Scaffolding Evidence-Based Writing for English Learners in Three Steps

Evidence-based writing is a complex standard in the Common Core State Standards that has taken center stage in the writing curriculum. Students must demonstrate proficiency in making claims based on evidence and explain how the evidence supports their claim. This is a challenging task for all students, but for English learners, it can be especially overwhelming. The author describes a series of lessons that teachers can use to introduce evidence-based writing in three steps to English learners. The author developed the three-step lessons for use with English learners after observing teachers and students struggling with evidence-based writing in linguistically diverse settings. The lessons incorporate literature on best practices in writing development for second-language learners, and the descriptions of the lessons are supported with examples from a sixth-grade English as a Second Language classroom. © 2018 International Literacy Association