Unit Plan 11 (Grade 8 ELA): Evaluating Reasons & Evidence
8th graders learn to analyze and evaluate arguments by identifying claims, reasons, and evidence, judging relevance and credibility, and quoting or paraphrasing accurately to write clear, evidence-based evaluations of texts and speeches.
Focus: Delineating/evaluating arguments; relevant/irrelevant evidence; quoting/paraphrasing
Grade Level: 8
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Reading—Informational; Writing—Argument; Speaking/Listening—Critical Evaluation)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Before we write stronger arguments, we’ll learn to take apart other people’s arguments. This week students will delineate claims, reasons, and evidence in texts and speeches, decide which evidence is relevant, sufficient, and credible, call out irrelevant or weak support, and practice quoting/paraphrasing accurately to report findings in writing and discussion.
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Delineate an author/speaker’s argument: identify claim(s), reasons, and evidence; map how ideas connect (RI.8.8; SL.8.3).
- Evaluate reasoning and evidence for relevance, sufficiency, and credibility; spot irrelevant evidence or reasoning gaps (RI.8.8; SL.8.3).
- Quote and paraphrase accurately with precise citations; use cohesive language and a formal style when composing evaluations (W.8.1b–d; W.8.9b).
- Participate in collaborative analysis to test judgments about evidence quality (SL.8.3; SL.8.1 implied in routines).
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 8
- 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 when irrelevant evidence is introduced.
- W.8.1b–d: Support claims with logical reasoning and relevant evidence from credible sources; use words/phrases/clauses to create cohesion; maintain a formal style.
- W.8.9b: Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis (apply RI standards to literary nonfiction/argument).
- SL.8.3: Delineate a speaker’s argument and specific claims, evaluating soundness of reasoning and relevance/sufficiency of evidence; identify irrelevant evidence.
Success Criteria — student language
- I can map claim → reasons → evidence with accuracy.
- I can label evidence as relevant/irrelevant and sufficient/insufficient with a brief rationale.
- My evaluation uses accurate quotes/paraphrases and formal, cohesive language.
- I can explain one gap or weakness in the argument and suggest what evidence would strengthen it.