Standard: 5.W.9 – Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Grade level: Grade 5
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Writing
Teacher Overview
This standard focuses on teaching students how to draw evidence from texts to support their analysis, reflection, and research. This skill is crucial for developing critical thinking and the ability to construct well-reasoned arguments. Mastering this standard helps students engage more deeply with texts and prepares them for more advanced writing tasks. Students should understand how to identify main ideas and key details in texts, recognize text structures, and summarize information effectively. These foundational skills are essential for drawing evidence from texts.
After mastering this standard, students will be able to construct well-supported arguments and enhance their critical thinking skills. They will be better prepared for advanced writing tasks that require synthesizing information from multiple sources.
Common Misconception 1
A common misconception is that personal opinions do not need to be supported by text evidence. This is incorrect because unsupported opinions lack credibility and do not demonstrate a thorough understanding of the text.
Intervention 1
To address this misconception, provide students with structured practice in using text evidence to support their opinions. Use graphic organizers that require them to match their opinions with specific quotes or examples from the text.
Common Misconception 2
Another misconception is that any part of the text can serve as evidence, regardless of its relevance. This is incorrect because only relevant evidence directly supports the analysis or argument being made.
Intervention 2
Help students understand how to select relevant evidence by modeling the process. Show them examples of strong and weak evidence and discuss why certain pieces of evidence are more effective.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should be able to identify main ideas and key details in texts, understand basic text structures, and have experience with summarizing information from readings.
Subsequent Knowledge
Students will develop the ability to construct well-supported arguments, enhance critical thinking skills, and improve their ability to synthesize information from multiple sources.
Instructional Activities
- Have students write book reports that include quotes from the text to support their opinions.
- Create a research project where students must include and cite sources.
- Analyze characters’ motivations in a novel and write essays using text evidence to support their claims.
- Write persuasive essays that use evidence from informational texts.
- Reflect on historical events by using primary sources as evidence.
