CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.8
The Standard
Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Writing Standards
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students build focused searches, then select useful evidence from books, articles, databases, and websites. They verify authors and claims, take clear notes, and use quotations or original paraphrases with consistent citations.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can explain why a source is trustworthy, confirm a claim elsewhere, and reject weak or outdated material. Their draft separates copied words from notes and credits every borrowed idea in the assigned citation style.
Common Misconceptions
- Students often trust the first search result, treat a polished website as reliable, or use keywords that are too broad. They may swap a few words and call it paraphrasing, omit citations for paraphrases, or lose track of source details.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: For “Should middle schools start later?”, write one focused search phrase, choose the stronger of two provided sources, and explain why. Paraphrase one fact from that source and cite it using the class format.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Set up four source stations with a book excerpt, news article, blog post, and database page for teams to inspect and rank.
Ask students to write: “What makes an online source worth trusting, and what warning signs would make you leave it?”
Run a keyword relay where teams revise broad searches into precise phrases and earn points for finding the most relevant result.
Have students investigate one viral health claim, compare it with a government or university source, then post a cited correction.
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Printable W.7.8 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.8, 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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