CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.6
The Standard
Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Speaking and Listening
What This Standard Means
Students need to know how audience, purpose, and setting change the way they speak. They should be able to shift from casual talk with a partner to clear, organized, formal speech for a class presentation, interview, debate, or public announcement.
Mastery looks like choosing words, tone, volume, pace, and level of formality to match the task. Students often get stuck using one speaking style everywhere, reading slides word for word, or sounding too casual in formal tasks. They may also need practice code-switching without treating home language as wrong.
Ways to Teach It
- Give pairs three scenario cards, such as principal meeting, team huddle, and class report, then have them say the same message each way.
- Ask students to write two versions of a request, one for a friend and one for a school board member, then explain their choices.
- Use a two-minute speech check: students present once, then classmates name one choice that matched the audience and one to revise.
- Study a short job interview clip and have students list the speaker’s formal language, tone, posture, and pacing choices.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.6
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.6
Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.6
Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.6
Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.6
Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.