CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.1
The Standard
Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Writing Standards
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students choose a book or familiar issue and clearly tell what they think about it. They support that view with relevant reasons, connect their ideas, and finish with a clear ending.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student writes a focused paragraph that clearly shares a preference and gives two or more relevant reasons. The ideas are connected, and the final sentence wraps up the opinion.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may name a topic without clearly saying what they think. They may list unrelated facts, repeat one reason, omit linking words, or end abruptly.
How to Assess It
- Use this exit ticket: “Which class read-aloud should another second-grade class choose? State your opinion, give two reasons, use because or also, and add an ending.”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups sentence strips with an opening, opinion, reasons, links, and ending, then have them arrange the strips into a clear paragraph.
Ask, “Should our class have more reading time?” and have students write a claim with two supporting reasons.
Play Link It by giving students opinion and reason cards, then awarding points for joining them with because, and, or also.
Have students write a note to the principal recommending one new playground item and explaining why it should be chosen.
Before This Standard
If students are struggling here, check these first.
What This Unlocks
Mastery here sets students up for these next.
Keep exploring
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.K.1
Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces in which they tell a reader the topic or the name of the book they are writing ab...
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