CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.2
The Standard
Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; provide an accurate summary of the text distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
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 and name the main point the author is making. They also need to track the key details that support that point, not just collect interesting facts.
Mastery looks like a short, accurate summary that sticks to the text. Students should leave out personal opinions, guesses, and facts they already knew. They often get stuck by copying sentences, focusing on one cool detail, or adding background knowledge from class instead of summarizing the passage.
Ways to Teach It
- Hands-on: Give students a short lab article, highlighters, and sticky notes to mark the main idea, key details, and extra facts.
- Prompt: Write a three-sentence summary of the passage using only evidence from the text, then underline any opinion words to remove.
- Quick assessment: Show four possible summaries and have students choose the most accurate one, then explain which detail proves it.
- Real-world connection: Have students summarize the safety directions on a cleaning label or appliance manual without adding advice of their own.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.2
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or ...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.2
Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.2
Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text's explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurat...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.2
Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective...