CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.9
The Standard
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Writing Standards
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students make a point about something they read, then choose passages that back it up. They introduce the source and explain how each detail strengthens their reasoning.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student makes a clear claim, selects the strongest relevant passage, and identifies where it came from. The student explains the evidence in their own words instead of dropping in a quotation or retelling the text.
Common Misconceptions
- Students often choose a quotation because it mentions the topic, even when it does not prove the claim. They may retell the passage, insert a quote without context, or assume the evidence speaks for itself.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Using today’s text, answer, "What does the author want readers to believe?" Include one quotation and two sentences explaining how it supports your answer.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs printed claims and evidence cards; students sort each card as strong, weak, or irrelevant, then defend one choice.
After reading a short article, ask: Which sentence best supports the author’s main point, and how does it support it?
Play Evidence Match: teams pair claims with quotations, earning one point for a correct match and another for a clear explanation.
Have students examine two product reviews and write a recommendation supported by specific details from both reviews.
Free download
Printable W.8.9 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.9, 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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