Middle School English Language Arts Instructional Guide

Standard: Reading 13

Learning Intentions and Success Criteria

Learning Intentions: ●​ Students will evaluate arguments and specific claims in a text. ●​ Students will assess the validity of key statements by examining the relevance and sufficiency of supporting evidence. Success Criteria: ●​ I can identify the main argument and specific claims in a text. ●​ I can evaluate the validity of key statements by examining the supporting evidence. ●​ I can assess whether the supporting evidence is relevant and sufficient to support the claims.

Evaluate an argument and specific claims in a text, assessing the validity of key statements by examining whether the supporting evidence is relevant and su ffi cient. (RI)

Nouns (Know)

Verbs (Do)

●​ Argument ●​ Claim ●​ Validity ●​ Supporting Evidence ●​ Relevance

●​ Evaluate ●​ Assess ●​ Examine

Sample Question Stems and Prompts for Assessment

●​ What is the main argument presented in the text? ●​ What specific claims does the author make to support their argument? ●​ What criteria can we use to assess the sufficiency of the evidence provided? ●​ Are there any key statements in the text that lack sufficient supporting evidence? ●​ Can you find examples of strong and weak evidence in the text? ●​ How might the argument be strengthened with additional or more relevant evidence?

Sample Formative Assessments

Graphic Organizer: Argument and Evidence Mapping ●​ Activity: Students will use a graphic organizer to map out the main argument, specific claims, and supporting evidence from a text. They will then evaluate the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence. ●​ Objective: To assess students' ability to identify and evaluate arguments and evidence. Evidence Quality Ranking ●​ Activity: Students will rank pieces of evidence supporting specific claims in order of quality, from most to least relevant and sufficient, and justify their rankings.

Last Updated September 23rd, 2024 Middle School ELA, Page 142