CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1b
The Standard
Work with peers to set rules for collegial discussions and decision-making (e.g., informal consensus, taking votes on key issues, presentation of alternate views), clear goals and deadlines, and individual roles as needed.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students help build a workable plan before and during a group discussion. They agree on behavior, define the outcome and timing, assign jobs, and choose how decisions will be made.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student proposes specific norms, a clear outcome, a deadline, and useful roles without waiting for the teacher. During disagreement, the student follows the chosen process and makes room for an opposing view.
Common Misconceptions
- Students often suggest vague rules such as “be respectful” without naming observable actions. They may treat roles as titles without duties, assume every decision needs a vote, or confuse consensus with unanimous agreement.
How to Assess It
- Give students a group project scenario. Ask them to write three discussion rules, one goal, one deadline, assigned roles, and a method for making decisions.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups cards labeled facilitator, recorder, timekeeper, and reporter, then have them plan a five-minute discussion using every card.
Students respond in writing to the prompt, “When a group disagrees, should it seek consensus or vote, and why?”
Run a meeting setup race where teams turn a project scenario into norms, roles, a goal, a deadline, and a decision method.
Have students plan a school club event, assigning jobs and choosing how the group will approve its final proposal.
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Printable SL.9-10.1b Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1b, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
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Where This Standard Sits
Before This Standard
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What This Unlocks
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