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Common Core ELA2nd GradeReading: Informational

RI.2.9: Compare the Most Important Points of Two Texts

Also written as CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.9 · Cluster: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas.

All 40 2nd Grade ELA Standards

The Official Wording

Compare and contrast the most important points presented by two texts on the same topic.

Common Core State Standards, Grade 2, Reading: Informational Text · Read it at the source · Checked October 14, 2026

What RI.2.9 Means in Plain English

Second graders read two nonfiction texts on one topic, name the most important point of each, and say where those points agree and differ. Two texts on jellyfish agree they drift with the ocean, but one is mostly about their simple bodies and the other about catching food.

In 1st grade (RI.1.9) children noticed basic likenesses and differences, such as in the pictures, descriptions or steps. Second grade moves to each text’s most important points. In 3rd grade (RI.3.9) students compare the key details too, not only the big points.

RI.2.9 I Can Statements

  • I can tell the most important point of each text.
  • I can tell how two texts on one topic agree.
  • I can tell how two texts on one topic are different.

RI.2.9 Worked Example

Two short texts about jellyfish that share one fact but make different points, and two answers: one that compares small details and one that compares the big points.

Read the Story
Text 1, from a book about ocean animals: A jellyfish is not a fish at all. It has no bones, no brain and no heart, and its soft body is almost all water.Text 1: A jellyfish can push itself along a little by squeezing its bell-shaped body, but mostly it drifts wherever the ocean carries it.Text 2, from a nature magazine: A jellyfish catches its food with long tentacles covered in tiny stingers. When a small fish or shrimp brushes against them, the stingers shoot out and stun it.Text 2: Because a jellyfish drifts with the ocean, it cannot chase its food. It waits for the food to bump into its tentacles.
A short passage written for this page.
Question: What is the most important point of each text? How are the two texts alike, and how are they different?
Not Yet“Text 1 says a jellyfish has no heart. Text 2 says it eats shrimp.”Both facts are real, but they are small details, one from each text. The answer never says what either text is mostly trying to teach, or what the two have in common.
Meets the Standard“Both texts say a jellyfish drifts wherever the ocean carries it. Text 1’s most important point is that a jellyfish is a very simple animal, with no bones, brain or heart. Text 2’s most important point is that it catches food with stinging tentacles. One is about what a jellyfish is, and the other is about how it eats.”The child names the big point of each text, finds the one thing they share, and states the difference between the points rather than between two stray details.
Question Stems to Use
What is the most important point of Text 1? Of Text 2?What do both texts say?What does one text tell that the other does not?Is that a most important point, or a small detail?If you could read only one text, what would you miss?

Common Mistakes with RI.2.9

Comparing small details

“Text 1 says it has no heart. Text 2 says it eats shrimp.”

Try this: Have students write each text’s most important point in one sentence first, then compare those two sentences only.

Finding only the topic in common

“They’re both about jellyfish.”

Try this: Point out that the topic was a given, and ask what both texts say about jellyfish that is the same.

Reporting the texts one after the other

A summary of Text 1, then a summary of Text 2, with no word like both or but

Try this: Give the frames “Both texts say…” and “But Text 1… while Text 2…” so every sentence holds the two texts together.

Where RI.2.9 Fits

Comes BeforeRI.1.9Spot basic likenesses and differences between two texts on one topic, such as in pictures or steps.
AlongsideRL.2.9Compare two versions of the same story, like a Cinderella tale from two cultures.W.2.7Read several books on one topic to write a report together.
Comes NextRI.3.9Compare the most important points and key details of two texts on one topic.

Practice RI.2.9

Quick Check

  1. What is the most important point of Text 1?
  2. What is the most important point of Text 2?
  3. What do both texts say?

RI.2.9: Other Names

RI.2.9CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.9

Common Core State Standards © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved. Official wording from the Common Core State Standards PDFs at corestandards.org, last checked October 14, 2026. The explanation, I can statements, example, mistakes and practice on this page are EMStudio’s own, written beside the official wording. They are not part of the standard.