provides the precise structure needed for students to build a habit of evidence-based reasoning, a cornerstone of college and career readiness and a key finding in recent EdReports 2024 reviews of instructional materials.