CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.1

ELAGrades 11–12Text Types and Purposes

The Standard

Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Writing Standards

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students take a clear position on a complex topic or text. They support it with logical reasons and enough relevant evidence, while addressing other reasonable positions.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students make a precise, defensible claim and organize reasons in a logical order. They use enough relevant evidence, explain its connection to the claim, and respond fairly to counterclaims.
Common Misconceptions: Students may treat a strong opinion as a strong argument or insert quotations without explaining how they support the claim. They may also use weak evidence, misrepresent counterclaims, or rely on emotional appeals instead of sound reasoning.
How to Assess It: Use this exit ticket: “Should schools limit student phone use during class? Write a claim, one counterclaim, and two evidence-based reasons.”

Lesson moves

Give groups claim, evidence, and reasoning cards to sort, then ask them to remove any evidence that does not clearly support the claim.
Ask students to write one paragraph answering, “When does a rule protect people, and when does it limit them unfairly?”
Play Evidence Auction, where teams spend points on source excerpts and justify which evidence will build the strongest argument.
Have students write a letter to the principal supporting or opposing a specific school policy with survey data, examples, and a counterclaim.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Learning progression

See the whole path on the Writing progression map.

If students are struggling here, check these first.

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