CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.1
The Standard
Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Writing Standards
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students take a clear position on a debatable issue. They support it with logical reasons, relevant evidence, and explanations that show how the evidence proves the claim.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student states a focused, debatable claim and supports it with logical reasons and specific evidence. The writing explains each connection, addresses an opposing view, and ends with a fitting conclusion.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may treat a personal preference as proof or list facts without connecting them to the claim. They may also choose evidence that is interesting but irrelevant, or ignore opposing views.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Should phones be allowed during lunch? Write a claim, one reason, one specific piece of evidence, and an explanation connecting the evidence to the claim.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs a claim and evidence cards, then have them sort each card as strong, weak, or irrelevant and defend their choices.
Ask students to write: Should seventh graders have homework every night? Require one claim, two reasons, and one opposing view.
Play Evidence Match: teams pair reasons with evidence, earn a point for each sound match, and explain why it supports the claim.
Analyze a school lunch petition, then revise one paragraph so its reasons, evidence, and response to opposition are convincing.
Free download
Printable W.7.1 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
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What This Unlocks
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.1
Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.1
Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
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