South Dakota ELA 11-12.L.1.b

ELAGrades 11–12Language

The Standard

11-12.L.1: Demonstrate command of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. Consult references as needed.

Resolve issues of complex or contested grammar and usage.

South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students resolve tricky grammar choices by checking how a sentence is built. When usage guides disagree, they choose wording that fits the audience and explain their choice.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can fix verb agreement when a phrase interrupts the subject. They can use a current usage guide to decide whether to keep singular they in a school notice.
Common Misconceptions: Students may match a verb to the nearest noun instead of the subject. They may also treat older rules against singular they or split infinitives as rules that always apply.
How to Assess It: Give students this exit ticket: Revise 'The list of speakers are on the desk' and explain your edit. Then ask whether 'Each speaker should bring their notes' belongs in a school notice, using a current usage guide excerpt to support the answer.

Lesson moves

Give pairs sentence strips for 'The list of speakers are ready'; have them move 'of speakers' aside and choose the verb.
Ask students to write a two-sentence reply to an editor who wants to replace singular they in a school notice.
Play a two-minute correction round with five sentences containing interrupted subjects; students circle the subject before changing each verb.
Compare pronoun choices in a real school form with a current usage guide, then revise one line for clarity.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 11-12.L.1.b, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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