South Dakota ELA 6-8.WHST.5

6-8.WHST.5 is a cluster heading. These are the individual standards under it.

• 6-8.WHST.5.a

  Employ the writing process by planning, drafting, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.

• 6-8.WHST.5.b

  Use guidance and support from peers, adults, and digital editing tools/platforms.

01

What Students Need to Do

Students plan and draft writing about a historical event, a science result, or a set of steps. They use feedback from classmates or teachers to make their ideas clearer. They also use digital tools to find errors, but check each suggestion before accepting it.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

A student can use a specific comment to improve an unclear claim or add a missing detail. They can show what changed between drafts and explain why. They fix spelling and punctuation without letting an editing tool change their meaning.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students often think revising means fixing spelling only, so weak explanations stay untouched. Some accept every digital suggestion, even when it changes a science term or historical fact. Others think they must start over instead of rewriting one section.

04

How to Assess It

Exit ticket: In your current history or science draft, use one peer comment to revise two sentences. Submit the before and after sentences, and explain what you changed.

1. 01

   Give pairs three printed observations from a seed-growth test; have them plan, draft, then revise a claim paragraph after swapping feedback notes.

2. 02

   Show two versions of a paragraph about a historical photograph and have partners explain which version uses the photograph's details more clearly.

3. 03

   Run a revision relay: teams fix an unclear lab conclusion, then pass it on for a fact check and a punctuation check.

4. 04

   Bring a draft of school garden instructions; partners follow the steps, flag confusing directions, and writers revise before posting the final copy.

• 8.W.5

  Develop and strengthen writing as needed.

• 3.W.5

  Develop and strengthen writing as needed, with guidance and support from peers, adults, and digital tools by planning, drafting, revising, and editing.

• 7.W.5

  Develop and strengthen writing as needed.

• 6.W.5

  Develop and strengthen writing as needed.