Virginia SOL 7.W.2.A.iii
The Standard
Defending conclusions or positions with reasons and precise, relevant evidence (e.g., facts, definitions, details, quotations, and examples).
Virginia Standards of Learning for English
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students state a clear position, support it with logical reasons, and select specific evidence that directly fits each reason. They organize that support across paragraphs, then revise and edit for clarity.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student writes a focused claim, builds each body paragraph around one reason, and explains how facts, quotations, or examples support it. The conclusion follows from the evidence rather than adding a new claim.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may list facts without explaining how they support the position. They may use broad examples, unrelated quotations, or personal opinions as evidence. Conclusions may introduce a new reason instead of following from the support given.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: State whether the main character made the right choice. Give one reason, cite one precise detail from the text, and explain the connection.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups claim, reason, and evidence cards, then have them arrange the strongest matches into a multi-paragraph outline.
Ask students to write: Which school rule should change, and what specific evidence would convince the principal?
Play Evidence Match, where teams pair reasons with evidence cards and earn points only when they explain each connection.
Have students use lunch survey results and one student quotation to write a recommendation to the principal.
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Related Standards
- 10.W.2.A.iii
Defending a position using sufficient reasons with evidence from credible sources as support.
- 8.W.2.A.iii
Stating and defending conclusions or positions with reasons and precise, relevant evidence and complete explanation of how evidence and details support a positi...
- 6.W.2.A.iii
Elaborating and supporting ideas, using relevant facts, definitions, details, quotations, and/or examples.
- 4.C.1.A.iv
Using evidence, examples, or details to support opinions and conclusions.
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