Virginia SOL 12.W.1.A.i
The Standard
Introduce a topic clearly by providing context, presenting well-defined theses, and previewing what follows.
Virginia Standards of Learning for English
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students build an introduction that gives readers the background needed to understand the topic. They state a focused thesis and signal the main ideas the piece will cover.
What Mastery Looks Like
- The introduction gives readers enough background to understand the issue. It ends with a precise, arguable thesis and names the main points in the order the essay will address them.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may open with a broad hook that never connects to the main claim. They may mistake a topic statement for a debatable thesis or list points that do not match the essay body.
How to Assess It
- Give students an essay prompt and ask them to write a three-sentence introduction. Check for needed context, a focused thesis, and an accurate preview of two supporting points.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups sentence strips from a model introduction and have them arrange the context, thesis, and preview in a logical order.
Ask students to compare two introductions and explain in writing which one better prepares readers for the essay.
Play Thesis or Topic: display statements, have teams classify each one, then revise topic statements into focused claims.
Use a school policy question, such as later start times, and draft an introduction for a letter to the principal.
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Printable 12.W.1.A.i Worksheet
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