CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.3
The Standard
Delineate a speaker's argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Speaking and Listening Standards
What This Standard Means
Students need to listen to a speaker, identify the main argument, pull out the specific claims, and track how those claims are supported. They should be able to separate a speaker’s point from examples, stories, opinions, and evidence.
Mastery looks like a student saying, “The speaker claims ___, supports it with ___, and the evidence is strong or weak because ___.” Students often get stuck by summarizing the whole speech instead of naming claims, accepting evidence without checking if it fits, or saying reasoning is “good” without explaining why.
Ways to Teach It
- Play a short student-friendly speech and have students use sticky notes labeled claim, evidence, and reasoning while they listen.
- Ask students to write: Which claim was strongest, and what made the evidence convincing or weak?
- Give a one-minute audio clip and have students list the main claim plus one relevant piece of evidence.
- Have students analyze a school announcement or ad, then decide whether its reasons would actually persuade seventh graders.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.3
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.8
Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evide...
- 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.RI.8.8
Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recogni...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.3
Delineate a speaker's argument and specific claims, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.