CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.9-10.1c
The Standard
Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students connect the parts of an argument so readers can follow the logic. They choose words, phrases, and clauses that show how claims, reasons, evidence, and counterclaims relate.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A strong response moves clearly from claim to reason, reason to evidence, and counterclaim to response. Transitions show relationships such as cause, contrast, example, or result without sounding repetitive.
Common Misconceptions
- Students often add transitions like “also” or “however” without checking whether the relationship fits. They may connect sentences but leave whole sections disconnected, or repeat the same opening phrase.
How to Assess It
- Give students four disconnected sentences containing a claim, reason, evidence, and counterclaim. Ask them to order the sentences, add three transitions, and label each relationship.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs printed argument sections and transition cards, then have them arrange both into a clear sequence and explain each choice.
Ask students to revise one paragraph, then explain where the reasoning shifts and why each transition fits.
Play Transition Match: teams pair sentence strips with cards labeled example, contrast, cause, result, or counterclaim, then justify each match.
Compare transitions in a school policy editorial and a product review, then identify how each writer guides readers through competing ideas.
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Printable WHST.9-10.1c Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.9-10.1c, 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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Where This Standard Sits
What This Unlocks
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.1c
The Grades 9–10 version of this standard.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.1c
Use words, phrases, and clauses as well as varied syntax to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s)...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.1c
Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.
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