South Dakota ELA 2.RI.8
The Standard
Describe how details/evidence support specific points the author makes in a text.
South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students find a point the author makes in a nonfiction text. They choose a detail from the text and explain how it supports that point.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can identify the point that worms help plants grow and find the detail that their tunnels let water reach roots. They can explain why that detail backs the point.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may name the topic, such as worms, instead of the author's point. They may choose any nearby fact or give their own reason instead of finding a detail that supports the point.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Read 'Worms help plants grow; their tunnels let water reach roots.' Circle the author's point, underline the supporting detail, and write how it supports the point.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Print 'Worms help plants grow; their tunnels let water reach roots' and have pairs mark the point and detail with different colored sticky notes.
Ask, 'How does the detail about worm tunnels support the point that worms help plants grow?' Have students finish: 'It supports the point because...'
Make four cards: 'Trees give shade,' 'Leaves block sunlight,' 'Birds lay eggs,' 'Snow feels cold'; students match the supporting detail and explain why.
Post a playground sign reading 'Hats protect our faces; their brims block sunlight'; at recess, students name its point and supporting detail.
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Printable 2.RI.8 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 2.RI.8, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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Related Standards
- 1.RI.8
Identify the details/evidence an author gives to support points in a text.
- 4.RI.8
Identify and explain the reasons and evidence an author uses to support particular points in a text.
- 3.RI.8
Describe how particular sentences and paragraphs in a text support particular points the author makes.
- 5.RI.8
Identify and explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text.
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