CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.1a

ELA8th GradeText Types and Purposes

The Standard

Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students state a clear position and separate it from a different or opposing position. They arrange reasons and evidence so each point builds logically on the last.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student writes an introduction with a clear, specific claim and accurately presents an opposing view. The student then arranges reasons and evidence in an order readers can follow.
Common Misconceptions: Students may list both sides without making their own position clear. They may place reasons and evidence randomly, or treat an opposing claim as if it supports their argument.
How to Assess It: Give students a school policy question. Ask them to write an introduction that states their claim, names one opposing claim, and previews two reasons in logical order.

Lesson moves

Give groups claim, counterclaim, reason, and evidence cards to sort into a logical argument, then have them explain their order.
Ask students to discuss, then write: Should homework be limited, and what would someone who disagrees say?
Run an argument relay where teams place sentence strips under claim, opposing claim, reason, or evidence, then sequence each section.
Use two online reviews of the same product and have students identify each claim, opposing view, reasons, and evidence.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.1a, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Learning progression

If students are struggling here, check these first.

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

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