Free teaching resource

Write an Evidence-Based Paragraph

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Audience / fit: Grade 6 ELA
Teaching or planning target: Write a focused paragraph with an answer, accurate evidence, and an explanation of the connection.
Essential prerequisites: Learners can read or listen to a short passage and locate a sentence or detail. No prior paragraph formula is required.
Preparation: About 5 minutes.
Use time: About 40 minutes. Planning estimate: opening 3 minutes, strategy 5, model 8, guided practice 10, independent writing 12, closure 2.
Materials: Learner pages in print or editable format. Pencil; a highlighter or two colored pencils are optional for marking claim, evidence, and explanation. Board or display for the model paragraph; optional.
What to print: Use the stage-specific student choices below and the matching teacher guide. Give independent, new-evidence and later-assessment pages only at their intended stage.

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Model and guided practice · PDF (5 pages)

Read the teacher guide and answers · PDF (12 pages)

Print model and guided practice first. Keep the independent response with the teacher until guided practice is complete. Use the complete teacher guide for the named task’s criteria and answers.

Editable Word, browser copies and other files

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In this estimated 40-minute lesson, learners write a focused paragraph that answers a text question, supports the answer with accurate details, explains how those details connect to the claim, and ends clearly. They keep claims within the passage and distinguish evidence from explanation.

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Who it is for: Grade 6 ELA
Preparation: About 5 minutes.
Teaching time: About 40 minutes. Planning estimate: opening 3 minutes, strategy 5, model 8, guided practice 10, independent writing 12, closure 2.
Teacher guidance: Separate teacher files include completed examples or answer and scoring guidance.

Materials

Learner pages in print or editable format.
Pencil; a highlighter or two colored pencils are optional for marking claim, evidence, and explanation.
Board or display for the model paragraph; optional.

Choose a stage and format

Give only the stage being used. Keep later tasks and all teacher keys with the teacher until needed.

Formats and all files

Complete reference files may include teaching, independent tasks, later evidence or teacher answers. Keep them with the teacher; use the separate stage selections above for handouts.

Read or download the complete resource

Keep teacher guidance and answers separate from student copies. Word files contain editable text; the PDF files are ready to print.

Support and adaptation

Chunk the story, reread directions aloud or use available text-to-speech, mark evidence and explanation in different ways, and offer the planner plus oral rehearsal or dictation if transcription is not the target. Preserve the independent claim-and-evidence task; record response mode and check individual access needs locally.

Extension

Write a second supported paragraph emphasizing a different revision, compare which evidence answers the same question most directly, and explain why one accurate but less relevant detail was left out.

Choose a next move

Choose a route that fits the response and your teaching goal. These are links to materials already supplied, not a prescribed sequence or a placement decision.

Evidence Paragraphs: Check, Respond and Revise — After teaching, distinguish supported writing from unclear expression using different passages and focused practice tasks.
Evidence Writing: Teach, Respond and Revise — Connect paragraph teaching, revision and the complete classroom package.
Choose Evidence That Answers the Question — If an answer lists details without explaining their relevance, use one of the two focused evidence routes.
Revise a Paragraph for Clarity and Coherence — When the evidence is sound but the paragraph is hard to follow, revise wording and order while preserving meaning.

Save follow-up passages until students are ready to try them on their own. Once a passage has been shown, modeled or practiced, use it for practice. Keep answer keys with the teacher and use each resource’s own learning target and criteria.

About the materials

Use the editable files to adapt the materials to your learners and local curriculum.

You may print, copy and adapt the resource for your planning and classroom use under our Terms of Use. Report a resource issue.