Standard: 6-8.WHST.1a – Introduce claim(s) about a topic or issue, acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.
Grade level: Grade 6-8
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Writing: History, Science & Technical Subjects
Teacher Overview
This standard focuses on developing students’ ability to write arguments that introduce claims, distinguish them from opposing claims, and organize reasons and evidence logically. It is crucial for preparing students to engage in reasoned debate and critical thinking. Students should be familiar with paragraph structure, identifying main ideas, and distinguishing between fact and opinion.
After mastering this standard, students will be able to write well-structured arguments that are supported by credible evidence and effectively address opposing viewpoints.
Common Misconception 1
One common misconception is that all claims are equally valid. This is incorrect because the strength of a claim depends on the quality and credibility of the supporting evidence.
Intervention 1
An evidence-based intervention for this misconception is to provide students with exercises that focus on evaluating the credibility of sources and the strength of evidence.
Common Misconception 2
Another misconception is that acknowledging opposing claims weakens their argument. This is incorrect because addressing counterclaims shows a thorough understanding of the topic and can make the original argument stronger.
Intervention 2
To remediate this misconception, teachers can use examples to show how addressing counterclaims can strengthen an argument, and provide practice opportunities for students to do the same.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should have a basic understanding of how to structure a paragraph, identify main ideas and supporting details, and distinguish between fact and opinion.
Subsequent Knowledge
Students will develop advanced argumentative writing skills, including refining their ability to support claims with credible sources and counter-arguments.
Instructional Activities
- Debate a historical event in class
- Write a scientific research paper on a given topic
- Create a technical manual for a simple machine
- Peer review sessions to evaluate the strength of arguments and evidence
- Group discussions on identifying and addressing counterclaims
