South Dakota ELA 6-8.RST.8
The Standard
Distinguish among facts, reasoned judgment based on research findings, bias, and speculation in a text.
South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025) · Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students read science and technical texts and sort claims into facts, conclusions based on findings, bias, and speculation. They point to data or wording that supports each choice.
What Mastery Looks Like
- In a lab report, students identify a recorded measurement and a conclusion drawn from the results. They flag unfair wording as bias and an untested prediction as speculation, then explain their choices.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may treat a prediction with numbers as a fact. They may call a conclusion based on findings a guess or miss bias when a writer reports only favorable results.
How to Assess It
- Give students this lab note: 'In one trial, blue-light seedlings grew 4 cm on average and red-light seedlings grew 2 cm; the results suggest blue light was linked to more growth in this trial; only foolish gardeners use red light; blue light might prevent drought damage.' Ask them to label the four claims and cite a clue for each label.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs printed lab notes and four colored sticky notes, then have them mark facts, supported conclusions, bias, and speculation.
Ask pairs which plant-growth claim follows from the measurements and which goes beyond them, citing words in the note.
Play four-corner sorting with claim cards about a phone battery, and have students explain their choice of corner.
Compare a product's battery test results with its ad, marking measured facts, supported conclusions, loaded claims, and guesses about future performance.
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Printable 6-8.RST.8 Worksheet
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