CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.11-12.9

ELAGrades 11–12Research to Build and Present Knowledge

The Standard

Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

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 locate relevant evidence in informational sources and use it to support a claim or interpretation. They connect the evidence to their reasoning instead of dropping in facts or quotations without explanation.

What Mastery Looks Like

Students choose precise facts, examples, or quotations from reliable informational sources. They explain how each piece supports their reasoning and cite the source accurately.

Common Misconceptions

Students may choose quotations that mention the topic but do not prove the claim. They may copy evidence without explaining its meaning, ignore source credibility, or rely on one source when several are needed.

How to Assess It

Give students a short article and ask them to write one analytical claim, select one supporting quotation, and explain the connection in two sentences.

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

  1. Give pairs a printed article, highlighters, and claim cards, then have them highlight the strongest evidence for each claim.

  2. Ask students to write: Which detail best supports the author's main conclusion, and why is it stronger than another detail?

  3. Run an evidence sort where teams place source excerpts under supported, partly supported, or unsupported claims and defend each choice.

  4. Have students compare two local news reports, then write a recommendation to a school committee using evidence from both sources.

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Printable WHST.11-12.9 Worksheet

Preview of the CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.11-12.9 printable worksheet

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Learning progression

Where This Standard Sits

See the whole path on the Writing: History, Science & Technical Subjects progression map.

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