Core Content Connectors by Common Core State Standards: English Language Arts-Language Standards Grades 6-8

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College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Language

Conventions of Standard English

1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
3. Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.

Language Standards

Grade 6 students:	Grade 7 students:	Grade 8 students:
1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. 1a. Ensure that pronouns are in the proper case (subjective, objective, possessive). 1b. Use intensive pronouns (e.g., myself, ourselves). 1c. Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person. 1d. Recognize and correct vague pronouns (i.e., ones with unclear or ambiguous antecedents). 1e. Recognize variations from standard English in their own and others' writing and speaking, and identify and use strategies to improve expression in conventional language.	1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. 1a. Explain the function of phrases and clauses in general and their function in specific sentences. 1b. Choose among simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences to signal differing relationships among ideas. 1c. Place phrases and clauses within a sentence, recognizing and correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers.	1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. 1a. Explain the function of verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives) in general and their function in particular sentences. 1b. Form and use verbs in the active and passive voice. 1c. Form and use verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive mood. 1d. Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb voice and mood.
CCCs
6.WA.7 Identify and use pronouns in accurately writing.	7.WA.6 Use phrases and clauses accurately within a sentence.	8.WA.4 Use active and passive verbs in writing.
6.WA.6 Use strategies (e.g., clarify language and grammar, vary sentence patterns, maintain consistent tone and style) to improve written expression in conventional language.	7.WA.5 Use simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences within writing when appropriate.	8.WA.5 Use verbs in indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and/or subjunctive mood in writing.

Grade 6 students:	Grade 7 students:	Grade 8 students:
2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. 2a. Use punctuation (commas, parentheses, dashes) to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements. 2b. Spell correctly.	2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. 2a. Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives (e.g., It was a fascinating, enjoyable movie but not He wore an old[,] green shirt). 2b. Spell correctly.	2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. 2a. Use punctuation (comma, ellipsis, dash) to indicate a pause or break. 2b. Use an ellipsis to indicate an omission. 2c. Spell correctly.
CCCs
6.WA.8 Use commas, parentheses, and/or dashes in writing to set off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.	7.WA.7 Use commas to separate coordinate adjectives.	8.WA.6 Use punctuation (e.g., comma, ellipsis, dash) to indicate a pause or break.
6.WA.9 Spell words correctly in writing.	7.WA.8 Spell words correctly in writing.	8.WA.7 Spell words correctly in writing.

Grade 6 students:	Grade 7 students:	Grade 8 students:
3. Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening. 3a. Choose language that expresses ideas precisely and concisely, recognizing and eliminating wordiness and redundancy. 3b. Maintain consistency in style and tone.	3. Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening. 3a. Choose language that expresses ideas precisely and concisely, recognizing and eliminating wordiness and redundancy.	3. Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening. 3a. Use verbs in the active and passive voice and in the conditional and subjunctive mood to achieve particular effects (e.g., emphasizing the actor or the action; expressing uncertainty or describing a state contrary to fact).
CCCs
6.WA.10 Vary sentence patterns for meaning, reader interest, and style within writing.	7.WL.n1 Use words, phrases, or gathered information to accurately reflect meaning.	8.WA.8 Use active and passive voice in writing to achieve particular effect.
	7.WA.9 Choose language that expresses ideas precisely and concisely, by eliminating wordiness and redundancy.	8.WA.9 Use verbs in the conditional and subjunctive mood to achieve particular effect.

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

4. Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
6. Acquire and use accurately a range of 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 vocabulary knowledge when encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression.

Language Standards

Grade 6 students:	Grade 7 students:	Grade 8 students:
4. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. 4a. Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase. 4b. Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., audience, auditory, audible). 4c. Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech. 4d. Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary).	4. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 7 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. 4a. Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase. 4b. Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., belligerent, bellicose, rebel). 4c. Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech. 4d. Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary).	4. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words or phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. 4a. Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase. 4b. Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede, secede). 4c. Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech. 4d. Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary).
CCCs
6.RWL.a1 Use context to determine the meaning of unknown or multiple meaning words.	7.RWL.g1 Use context as a clue to determine the meaning of a grade appropriate word or phrases.	8.RWL.g1 Use context as a clue to the meaning of a grade-appropriate word or phrase.
6.RWL.b1 Use common grade-appropriate roots and affixes as clues to the meaning of a word.	7.RWL.j2 Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to find the pronunciation of a word.	8.RWL.j2 Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to find the pronunciation of a word.
6.RWL.d2 Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to find the pronunciation of a word.	7.RWL.j3 Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to find the synonym for a word.	8.RWL.j3 Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to find the synonym for a word.
6.RWL.d3 Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to find the synonym for a word.	7.RWL.j4 Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to find the precise meaning of a word.	8.RWL.j4 Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to find the precise meaning of a word.
6.RWL.d4 Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to find the precise meaning of a word.	7.RWL.j1 Verify the prediction of the meaning of a new word or phrase (e.g., by checking a dictionary).	8.RWL.j1 Verify the prediction of the meaning of a new word or phrase (e.g., by checking a dictionary).
6.RWL.d1 Verify the prediction of the meaning of a new word or phrase (e.g., by checking a dictionary).

Grade 6 students:	Grade 7 students:	Grade 8 students:
5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. 5a. Interpret figures of speech (e.g., personification) in context. 5b. Use the relationship between particular words (e.g., cause/effect, part/whole, item/category) to better understand each of the words. 5c. Distinguish among the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations (definitions) (e.g., stingy, scrimping, economical, unwasteful, thrifty).	5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. 5a. Interpret figures of speech (e.g., literary, biblical, and mythological allusions) in context. 5b. Use the relationship between particular words (e.g., synonym/antonym, analogy) to better understand each of the words. 5c. Distinguish among the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations (definitions) (e.g., refined, respectful, polite, diplomatic, condescending).	5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. 5a. Interpret figures of speech (e.g. verbal irony, puns) in context. 5b. Use the relationship between particular words to better understand each of the words. 5c. Distinguish among the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations (definitions) (e.g., bullheaded, willful, firm, persistent, resolute).
CCCs
6.RWL.e1 Explain the meaning of figures of speech (e.g., personification, idioms, proverbs) in context.	7.RWL.k1 Identify allusion within a text or media.	8.RWL.k1 Identify irony within a text or media
7.RWL.k2 Interpret figures of speech (e.g., personification, allusions) in context.	7.RWL.k2 Interpret figures of speech (e.g., personification, allusions) in context.	8.RWL.k2 Identify a pun within a text or media.
6.WL.f1 Use figurative language appropriately, including similes and metaphors.	8.RWL.k3 Interpret figures of speech (e.g., allusions, verbal irony, puns) in context.	8.RWL.k3 Interpret figures of speech (e.g., allusions, verbal irony, puns) in context.
6.WA.11 Use the relationship between particular words (e.g., synonyms, antonyms, homographs) in writing to promote understanding of each of the words.	7.RWL.g2 Use the relationship between particular words (e.g., synonym/antonym, analogy) to better understand each of the words.	8.WL.n1 Use literacy devices (e.g., similes, metaphors, hyperbole, personification, imagery) in narrative writing.
6.RWL.a2 Use the relationship between particular words (e.g., cause/effect, part/whole, item/category) to better understand each of the words.	7.RWL.k3 Identify the connotative meaning (the idea associated with the word) of a word or phrase.	8.RWL.g2 Use the relationship between particular words to better understand each of the words.
6.RWL.e2 Identify the connotative meaning (the idea associated with the word) of a word or phrase.	7.RWL.f1 Distinguish among the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations (definitions) (e.g., slim, skinny, scrawny, thin).	8.RWL.f1 Distinguish among the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations (definitions) (e.g., bullheaded, willful, firm, persistent, resolute).
	7.WL.n1 Use words, phrases, or gathered information to accurately reflect literary context.

Grade 6 students:	Grade 7 students:	Grade 8 students:
6. Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.	6. Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.	6. Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
CCCs
6.WA.12 Use grade appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases accurately within writing.	7.WA.10 Use grade appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases accurately within writing.	8.WA.10 Use grade appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases accurately within writing.
6.RWL.c1 Use general academic and domain specific words and phrases accurately.	7.RWL.i1 Use general academic and domain specific words and phrases accurately.	8.RWL.i1 Use general academic and domain specific words and phrases accurately.