CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.8
The Standard
Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment in a text.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6—12
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students sort statements in history and social studies texts into facts, personal opinions, and judgments supported by evidence. They explain which text clues support each choice.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students correctly label statements and explain why each label fits. They identify the evidence and reasoning that separate a supported judgment from a personal opinion.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may treat any statement they agree with as a fact. They may also label every claim as opinion, even when the writer supports it with evidence and sound reasoning.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Label each statement in a short textbook paragraph as fact, opinion, or reasoned judgment. Underline the evidence supporting any reasoned judgment.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs sentence strips from a history article to sort into fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment, then have them underline supporting evidence.
Ask students to write whether a historical leader made a wise choice, using one fact and explaining how it supports their judgment.
Project statements from a social studies text and award teams points for correct labels and clear explanations.
Compare a local news report with an editorial on the same issue, then annotate facts, opinions, and evidence-based judgments.
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Printable RH.6-8.8 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.8, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.8
Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.8
Distinguish among facts, reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.8
Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identif...
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