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

What This Standard Means

Students need to ask clear, specific questions during a discussion and answer others with more than a short yes, no, or one-sentence reply. They should refer to the text, topic, or issue and add details that move the conversation forward.

Mastery looks like students building on classmates’ ideas with evidence, examples, or follow-up questions. They stay on topic and explain their thinking. Students often get stuck giving vague comments, repeating what was already said, or asking questions that are too broad to answer well.

Ways to Teach It

  • Give pairs a short article and discussion cards labeled clarify, evidence, connect, and challenge, then have them use each card once while talking.
  • Ask students to write one question that starts with “What makes you think” and one response that includes “For example.”
  • During a fishbowl discussion, tally each student’s specific question, detailed response, and comment that connects to the topic.
  • Have students watch a short clip of a town meeting and identify which speakers add useful details and which do not.

Before This Standard

If students are struggling here, check these first.

Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1c

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What This Unlocks

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

Related Standards

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

Page updated July 10, 2026.

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