Inquiry By Design and Common Core State Standards

With engaging, rigorous materials that emphasize text-based writing; work with complex, difficult texts (including fiction, literary nonfiction, and informational texts); work across multiple texts; and reading and writing across three writing styles—argument, informational, and narrative—Inquiry By Design supports schools to successfully meet Common Core State Standards, and, at the same time, increase rigor and student engagement across the English language arts curriculum.

Specifically, Inquiry By Design’s curriculum for grades 3-12

  • Focuses on increasing text complexity—the central component of the Common Core State Standards.

  • Includes a balance of exposure and work with informational texts and literary nonfiction.

  • Emphasizes writing text-based arguments in both fiction and nonfiction.

  • Stresses the importance of close reading in both literature and literary nonfiction.

  • Features extended work across multiple texts.

  • Builds knowledge through content-rich texts.

  • Emphasizes speaking and listening, and, in particular, effective participation in collaborative, text-based, small- and large-group discussions.