Ready Contradictory Decision Worksheet | Grade 9 English I

This Grade 9 worksheet teaches students to analyze a character's contradictory decision by tracing competing motives through textual evidence. After reading a short story about two young composers, students locate details, connect them, and defend a claim about why the character cuts her own song.

At a Glance

• Grade: 9 · Subject: English I
• Standard: RL.9-10.3 — Explain how a character's conflicting motives shape decisions and the plot
• Skill Focus: Analyzing a contradictory decision using qualified claims and cited evidence
• Format: 6 pages · 12 problems · Answer key included · PDF
• Best For: Close reading practice in characterization units
• Time: 40–50 minutes

What's Inside

A reminder box on qualified claims, brief quotations, and paragraph citations leads into the 8-paragraph story “The Crossed-Out Finale.” Part A has 3 locate-the-detail tasks, Part B has 6 analysis tasks, and Part C has 3 defense tasks, including a multiple-choice claim and a theme paragraph. Students answer in complete sentences. A 3-page answer key is included.

Skill Progression

• Guided practice (3 tasks, Part A): Students locate and quote details with paragraph citations; the reminder box gives the most support.
• Supported practice (6 tasks, Part B): Students connect details across paragraphs using qualified claims and integrated quotations.
• Independent practice (3 tasks, Part C): Students choose and defend a claim, judge lasting change, and write a theme paragraph citing three paragraphs.

The sequence follows gradual release: I Do, We Do, You Do.

Standards Alignment

RL.9-10.3 — Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme. Part A isolates motives, Part B traces interactions and plot, and Part C connects them to theme. The standard code can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

How to Use It

• After direct instruction: Assign Parts A and B in pairs once students have learned how motives drive decisions.
• As an assessment: Have students complete Part C independently as an end-of-unit check.

While students work, watch whether they qualify claims and cite paragraph numbers rather than summarize. Expect 40–50 minutes in total.

Who It's For

Built for Grade 9 English I students working on literary analysis. For extra support, discuss Part A aloud and give sentence starters for Part B. For extension, ask for a counterargument in every Part C response. Pair it with a mini-lesson or anchor chart on character motivation.

This Grade 9 English I worksheet targets RL.9-10.3, which asks students to analyze how complex characters with conflicting motivations develop, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or theme. Twelve tasks use the short story “The Crossed-Out Finale” to teach students to locate evidence, connect details across paragraphs, and defend a qualified claim about a contradictory decision. The structure follows the gradual release of responsibility model described by Fisher & Frey (2014), moving from three guided evidence-location tasks to six supported analysis tasks and three independent defense tasks. Students practice qualifying claims, quoting briefly, and citing paragraph numbers, habits that make literary arguments precise and checkable. A 3-page answer key supports quick scoring and feedback. Teachers can use the packet after direct instruction on characterization, as formative assessment, or as a writing warm-up before a full character analysis essay.