English Language Arts and Literacy | Grade : 6-8
Strand - Writing in the Content Areas
Cluster - Text Types and Purposes
[WCA.6-8.1] - Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
[6.LS.1.3] -
Construct an argument supported by evidence that the body systems interact to carry out essential functions of life. Clarification Statements: Emphasis is on the functions and interactions of the body systems, not specific body parts or organs. An argument should convey that different types of cells can join together to form specialized tissues, which in turn may form organs that work together as body systems. Body systems to be included are the circulatory, digestive, respiratory, excretory, muscular/skeletal, and nervous systems. Essential functions of life include obtaining food and other nutrients (water, oxygen, minerals), releasing energy from food, removing wastes, responding to stimuli, maintaining internal conditions, and growing/developing. An example of interacting systems could include the respiratory system taking in oxygen from the environment which the circulatory system delivers to cells for cellular respiration, or the digestive system taking in nutrients which the circulatory system transports to cells around the body.State Assessment Boundaries: The mechanism of one body system independent of others or the biochemical processes involved in body systems are not expected in state assessment. Describing the function or comparing different types of cells, tissues, or organs are not expected in state assessment.
[6.LS.4.2] -
Construct an argument using anatomical structures to support evolutionary relationships among and between fossil organisms and modern organisms. Clarification Statement: Evolutionary relationships include (a) some organisms have similar traits with similar functions because they were inherited from a common ancestor, (b) some organisms have similar traits that serve similar functions because they live in similar environments, and (c) some organisms have traits inherited from common ancestors that no longer serve their original function because their environments are different than their ancestors’ environments.
[6.PS.2.4] -
Use evidence to support the claim that gravitational forces between objects are attractive and are only noticeable when one or both of the objects have a very large mass. Clarification Statement: Examples of objects with very large masses include the Sun, Earth, and other planets.
State Assessment Boundary: Newton’s law of gravitation or Kepler’s laws are not expected in state assessment.
[7.ESS.3.4] -
Construct an argument supported by evidence that human activities and technologies can mitigate the impact of increases in human population and per capita consumption of natural resources on the environment. Clarification Statements: Arguments should be based on examining historical data such as population graphs, natural resource distribution maps, and water quality studies over time. Examples of negative impacts can include changes to the amount and quality of natural resources such as water, mineral, and energy supplies.
[7.PS.2.5] -
Use scientific evidence to argue that fields exist between objects with mass, between magnetic objects, and between electrically charged objects that exert force on each other even though the objects are not in contact. Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on evidence that demonstrates the existence of fields, limited to gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields. State Assessment Boundary: Calculations of force are not expected in state assessment.
[7.PS.3.5] -
Present evidence to support the claim that when the kinetic energy of an object changes, energy is transferred to or from the object.
Clarification Statement: Examples of empirical evidence could include an inventory or other representation of the energy before and after the transfer in the form of temperature changes or motion of an object. State Assessment Boundary: Calculations of energy are not expected in state assessment.
[8.LS.1.5] -
Construct an argument based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms. Clarification Statements: Examples of environmental conditions could include availability of food, light, space, and water. Examples of genetic factors could include the genes responsible for size differences in different breeds of dogs, such as Great Danes and Chihuahuas. Examples of environmental factors could include drought decreasing plant growth, fertilizer increasing plant growth, and fish growing larger in large ponds than they do in small ponds. Examples of both genetic and environmental factors could include different varieties of plants growing at different rates in different conditions. State Assessment Boundary: Methods of reproduction, genetic mechanisms, gene regulation, biochemical processes, or natural selection are not expected in state assessment.