CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.3
The Standard
Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Speaking and Listening Standards
What This Standard Means
Students need to listen closely to a speaker and judge how the argument works. They should identify the speaker’s stance, main claims, assumptions, evidence, reasoning, word choice, emphasis, and tone. They are not just summarizing. They are checking whether the message is fair, logical, supported, and persuasive.
Mastery looks like a student citing exact moments from a speech or discussion and explaining how those choices shape the argument. Students often get stuck naming tone, spotting hidden assumptions, or separating strong evidence from emotional language. They may also agree with the speaker and stop analyzing the craft.
Ways to Teach It
- Play a two-minute speech clip and have students mark claim, evidence, tone shifts, and loaded words on a printed transcript.
- Ask students to write: Which part of the speaker’s argument is strongest, and which part depends on an assumption?
- Give an exit ticket with one quoted phrase, then ask students to label its tone and explain its effect.
- Compare a campaign speech, a school board comment, and an ad script to show how speakers shape trust and urgency.
Before This Standard
If students are struggling here, check these first.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.3
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.3
Delineate a speaker's argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and relevance and sufficiency of the evidence and identifying when...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.3
Delineate a speaker's argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.3
Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.