ELA-08.W.01

8th Grade ELA Targeted Standards
(W) Writing Strand
Cluster: Text Types and Purposes

ELA-08.W.01 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

  • a. Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.
  • b. Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
  • c. Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.
  • d. Establish and maintain a formal writing style.
  • e. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

Student Learning Targets:

Knowledge Targets

  • I can understand the purpose and audience for whom I am writing.
  • I can define and understand the purpose of a claim.
  • I can recognize multiple sides of an issue.
  • I can understand information and evidence from a variety of sources.
  • I can choose a position in an argument.
  • I can identify the two sides of an argument.
  • I can identify the need for solid supporting details in writing.
  • I can recognize that the lack of supporting details leaves the reader with questions.
  • I can identify effective transition statements.

Reasoning Targets

  • I can determine supporting and opposing arguments that relate to my topic.
  • I can determine what is relevant.
  • I can synthesize.
  • I can use valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence to support a claim.
  • I can organize an argument through the use of a precise introduction, well developed body paragraphs (complete with claims, counterclaims, and evidence), and a concluding paragraph that reinforces the argument, extends beyond summary, and gives finality.
  • I can organize the information and evidence from a variety of sources to support the main idea.
  • I can use logic to defend an opinion.
  • I can analyze the relevancy of information.
  • I can justify the main idea being expressed.
  • I can combine sentences with similar concepts to avoid repetition of ideas or wording.

Skills (Performance) Targets

  • I can use words that help to influence the audience.
  • I can clearly state my opinion and provide reasons that support them.
  • I can revise my paper for elaboration, description, clarity, and proper word order.
  • I can use concrete words, phrases and sensory details to convey experience and events precisely.
  • I can cite sources using MLA format. I can paraphrase a written passage.
  • I can gather information from resources.
  • I can collect the information and evidence to assemble a final work.
  • I can formulate an argument.
  • I can use supporting details to support my claim.
  • I can provide at least three supporting details for a topic sentence.
  • I can strengthen my argument by using relevant sources.
  • I can revise my composition for correct grammar.
  • I can use effective transitions in my writing.
  • I can establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone according to the discipline in which I am writing.
  • I can use precise and specific language and techniques.
  • I can focus on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
  • I can evaluate audience and determine which skills and experiences should be appropriately emphasized in my documents

Product Targets

  • I can produce an effective persuasive essay.
  • I can can write a topic sentence that contains a reason that supports my claim.
  • I can develop and write an argument to support a claim using valid reasoning and relevent evidence.
  • I can produce a work based on information and evidence.
  • I can present a written or oral argument.
  • I can write using standard writing conventions.
  • I can develop and strengthen writing through planning, revising,editing, and rewriting.

Proficiency Scale

Score   Description Sample Activity
4.0 In addition to Score 3.0, the student demonstrates in-depth inferences and applications regarding more complex material that go beyond end of instruction expectations. -
  3.5 In addition to Score 3.0 performance, the student demonstrates in-depth inferences and applications regarding the more complex content with partial success.
3.0 “The Standard.” The student demonstrates no major errors or omissions regarding any of the information and processes that were end of instruction expectations.

The student can:
  • determine supporting and opposing arguments that relate to the topic.
  • determine what is relevant.
  • synthesize.
  • use valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence to support a claim.
  • organize an argument through the use of a precise introduction, well developed body paragraphs (complete with claims, counterclaims, and evidence), and a concluding paragraph that reinforces the argument, extends beyond summary, and gives finality.
  • organize the information and evidence from a variety of sources to support the main idea.
  • use logic to defend an opinion.
  • analyze the relevancy of information.
  • justify the main idea being expressed.
  • combine sentences with similar concepts to avoid repetition of ideas or wording.
  •  use words that help to influence the audience.
  • clearly state my opinion and provide reasons that support them.
  • revise my paper for elaboration, description, clarity, and proper word order.
  •  use concrete words, phrases and sensory details to convey experience and events precisely.
  • cite sources using MLA format. 
  •  paraphrase a written passage.
  • gather information from resources.
  • collect the information and evidence to assemble a final work.
  • formulate an argument.
  • use supporting details to support a claim.
  • provide at least three supporting details for a topic sentence.
  • strengthen an argument by using relevant sources.
  • revise a composition for correct grammar.
  • use effective transitions in writing.
  • establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone according to the discipline in which he/she writing.
  • use precise and specific language and techniques.
  • focus on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
  • evaluate audience and determine which skills and experiences should be appropriately emphasized in the documents.
  • produce an effective persuasive essay.
  • write a topic sentence that contains a reason that supports a claim.
  • develop and write an argument to support a claim using valid reasoning and relevant evidence.
  • produce a work based on information and evidence.
  • present a written or oral argument.
  •  write using standard writing conventions.
  • develop and strengthen writing through planning, revising,editing, and rewriting.



-
  2.5 The student demonstrates no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes (Score 2.0 content) and partial knowledge of the more complex ideas and processes (Score 3.0 content).
2.0 The student demonstrates no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes but exhibits major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and processes (Score 3.0 content).
The student can: 
  • understand the purpose and audience for written work.
  • define and understand the purpose of a claim.
  • recognize multiple sides of an issue.
  • understand information and evidence from a variety of sources.
  • choose a position in an argument.
  • identify the two sides of an argument.
  • identify the need for solid supporting details in writing.
  • recognize that the lack of supporting details leaves the reader with questions.
  • identify effective transition statements.


-
  1.5 The student demonstrates partial knowledge of the simpler details and processes (Score 2.0 content) but exhibits major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and procedures (Score 3.0 content).
1.0 With help, the student demonstrates a partial understanding of some of the simpler details and processes (Score 2.0 content) and some of the more complex ideas and processes (Score 3.0 content). -
  0.5 With help, the student demonstrates a partial understanding of some of the simpler details and processes (Score 2.0 content) but not the more complex ideas and processes (Score 3.0 content).

Resources

Websites

Vocabulary

» 8th Grade English