CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1
The Standard
Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Literature
What This Standard Means
Students need to ask clear questions about a story and answer questions using proof from the text. They should point to the sentence, detail, or event that helped them figure out the answer, not just give an opinion or memory.
Mastery looks like a student saying, “I know because the text says...” and choosing evidence that truly matches the question. Students often get stuck by giving answers without proof, using vague evidence, or copying a random sentence that does not support their thinking.
Ways to Teach It
- Give pairs sticky notes to mark one question and one answer with evidence while reading a short story passage.
- Ask students to write: What did the character want, and what sentence in the story proves it?
- Show three answers to one question and have students circle the one with the best text evidence.
- Use a simple mystery story and have students act like detectives, proving each claim with a clue from the page.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.1
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.1
Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1
Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.1
Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.