Scale Tips Toward Nonfiction Under Common Core College and
workplace demands are propelling the shift in text The common
standards expect students to become adept at reading
informational text, a shift in focus that many English/language
arts teachers fear might diminish the time-honored place of
literature in their classrooms. In schools nationwide, where all
but four states have adopted the Common Core State Standards,
teachers are finding ways to incorporate historical documents,
speeches, essays, scientific articles, and other nonfiction into
classes. The new standards envision elementary students, whose
reading typically tilts toward fiction, reading equally from
literature and informational text. By high school, literature
should represent only 30 percent of their readings; 70 percent
should be informational. The tilt reflects employers' and
college professors' complaints that too many young people can't
analyze or synthesize information, or document arguments. Some
passionate advocates for literature,