CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.4

ELAGrades 11–12Craft and Structure

The Standard

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including analyzing how an author uses and refines the meaning of a key term over the course of a text (e.g., how Madison defines faction in Federalist No. 10).

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6—12

What This Standard Means

Students need to figure out what key words and phrases mean in a history or social studies text by using context, structure, and the author’s argument. They also need to track how a term’s meaning shifts or becomes more precise across a passage, not just define it once.

Mastery looks like students citing exact lines to explain a term’s meaning and showing how the author builds or adjusts that meaning over time. Students often get stuck by using a dictionary definition only, missing loaded language, or ignoring how repeated terms connect to the author’s claim.

Ways to Teach It

  • Hands-on activity: Give students a marked excerpt from Federalist No. 10 and have them color-code each use of “faction” with margin notes.
  • Discussion prompt: Ask, “How does the author’s definition of this term change from the opening paragraph to the final claim?”
  • Quick assessment: Show a short primary source excerpt and ask students to define one key term using two pieces of context evidence.
  • Real-world connection: Have students track how a news article defines and reuses a term like “security,” “freedom,” or “crisis.”

Before This Standard

If students are struggling here, check these first.

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Related Standards

Standard text verified against corestandards.org on July 10, 2026.

Page updated July 10, 2026.

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