Virginia SOL 6.C.1.A.iii
The Standard
Asking relevant questions to clarify others’ perspectives.
Virginia Standards of Learning for English · Communication, Listening, and Collaboration
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students take part in extended discussions with different classmates about texts and grade-level topics. They ask focused questions that help them understand what another person means or why that person holds a view.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students listen closely and ask questions tied to a speaker’s ideas. Their questions help explain the speaker’s reasoning, evidence, word choice, or point of view.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may ask questions that change the subject or challenge the speaker instead of clarifying the speaker’s view. They may repeat what was said without checking whether their interpretation is accurate.
How to Assess It
- During a partner discussion about a class text, have each student ask one clarifying question and then write the partner’s response in one sentence.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups claim cards and question-stem cards, then have students match each claim with a useful clarifying question and ask it aloud.
Discuss a character’s decision, then write one question beginning with “Do you mean” or “What makes you think” for a classmate.
Play Clarify or Challenge, where students sort spoken questions into categories and revise every challenging question into a clarifying one.
Assign roles in a school lunch proposal meeting, and require students to clarify two stakeholders’ views before sharing their own opinions.
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Printable 6.C.1.A.iii Worksheet

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Related Standards
- 8.C.1.A.iii
Asking clarifying questions and responding appropriately to others’ questions to encourage discussion, foster understanding, and maintain focus on the topic.
- 4.C.1.A.iii
Asking and answering specific questions to clarify concepts, share, or follow up on information, make connections, and confirm new understanding(s).
- 1.C.1.A.iii
Asking questions to seek help, get information, or clarify information for further understanding.
- 5.C.1.A.iii
Asking and answering relevant questions to build on others’ ideas, clarify ideas, and acquire or confirm information.
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