Common Core Standards

Grade 7

Writing W.7.1

Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

Okay, so it's time to write an essay about baseball. According to the Common Core, this is what it needs:

1. A clear message about how baseball is clearly the best sport in the world, even if there are haters of the sport out there.
2. Good pieces of supporting evidence, just like how a baseball team is supported by 25 good players.
3. Flow, so that the essay doesn't confuse readers the way the concept of a "fourth out" initially confuses everyone.
4. Formal language—ironically, in order to hit it out of the park in regards to this substandard, an essay actually can't use phrases like "hit it out of the park" metaphorically.
5. A strong conclusion so the essay doesn't have to go into extra innings to finish explaining what it wants.

As long as students meet all of these five sub-standards, they should be writing grand slam essays with ease.

Standard Components

Example 1

Here's a lesson to use when students are reading, well, anything!

Have students use persuasive techniques and argument styles, such as point-by-point or point-counterpoint, to create a persuasive essay about characters from their readings.

Aligned Resources

Teacher Guides

More standards from Grade 7 - Writing

If I'd had to teach to the Common Core, I would have used Shmoop, too.

Aristotle

The observed gravitational effect between Common Core activities results from their warping of Shmooptime.