Unit Plan 28 (Grade 8 ELA): Cause & Effect and Evaluating Claims
8th graders analyze how events and ideas connect through cause and effect, then trace and evaluate claims in texts and speeches. Students learn to test reasoning, judge evidence quality, distinguish correlation from causation, and write concise, evidence-based evaluations.
Focus: Event/idea relationships; tracing & evaluating claims in texts/speeches
Grade Level: 8
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Reading—Informational; Listening/Speaking—Argument)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Not all “because” statements are created equal. This week, students map cause–effect relationships in complex informational texts, then trace and evaluate claims—testing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient in both print and spoken arguments. They’ll practice distinguishing correlation from causation, spotting faulty reasoning, and writing concise evaluations that cite the strongest evidence.
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Analyze connections and distinctions among individuals, events, and ideas, with emphasis on cause–effect chains and confounding factors (RI.8.3).
- Trace and evaluate an argument’s claims, assessing reasoning and the relevance/sufficiency of evidence; flag irrelevant or weak support (RI.8.8).
- Delineate and evaluate a speaker’s argument and specific claims in a speech or talk, judging soundness of reasoning and credibility of evidence (SL.8.3).
- Write short, evidence-based evaluations that describe what a text/speaker argues and how well the argument holds up.
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 8
- RI.8.3: Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events.
- RI.8.8: Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize irrelevant evidence.
- SL.8.3: Delineate a speaker’s argument and claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.
Success Criteria — student language
- I can map what leads to what (and what doesn’t) and explain the type of connection.
- I can trace claims to the exact evidence used and judge whether the reasoning is sound.
- I can evaluate a speech with specific notes on evidence quality and logic.
- I can write a clear, concise evaluation that cites the strongest proof and names any gaps.