South Dakota ELA 11-12.L.6.a
The Standard
- 11-12.L.6
- Acquire and accurately use general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level.
Demonstrate independence in gathering a broad, deep, and precise vocabulary.
South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students notice words worth learning in what they read and hear. They use context and a dictionary to check meanings, then try the words in their own writing and speech.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student collects words without waiting for a list. They can explain how a word differs from a close synonym and use it accurately in a new sentence.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may copy a dictionary definition without checking how the word works in the passage. They may treat near synonyms as interchangeable or use a new word in the wrong tone.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: From today's independent reading, choose one word you want to learn, copy its sentence, infer its meaning, and check a dictionary. Use the word in a new sentence and explain why it fits better than a close synonym.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Hand out index cards and an essay; students choose two unfamiliar words, check definitions, and sort the cards by tone.
Write 'The witness insisted that the door was locked' on the board; ask pairs what changes if 'insisted' becomes 'said.'
Run a synonym swap game: teams replace 'good' in three sample reviews with sharper words and explain each choice.
Bring three job postings; students collect unfamiliar terms, check meanings, and explain how each term affects the job duties.
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Printable 11-12.L.6.a Worksheet
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Related Standards
- 9-10.L.6.a
Demonstrate independence in gathering a broad and precise vocabulary.
- 1.L.6
Demonstrate grade-appropriate vocabulary use across reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
- 8.L.6
Acquire and use grade-appropriate academic and domain-specific vocabulary; gather and apply knowledge of words and phrases to reading, writing, speaking, and li...
- 2.L.6
Acquire and use domain specific vocabulary across reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
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