CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.9-10.1a
The Standard
Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among the claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students state a focused position about a history, science, or technical question. They separate their position from an opposing view and arrange reasons and evidence so the argument is easy to follow.
What Mastery Looks Like
- The introduction names the issue, presents a defensible position, and clearly identifies an opposing view. Each reason links to relevant evidence, and the counterclaim appears where the writer can address it logically.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may write a broad topic instead of a position that can be defended. They may present the counterclaim as their own view, list facts without linking them to reasons, or add the counterclaim at the end.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Using class source notes, write a claim about whether cities should replace diesel buses with electric buses. Add a counterclaim, two reasons, and one supporting fact for each reason in a clear order.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups color-coded sentence strips for a claim, counterclaim, reasons, and evidence, then have them build and defend the clearest order.
Ask students to write: Which matters more when choosing public transportation, cost or emissions, and how would an opponent answer?
Teams sort twelve argument cards into claim, counterclaim, reason, and evidence piles, then sequence one complete argument for a point.
Students use a local transit map and emissions table to argue for one bus route change, including the strongest objection.
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Printable WHST.9-10.1a Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.9-10.1a, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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Where This Standard Sits
What This Unlocks
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.1a
Introduce precise, knowledgeable claim(s), establish the significance of the claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.1a
Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among cl...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.1a
Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.
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