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

What This Standard Means

Students need to open an argument by making a clear claim, then show they understand other possible views. They should separate their own position from opposing or alternate claims, not blur them together. They also need to arrange reasons and evidence in an order that makes sense.

Mastery looks like an introduction that names the issue, states a specific claim, briefly acknowledges another side, and sets up a logical path for the argument. Students often get stuck making claims too broad, ignoring counterclaims, or listing evidence in random order.

Ways to Teach It

Give students sentence strips with a claim, counterclaim, reasons, and evidence, then have them arrange the strongest argument order.
Ask students to write: What would someone who disagrees with you say, and how is your claim different?
Have students label the claim, counterclaim, reasons, and evidence in a sample introduction in three minutes.
Use a school rule debate, like phone use at lunch, to practice stating a claim and naming the opposing view.