South Dakota ELA 1.W.1.a
The Standard
- 1.W.1
- Write opinion pieces that:
Introduce an opinion about a topic.
South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students name a topic and say what they think about it. They write an opening sentence that makes their opinion clear.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can write, 'I think our playground needs another swing.' A reader can tell both the topic and the student's opinion from that sentence.
Common Misconceptions
- Some students name only the topic, such as 'Our playground.' Others write 'I like it' without saying what 'it' means.
How to Assess It
- Ask students to write one opening sentence about whether our class should have a reading corner. Check that each sentence names the reading corner and says what the student thinks.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give students playground picture cards and sticky notes; have them choose one addition and write 'Our playground needs a ___' on the note.
Ask partners which class book they should reread tomorrow, then have each child write one sentence stating their choice.
Read 'Our playground' and 'Our playground needs more swings'; students hold up a card showing which one states an opinion.
Have students write a one-sentence note to the cafeteria saying which fruit they think should appear on next week's lunch menu.
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Printable 1.W.1.a Worksheet
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