Virginia SOL 7.C.2.A.iii
The Standard
Adjusting verbal and nonverbal communication skills appropriate to audience, topic, and purpose to enhance the overall message.
Virginia Standards of Learning for English · Speaking and Presentation of Ideas
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students tailor word choice, tone, volume, pace, eye contact, posture, and gestures for specific listeners and goals. They use those choices to make a report or opinion clear and convincing.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students can explain why they chose a certain tone, pace, vocabulary, posture, and gesture. During a presentation, those choices fit the listeners and make the main point easier to understand.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think speaking louder always makes a message stronger. They may use gestures, eye contact, or formal language without considering whether those choices fit the audience and goal.
How to Assess It
- Prompt: “Give a 45-second pitch to the principal recommending one school improvement.” Listen for suitable word choice, tone, pace, eye contact, posture, and gestures.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs audience and purpose cards, then have each student deliver the same 30-second announcement twice, changing voice, posture, and gestures.
Compare two short video clips, then write which vocal and body-language choices fit each audience and purpose.
Play Audience Switch: students begin a pitch, draw a new audience card, and immediately adjust vocabulary, volume, pace, and eye contact.
Rehearse a one-minute proposal for the principal about a school issue, using a formal tone, steady pace, eye contact, and purposeful gestures.
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Printable 7.C.2.A.iii Worksheet
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Related Standards
- 6.C.2.A.v
Using nonverbal skills, such as proper posture and stance, gestures, and eye movement to enhance the overall message.
- 10.C.2.A.i
Choosing vocabulary, language, and tone appropriate to the topic, audience, and purpose.
- 3.C.2.A.iii
Using language (formal or informal) and style as appropriate to audience, topic, and purpose.
- 6.C.2.A.iv
Using verbal communication skills, such as volume, tone, and enunciation to enhance the overall message.
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