CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.6
The Standard
Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Language Standards
What This Standard Means
Students need to figure out, learn, and use advanced academic and subject-specific words in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. They should not wait for the teacher to define every word. They need habits for using context, word parts, reference tools, and examples to build meaning and choose precise language.
Mastery looks like students using terms accurately in essays, discussions, presentations, and annotations. They can explain why a word fits better than a simpler one. Students often get stuck memorizing definitions without usage, misreading tone, or choosing fancy words that do not match the idea.
Ways to Teach It
- Give pairs a dense article paragraph, sticky notes, and dictionaries, then have them annotate five key terms and revise the paragraph in simpler language.
- Ask students to write: Which word from today’s reading would most improve your argument, and how would you use it accurately?
- Use a three-minute exit ticket with one target word, asking for definition, context clue, and an original sentence tied to the text.
- Show a job posting or college syllabus, then have students identify ten academic or field-specific terms they would need to understand.
Before This Standard
If students are struggling here, check these first.
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.6
Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phra...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.6
Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phra...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.6
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