Standard: 7.W.1c – Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence.
Grade level: Grade 7
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Writing
Teacher Overview
This standard focuses on helping students create cohesive and clear writing by using words, phrases, and clauses to link claims, reasons, and evidence. This skill is crucial for developing strong arguments and clear communication in writing, which are essential for academic success and effective communication. Before tackling this standard, students should understand basic sentence structure and paragraph organization. They should be able to identify and write simple thesis statements and supporting sentences.
Mastering this standard will enable students to write more complex and nuanced arguments, using advanced transitional phrases and varied sentence structures to enhance the flow and clarity of their writing.
Common Misconception 1
A common misconception is that listing reasons and evidence without connecting them is sufficient. This approach can lead to disjointed and unclear writing, making it difficult for readers to follow the argument.
Intervention 1
To address this misconception, teachers can provide explicit instruction on using transitional words and phrases. Activities such as sentence combining exercises can also help students practice creating connections between their ideas.
Common Misconception 2
Another misconception is that using complex vocabulary will make writing cohesive. However, without logical flow and clear relationships between ideas, sophisticated vocabulary alone cannot achieve cohesion.
Intervention 2
Teachers can encourage students to focus on the logical flow of their writing by using graphic organizers and outlining techniques. Peer review sessions can also help students see how their ideas connect and where they may need to improve clarity.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should have a basic understanding of sentence structure, including the use of subjects, predicates, and simple conjunctions. They should also be familiar with the concept of a thesis statement and basic paragraph organization.
Subsequent Knowledge
After mastering this standard, students will be able to write more complex and nuanced arguments. They will be able to use advanced transitional phrases and varied sentence structures to enhance the flow and clarity of their writing.
Instructional Activities
- Practice using transitional words and phrases in sentences and paragraphs.
- Peer review sessions focusing on the clarity and cohesion of arguments.
- Graphic organizer activities to plan and connect ideas before writing.
- Sentence combining exercises to practice creating cohesive sentences.
- Writing workshops where students draft, revise, and edit their work with a focus on cohesion.
