CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.11-12.10
The Standard
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for reflection and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6—12
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students write often in history, science, and technical classes, from quick explanations to longer researched pieces. They adjust content, evidence, organization, and tone for the task and reader, then reflect and revise when time allows.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given a disciplinary task, students identify the audience and purpose, choose relevant evidence, and finish within the allotted time. Over several days, they return to a draft, use feedback, and improve ideas and organization.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may use the same tone and detail for every audience. They may treat a first draft as finished or revise only spelling. They may assume quick writing needs no evidence and longer writing only needs more words.
How to Assess It
- Give students a simple graph and this prompt: “Explain the main trend to a city council member deciding how to spend money.” Allow eight minutes to draft and three minutes to revise, then check purpose, evidence, audience fit, and revision.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs task cards naming a source, audience, purpose, and deadline; students sort them, choose one, and draft an opening.
Ask students to compare a lab conclusion and a public safety post, then write how audience changes evidence, tone, and detail.
Run a ten-minute writing relay where teams revise one paragraph through planning, drafting, evidence checks, and editing rounds.
Have students turn class research into an email to a local official, a museum caption, or instructions for a younger student.
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Printable WHST.11-12.10 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.11-12.10, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetLearning progression
Where This Standard Sits
See the whole path on the Writing: History, Science & Technical Subjects progression map.
Before This Standard
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.10
The 7th Grade version of this standard.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range o...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range o...
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