South Dakota ELA 4.W.1.c

ELA4th GradeWriting

The Standard

4.W.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.

Link opinion and reasons using grade level appropriate words and phrases.

South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students state an opinion and give reasons for it. They use words such as because and also to show how each reason supports their opinion.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can write, “Our class should have a garden because we could grow vegetables. Also, we could study insects there.” The links make it clear why each reason belongs.
Common Misconceptions: Students may list reasons without showing how they connect to the opinion. They may start every sentence with and or use for example when they are giving another reason, not an example.
How to Assess It: Ask: “Should our class have a weekly read-aloud?” Have students write an opinion and two reasons, using two different linking words or phrases.

Lesson moves

Give pairs paper strips with an opinion, two reasons, because, and also; have them arrange the strips into a short argument.
Ask partners, “Should recess be longer?” Have each student answer aloud with two reasons, using because and also.
Give students opinion and reason cards to match, then have them write each match as a sentence using because.
Have students draft a note to the principal requesting a water bottle refill station, linking their opinion to two reasons.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 4.W.1.c, 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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