CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1c

ELA6th GradeComprehension and Collaboration

The Standard

Pose and respond to specific questions with elaboration and detail by making comments that contribute to the topic, text, or issue under discussion.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students ask focused questions about the topic, text, or issue being discussed. They respond with clear details and make comments that move the discussion forward.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students ask clear questions tied to the text or issue. They answer with relevant details and add comments that extend, clarify, or challenge an idea respectfully.
Common Misconceptions: Students may ask broad questions that do not connect to the discussion. They may repeat a classmate’s point, give one-word answers, or add details without explaining their relevance.
How to Assess It: After a short partner discussion, have each student write one focused question and one detailed response that builds on a partner’s comment.

Lesson moves

Give groups question and comment cards to sort into focused, vague, relevant, and off-topic piles, then revise the weak examples.
Discuss a short article using the prompt, “What question could help us understand the author’s claim more clearly?”
Play Discussion Ladder, where students earn a step by asking a focused question, answering fully, or building on a classmate’s idea.
Hold a mock school council meeting about a lunchroom issue, requiring each student to ask one specific question and offer one detailed response.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1c, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Learning progression

If students are struggling here, check these first.

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

Keep exploring

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