CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.8

ELA5th GradeResearch to Build and Present Knowledge

The Standard

Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Writing Standards

What This Standard Means

Students need to pull useful information from memory, books, articles, websites, or videos, then decide what actually fits the writing task. They need to take notes in their own words, not copy whole sentences, and keep track of where each fact came from.

Mastery looks like a short research piece with accurate facts, clear paraphrasing, and a simple source list. Students often get stuck copying text, choosing facts that are interesting but off topic, or forgetting website titles and authors. Many also need practice telling the difference between a summary and a paraphrase.

Ways to Teach It

  • Give pairs three short texts on the same animal, sticky notes, and a chart labeled useful, not useful, and source.
  • Ask students to rewrite one copied sentence in their own words, then explain what changed and what stayed true.
  • Use an exit ticket with one fact, one paraphrase, and one source title from today’s research.
  • Have students research a local park, restaurant, or sports team and list three facts they would use in a visitor guide.

Before This Standard

If students are struggling here, check these first.

Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.8

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What This Unlocks

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

Related Standards

Standard text verified against corestandards.org on July 10, 2026.

Page updated July 10, 2026.

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