CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1a
The Standard
Introduce the topic or text they are writing about, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure that lists reasons.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
What This Standard Means
Students need to begin an opinion piece by naming the book, topic, or issue they are writing about. They also need to clearly say what they think, not just describe the topic. After that, they need a simple plan for their reasons, so the reader can follow their thinking.
Mastery looks like a clear opening, a stated opinion, and reasons grouped in a sensible order. Many third graders either forget to state an opinion, give reasons that do not match it, or write all their ideas in one long list with no structure.
Ways to Teach It
- Give students sentence strips with a topic, opinion, and reasons, then have them arrange the strips into a clear opinion paragraph plan.
- Ask students to write, Which school lunch is best, and give three reasons in an order that makes sense.
- Use an exit ticket where students write one topic sentence, one opinion sentence, and two matching reasons.
- Show two short online product reviews, then have students identify the opinion and the order of the reasons.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1a
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
What This Unlocks
Mastery here sets students up for these next.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.2a
Introduce a topic; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; includ...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.1
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 wo...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.1a
Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer's purpose...