CCSS.
The Standard
Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes.
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 explain a historical event, scientific procedure, experiment, or technical process in a clear, logical order. They support the explanation with accurate facts, definitions, details, and subject-specific terms.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students introduce a topic, organize facts logically, and explain events or steps with accurate details. They use precise terms, helpful transitions, a formal tone, and a conclusion that follows from the explanation.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may list facts without organizing them around a clear topic or sequence. They may add invented dialogue to historical accounts, skip causes or results, or assume technical words need no explanation.
How to Assess It
- Give students a water cycle diagram and ask for one paragraph explaining the process. Require a clear opening, accurate sequence, three science terms, transitions, and a conclusion.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups mixed-up cards showing an experiment, then have them order the cards and write a clear explanation of the procedure.
Ask students to write: “How did one event cause the next during a historical turning point?” using three cited facts.
Play a transition sort, with students matching words such as “because,” “next,” and “therefore” to sequence, cause, or result sentences.
Have students write instructions for resetting a school Chromebook so a new student could complete the process without help.
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Printable WHST.6-8.2 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.2, 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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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.9-10.2
The Grades 9–10 version of this standard.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.11-12.2
The Grades 11–12 version of this standard.
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