Standard: 9-10.W.1c – Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.
Grade level: Grade 9-10
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Writing
Teacher Overview
This standard emphasizes the importance of using transitional words, phrases, and clauses to create a cohesive and clear piece of writing. It is crucial for students to learn how to link different sections of their text to enhance readability and ensure their arguments are logically structured. Students should already understand basic sentence and paragraph structure, and be able to identify main ideas and supporting details.
Mastering this standard will enable students to write more complex and logically structured texts, improving their ability to argue persuasively and narrate effectively.
Common Misconception 1
Some students may believe that the more transitional phrases they use, the better their writing will be. However, overusing these phrases can make writing cumbersome and unclear.
Intervention 1
Encourage students to use transitional phrases selectively and purposefully. Provide examples of well-written texts that use transitions effectively to illustrate this point.
Common Misconception 2
Another common misconception is that listing reasons and evidence is enough to make an argument cohesive. Without clear links between these elements, the argument can seem disjointed.
Intervention 2
Teach students to explicitly connect their reasons and evidence to their claims. Use graphic organizers to help them visualize these connections.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should have a basic understanding of sentence structure, paragraph organization, and the ability to identify main ideas and supporting details in a text.
Subsequent Knowledge
After mastering this standard, students will be able to create more sophisticated arguments and narratives, using advanced transitional elements and cohesive devices to enhance the clarity and flow of their writing.
Instructional Activities
- Peer review sessions focusing on the use of transitional phrases
- Writing workshops that emphasize linking claims and evidence
- Creating graphic organizers to map out arguments
- Analyzing exemplar texts for effective use of transitions
- Group discussions on the importance of cohesion in writing
