(1) The benchmark for communication arts speaking and listening content standard 1 for a student at the end of grade 8 is the ability to:

(a) analyze and explain how the components of the communication process affect communication;

(b) apply verbal and nonverbal delivery techniques to communicate effectively;

(c) apply effective listening strategies to fit the purpose, situation, and setting of the communication;

(d) select and narrow topics for specific occasions and develop an appropriate introduction, body, and conclusion to deliver speeches;

(e) adapt communication to a variety of formal and informal audiences, settings, and purposes;

(f) use feedback to monitor and adjust speaking and listening effectiveness;

(g) compare and contrast the verbal and nonverbal aspects of storytellers, the behaviors of audiences, and the settings and purposes of stories in the oral traditions of different cultures, including Montana American Indians; and

(h) explain the importance of communicating ethically, including effectively referencing sources and displaying respectful communications to individuals and groups.