CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.4
The Standard
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 11—12 texts and topics.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6—12
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students determine what specialized words, phrases, and symbols mean within a particular science or technical text. They use context, diagrams, units, word parts, and reference tools to confirm meaning.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students accurately explain symbols and specialized terms in a challenging science or technical passage. They support each meaning with context, word parts, units, diagrams, or a glossary.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may use a familiar everyday meaning when the context requires a technical one. They may also treat symbols as decoration or define terms without using nearby diagrams, units, or sentences.
How to Assess It
- Give students a short technical paragraph containing one symbol and two specialized terms. Ask them to define each item and underline the context evidence supporting each definition.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs a product manual, sticky notes, and highlighters to label symbols, technical terms, and the clues that reveal each meaning.
Ask students to explain how the word resistance changes meaning in an electronics guide, an exercise article, and an everyday conversation.
Run a context clue relay where teams match technical terms to definitions, then cite the sentence, diagram, or unit that proves each match.
Have students examine medicine labels and appliance warnings, then explain how correctly reading one symbol or technical term prevents a specific mistake.
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Printable RST.11-12.4 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.4, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetLearning progression
Where This Standard Sits
See the whole path on the Reading: Science & Technical Subjects progression map.
Before This Standard
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4
Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.4
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.4
Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.
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