EALR: 1. The student uses listening and observation skills to gain understanding.

Component 1:1
Focuses attention.

1. Demonstrates attentiveness through eye contact, note taking, asking relevant questions, and offering responses.
2. Evaluates and reflects on ideas while listening in a variety of situations.

Component 1:2
Listens and observes to gain and interpret information.

1. Interprets verbal and non-verbal communication.
2. Utilizes verbal information to draw inferences based upon people's behavior.
3. Analyzes visual texts for correlation of ideas, information, and events.
4. Listens for, identifies, and explains concrete ideas, relationships, inferences, and information vs. persuasion.
5. Utilizes a variety of effective listening strategies.

Component 1:3
Checks for understanding by asking questions and paraphrasing.

1. Asks questions to clarify content, meaning, and intent in oral and visual contexts.
2. Paraphrases to expand and refine understanding.
3. Constructs and begins to test hypotheses.

EALR: 2. The student communicates ideas clearly and effectively.

Component 2:1
Communicates clearly to a range of audiences for different purposes.

1. Assesses needs of an audience and makes adjustments in purpose, content, and technique to enhance delivery and message.
2. Communicates effectively with different audiences in precise, interesting, and natural ways.
3. Communicates for a range of purposes; i.e., to inform, to persuade, to narrate, to reflect, or to interview.
4. Identifies and uses different forms of oral presentation.

Component 2:2
Develops content and ideas.

1. Demonstrates consistency in focus and elaborates through examples, details, and facts.
2. Continues to use effective organizational structures, including subtitles and bullets, to construct coherent paragraphs through the use of effective transitions.
3. Makes a well-reasoned, rational argument supported by related details.

Component 2:3
Uses effective delivery.

1. Varies tone, pitch, and pace of speech to create effect and to aid communication.
2. Projects voice.
3. Utilizes logic to persuade.
4. Uses good posture and eye contact.
5. Adds facial expression and body language to emphasize tone and mood.

Component 2:4
Uses effective language and style.

1. Speaks using standard grammar.
2. Uses a variety of sentence structures.
3. Chooses a range of vocabulary that will create interest and is well-suited to the topic and audience.
4. Analyzes voice to create effect for the audience and purpose.

Component 2:5
Effectively uses action, sound, and/or images to support presentations.

1. Demonstrates ability to communicate messages through oral, artistic, graphic, or multimedia to support ideas.
2. Assesses technology as a presentation tool.

EALR: 3. The student uses communication strategies and skills to work effectively with others.

Component 3:1
Uses language to interact effectively and responsibly with others.

1. Uses equitable and respectful language to influence others.
2. Responds to different types of speech such as:  a chat, a warning, or a joke.
3. Uses language that is free from any type of stereotyping or bias.
4. Explores cross-cultural communication.

Component 3:2
Works cooperatively as a member of a group.

1. Participates in a group writing and working toward consensus and possible solutions.
2. Works in a group contributing concrete suggestions, research, and effort.
3. Elicits the response of group members to offer ideas and points of view.

Component 3:3
Seeks agreement and solution through discussion.

1. Takes into account others' ideas and points of view, and gain respect for differences in solutions.
2. Uses understanding of group interaction to anticipate consequences.
3. Accepts personal accountability in a group.
4. Develops a course of action; then advocates and implements it.
5. Identifies challenges and encourages others to action.

EALR: 4. The student analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of formal and informal communication.

Component 4:1
Assesses own strengths and needs for improvement.

1. Defends personal criteria in evaluating one's own and others' presentations.
2. Uses one's own and established criteria to improve presentations.
3. Reviews effective presentation, then compares and contrasts own strengths and weaknesses as a presenter.

Component 4:2
Seeks and offers feedback.

Component 4:2
Analyzes mass communication.

Component 4:2
Analyzes how communication is used in career settings.