8.6.J
ELA8th GradeThe student responds to an increasingly challenging variety of sources that are read, heard, or viewed.
The Standard
defend or challenge the authors' claims using relevant text evidence.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students decide whether a writer’s position is convincing or flawed. They use specific quotations or details from the source and explain how that evidence supports their judgment.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students clearly agree or disagree with a writer’s position. They choose accurate quotations or details and explain how each one strengthens their response.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may give personal opinions without citing the source. They may select evidence that mentions the topic but does not support their reasoning, or summarize evidence without explaining it.
How to Assess It
- Give students a short editorial and ask: “Do the writer’s reasons hold up? Use one quotation and explain how it supports your answer.”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups claim and evidence cards to sort into supports, contradicts, or irrelevant, then require a reason for each placement.
Ask students to write: “Which claim in the article is strongest or weakest, and what specific detail proves your judgment?”
Play Evidence Match by having teams pair response statements with quotations, earning points only when they explain the connection accurately.
Compare claims from two advertisements for the same product, then use details from each ad to decide which is more convincing.
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