CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.7

ELA7th GradeResearch to Build and Present Knowledge

The Standard

Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6—12

What This Standard Means

Students need to start with a research question, find useful information in several sources, and use what they learn to shape better follow-up questions. They should not just collect facts. They need to connect ideas across sources and notice what is still unclear.

Mastery looks like a focused question, notes from more than one credible source, and new related questions that point to possible next steps. Students often get stuck with questions that are too broad, sources that repeat the same fact, or notes copied word for word without real thinking.

Ways to Teach It

Give students three short articles on school start times and have them sort facts into answer, evidence, and new question columns.
Ask students to write, “What did my sources make me wonder next?” after reading two sources on the same topic.
Check one research log for a clear question, two source notes, and one focused follow-up question.
Connect research to choosing a phone plan by comparing three sources, then asking what information is still missing.

Related Standards

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