NY Next Generation ELA 8L4.c
The Standard
Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.
New York State Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students consult general and specialized dictionaries, glossaries, and thesauruses for pronunciation, precise meaning, or part of speech. They select the reference and entry that fit the discipline and context.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student chooses an efficient source, reads pronunciation and grammatical labels correctly, and compares relevant senses. The final meaning is precise enough for the original passage.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may assume all reference sources provide the same information or treat thesaurus entries as exact substitutes. They may ignore usage labels, subject labels, and parts of speech.
How to Assess It
- Give students a general word and a discipline-specific term in context. Ask them to choose references and report pronunciation, part of speech, and precise meaning.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Compare entries for one word across a dictionary, thesaurus, and specialized glossary, then identify each source's best use.
Ask, ‘Which entry detail proves this sense fits the passage, and which source provides it most clearly?’
Play Reference Source Challenge by solving pronunciation, meaning, and part-of-speech tasks with the most suitable tools.
Use a technical glossary to prepare accurate vocabulary notes before explaining an article to classmates.
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Printable 8L4.c Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 8L4.c, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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