South Dakota ELA 9-10.SL.4.c

ELAGrades 9–10Speaking & Listening

The Standard

9-10.SL.4: Present content appropriate to the audience, task, and purpose while respecting intellectual property.

Demonstrate effective verbal communication (volume, pace, tone, enunciation).

South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students speak so listeners can hear and understand them. They adjust volume, pace, tone, and word clarity for the room and the message.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student gives an announcement at a volume the room can hear without shouting. They slow down for key details, speak clearly, and use a tone that fits the message.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think speaking louder always helps, even when the room is quiet. Some rush to sound confident or think clear speech means changing their accent.
How to Assess It: Have each student record this announcement: 'The assembly starts at 10:15 in the gym. Bring your ID.' Check whether the details are clear and the volume, pace, and tone fit an announcement.

Lesson moves

Have students record a 20-second announcement, listen back, and rerecord it with one change to volume, pace, tone, or word clarity.
Read the same announcement twice, once rushed and once measured, then ask students which version made the time and place easier to catch.
Give pairs cards naming a quiet classroom or noisy gym, then have them deliver the same message while partners guess the setting.
Have students rehearse a bus pickup change for families, making the new location and time easy to hear.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 9-10.SL.4.c, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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