CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.1b
The Standard
Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant, accurate data and evidence that demonstrate an understanding of the topic or text, using credible sources.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students choose facts, quotations, and examples that directly support an argumentative claim. They explain how each piece of evidence helps prove the claim and check whether the source is trustworthy.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student selects facts or quotations that clearly support each claim. The student explains the connection in their own words and uses sources with identifiable authors, dates, and reliable information.
Common Misconceptions
- Students often add a quotation without explaining how it supports their claim. They may choose information that is related but not useful, or trust the first search result without checking the source.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: For the claim "Our school should replace one homework night with independent reading," choose the stronger of two provided source excerpts. Quote one fact, explain its link to the claim, and name one sign that the source is trustworthy.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups claim, evidence, and source cards; have them build the strongest argument, then remove any card that is irrelevant or unreliable.
Ask students to write: Why does a true fact still fail as evidence when it does not connect to the claim?
Run Evidence Relay: teams match facts to claims, add a reasoning sentence, and earn a point only when both fit.
Compare two online reviews of a local restaurant, checking author, date, details, and purpose before deciding which recommendation deserves trust.
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Printable WHST.6-8.1b Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.1b, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.1
Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.1b
Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.1b
Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1b
Support claim(s) with clear reasons and relevant evidence, using credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
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