CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.8
The Standard
Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions in a science or technical text, verifying the data when possible and corroborating or challenging conclusions with other sources of information.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6—12
What This Standard Means
Students need to read a science or technical text like a skeptical reviewer. They identify the hypothesis, inspect the data, judge whether the analysis matches the evidence, and decide if the conclusion is supported. When possible, they check figures, calculations, sources, and methods instead of accepting claims at face value.
Mastery looks like a student saying, “The conclusion is only partly supported because the sample is small, and another source reports different results.” Students often get stuck separating data from interpretation, spotting weak methods, or finding a reliable outside source to confirm or challenge a claim.
Ways to Teach It
- Hands-on: Give students a short research article and colored sticky notes to label hypothesis, data, analysis, and conclusion.
- Prompt: Write a one-paragraph peer review explaining which claim is strongest and which claim needs better evidence.
- Quick check: Show one graph and conclusion, then ask students to write whether the conclusion is supported and why.
- Real-world link: Compare a news headline about a medical study with the original abstract and identify what changed.
Before This Standard
If students are struggling here, check these first.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.8
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.8
Evaluate an author's premises, claims, and evidence by corroborating or challenging them with other information.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.1
Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to important distinctions the author makes and to any gaps or incon...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.9
Compare and contrast findings presented in a text to those from other sources (including their own experiments), noting when the findings support or contradict ...