High School Writing Common Core Standards with Explanations and Lesson Links
Common Core Writing Standards Lesson Plans
Let's just start with the lesson plan links. All these links can be accessed by mousing over the ELA Common Core Standards title above.
- Writing the Introduction to an Essay
- Paragraph Writing Made Easy (This includes lessons on topic sentence, paragraph development, using supporting details, and more)
The Standards
The common core writing standards for high school come from the Common Core Standards Initiative Website.
Common Core Writing Standard 1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
Explanation. The first writing standard requires students to write intelligently, to make claims, to support those claims, and to use valid evidence and logic. Students should be able to
Common Core Writing Standard 1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
Explanation. The first writing standard requires students to write intelligently, to make claims, to support those claims, and to use valid evidence and logic. Students should be able to
- Introduce specific arguments and distinguish those arguments from alternate or opposing arguments in an organized manner using logic and evidence.
- Develop arguments fairly and treating both sides of the argument while assessing strengths and weaknesses of different views.
- Develop arguments in a clear, organized manner.
- Establish and maintain a formal style with consistent voice and tone.
- Provide a relevant conclusion.
Common Core Writing Standard 2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
Explanation. Write about complex information, ideas, and concepts clearly and logically. Students should be able to
Explanation. Write about complex information, ideas, and concepts clearly and logically. Students should be able to
- Introduce a topic and organize complex ideas, concepts, and information by making important connections.
- Use formatting, graphics, and multimedia to make ideas clear.
- Develop the topic with relevant evidence and commentary appropriate to audience level.
- Use appropriate transitions to clarify meaning.
- Use appropriate word choice
Common Core Writing Standard 3: W.9-10.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
Explanation. Use narrative techniques to write a story, a narrative essay, or to make points in an expository essay more clear. Student written narratives should contain the elements of literature. Students should be able to
Explanation. Use narrative techniques to write a story, a narrative essay, or to make points in an expository essay more clear. Student written narratives should contain the elements of literature. Students should be able to
- Engage the reader.
- Sequence events
- Use details and sensory language to enhance theme.
- Provide a conclusion that makes sense of the narrative.
Production and Distribution of Writing Common Core Standards
W.9-10.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in W.9-10.1-3.)
W.9-10.5 Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of L.9-10.1-3.)
W.9-10.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology's capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically
Explanation: No longer can students scratch their essay in crayon five minutes before class on the back of a cheeseburger wrapper and get a B for "trying."
W.9-10.5 Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of L.9-10.1-3.)
W.9-10.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology's capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically
Explanation: No longer can students scratch their essay in crayon five minutes before class on the back of a cheeseburger wrapper and get a B for "trying."
Research Common Core Writing Standards
W.9-10.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
W.9-10.8 Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.
W.9-10.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
W.9-10.9a Apply grades 9-10 Reading standards to literature (e.g., "Analyze how an author draws on and transforms source material in a specific work [e.g., how Shakespeare treats a theme or topic from Ovid or the Bible or how a later author draws on a play by Shakespeare]").
W.9-10.9b Apply grades 9-10 Reading standards to literary nonfiction (e.g., "Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify false statements and fallacious reasoning").
W.9-10.8 Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.
W.9-10.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
W.9-10.9a Apply grades 9-10 Reading standards to literature (e.g., "Analyze how an author draws on and transforms source material in a specific work [e.g., how Shakespeare treats a theme or topic from Ovid or the Bible or how a later author draws on a play by Shakespeare]").
W.9-10.9b Apply grades 9-10 Reading standards to literary nonfiction (e.g., "Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify false statements and fallacious reasoning").
ELA Common Core Standards
Whether the Common Core Standards are just the latest fad or here to stay, you need lesson plans that address the Common Core Standards. The good news is that they're probably the same standards you've been teaching, but with a different name. Use these links to find lesson plans matched up with the standards.
