CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.4c
The Standard
Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning, its part of speech, its etymology, or its standard usage.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
What This Standard Means
Students need to use dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses, and reliable online tools to check more than a quick definition. They should be able to find pronunciation, part of speech, word history, usage notes, and the meaning that fits a specific sentence or subject area.
Mastery looks like choosing the right reference, comparing entries when needed, and using the information to explain or revise a word choice. Students often stop at the first definition, misuse thesaurus suggestions, ignore context, or miss labels like archaic, informal, legal, or biology.
Ways to Teach It
- Give pairs three reference sources and five tricky words from the current text, then have them build a citation-backed word card for each.
- Ask students to explain which meaning of a word fits a passage, and what evidence from the entry and sentence proves it.
- Use an exit ticket with one word, a dictionary entry screenshot, and three questions about pronunciation, part of speech, and usage.
- Have students compare a medical, legal, or technical term in a general dictionary and a field-specific glossary, then explain the difference.
Before This Standard
If students are struggling here, check these first.
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