The 1% Scholar curriculum is strictly aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts and Literacy. Our program specifically targets the College and Career Readiness (CCR) Anchor Standards, which demand that students read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently. By engaging with the Great Books of the Western World, Scholars develop the precise analytical, argumentative, and communicative skills required for success in Tier-1 universities and professional leadership roles. Below are the specific standards associated with our curriculum.
1. Text Complexity and Quality (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.10)
The Common Core requires students to engage with “texts of exceptional craft and thought” from a wide range of cultures and periods.
- The Alignment: By using the original Great Books set, our curriculum bypasses “leveled” or “simplified” reading and forces students to interact with the highest level of linguistic complexity available, surpassing standard high school requirements.
2. Evidence-Based Argumentation (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.1)
The standards move away from “creative writing” and toward “argumentative writing” based on textual evidence.
- The Alignment: The Paper often requires an opinion/argument essay that must use works cited. This directly satisfies the requirement to “write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.”
3. Speaking and Listening (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.1)
The standards emphasize the ability to initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.
- The Alignment: The Socratic Seminar (the first 30 minutes of our sessions) is a direct application of these standards. It requires scholars to “propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the current discussion to broader themes or larger ideas.”
4. Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.7)
Common Core demands that students integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats.
- The Alignment: The Presentation and The Product pillars require students to translate classical themes into digital slides, video, or visual art. This demonstrates a “multimodal” mastery of the material, moving the text from the page into the digital age.