National Shakespeare Competition
English Education Standards
The Competition connects to the Common Core State Standards, a national set of standards now adopted by a majority of US states. The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The standards focus on preparing students for the classroom and beyond.
The English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition fulfills the following Common Core Standards for English Language Arts (Grades 6-12):
Reading Standards: Literature
Standard #1:
Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
STANDARD #2:
Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
STANDARD #3:
Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.
STANDARD #4:
Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
STANDARD #5:
Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.
STANDARD #6:
Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
STANDARD #7*:
Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
STANDARD #8:
Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.
Note: Usually applies to Reading for Informational Text
STANDARD #9:
Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take
STANDARD #10:
Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
Speaking & Listening Standards
STANDARD #1:
Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
STANDARD #2:
Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
STANDARD #3:
Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
STANDARD #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.
STANDARD #6:
Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
Language Standards
STANDARD #1:
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
STANDARD #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.
STANDARD #4:
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and specialized reference materials, as appropriate.
STANDARD #5:
Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
STANDARD #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 considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
* Indicates a Common Core Standard that is fulfilled by the supplemental materials (Suggested Classroom Schedule for Teachers). See the Teacher Handbook for lesson plans.