CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.3
The Standard
Delineate a speaker's argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and relevance and sufficiency of the evidence and identifying when irrelevant evidence is introduced.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Speaking and Listening Standards
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students listen closely and separate a speaker's main argument, claims, reasons, and evidence. They judge whether the reasoning makes sense and whether the evidence fits and provides enough support.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students can map the main argument, supporting claims, reasons, and evidence from a speech or recording. They can explain which support is logical, relevant, sufficient, or off topic.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may treat a strong opinion or confident tone as proof of sound reasoning. They may count repeated examples as enough evidence or miss details that do not support the claim.
How to Assess It
- Play a one-minute argument. Ask students to name one claim, judge one piece of evidence, and explain whether the speaker provided enough relevant support.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Play a short speech, then have groups sort printed claim, reason, and evidence cards into a labeled argument map.
Ask students to write: Which claim was best supported, and what specific evidence made it convincing?
Run Evidence Referee, where teams hold up relevant, irrelevant, sufficient, or insufficient cards as each speaker presents support.
Compare two short product pitches and decide which uses stronger evidence for its claims about price, quality, or usefulness.
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Printable SL.8.3 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.3, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetLearning progression
Where This Standard Sits
See the whole path on the Speaking & Listening progression map.
Before This Standard
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What This Unlocks
Mastery here sets students up for these next.
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.8
Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evide...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.8
Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recogni...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.3
Delineate a speaker's argument and specific claims, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.
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