CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.6

ELA7th GradePresentation of Knowledge and Ideas

The Standard

Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Speaking and Listening Standards

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students choose language that fits the audience, purpose, and setting. They shift between casual and formal speech while keeping ideas clear and organized.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students adjust word choice, tone, volume, and sentence structure for the audience and purpose. They use clear, grammatically correct English when the setting calls for it.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think formal speech means using long words or sounding unnatural. They may use slang with every audience or avoid contractions even when casual speech fits. Some change tone but forget clear grammar and complete sentences.
How to Assess It: Give students two scenarios: asking a friend for notes and asking the principal for a schedule change. Have them deliver each request and label the language choices they changed.

Lesson moves

Give pairs audience and purpose cards, then have them deliver the same school announcement in two different speaking styles.
Ask students to explain how they would request extra time from a teacher, a classmate, and a family member.
Play a register sort using sentence cards labeled formal, informal, or either, then have students defend uncertain choices.
Students record a voicemail for a doctor’s office and a voice message to a friend, then compare their language choices.

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