CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.1c

ELA7th GradeText Types and Purposes

The Standard

Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts

What This Standard Means

Students need to connect their argument parts so the reader can follow the logic. They should use transition words, repeated key terms, and linking phrases to show how each reason and piece of evidence supports the claim.

Mastery looks like an argument that moves smoothly from claim to reason to evidence to explanation. Students often get stuck by dropping in quotes without explaining them, overusing basic transitions like “also,” or using connectors that do not match the relationship, such as cause, contrast, or example.

Ways to Teach It

Give students a cut-up argument paragraph and have them arrange the claim, reason, evidence, and explanation using transition cards.
Prompt students: Which sentence best connects this evidence to the claim, and what word or phrase makes the link clear?
Have students highlight every transition and repeated key term in their paragraph, then circle one weak or missing connection to revise.
Show a product review and have students identify words that connect the rating, reasons, and specific details.