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Common Core ELA1st GradeWriting

W.1.1: Write an Opinion with a Reason

Also written as CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.1 · Cluster: Text Types and Purposes.

Get the Opinion TemplateAll 41 1st Grade ELA Standards

The Official Wording

Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.

Common Core State Standards, Grade 1, Writing · Read it at the source · Checked October 14, 2026

What W.1.1 Means in Plain English

First graders name the book or topic, say what they think, and give at least one reason, then wrap up so the piece feels finished. “Corduroy is the best bear book because he is brave in the dark store. I think you will love him too.”

The reason is the new part. A kindergartner (W.K.1) names the book and the feeling, but a 1st grader also has to answer “why?” and close the piece. In 2nd grade (W.2.1) one reason grows into several, joined by linking words like because and also.

W.1.1 I Can Statements

  • I can name the book I am writing about.
  • I can tell what I think and give a reason.
  • I can end my writing so it sounds finished.

W.1.1 Worked Example

One read-aloud, two opinion pieces, and only one of them gives a reason a reader could check in the book.

Prompt

We read Corduroy by Don Freeman. Would you tell a friend to read it? Write your opinion, give a reason, and end your piece.

Not YetI like it. It is good. Lisa got him.There is an opinion, but “it” could be any book, because the title never appears. “It is good” repeats the opinion instead of giving a reason, and the last sentence retells the ending of the story and stops.
Meets the StandardYou should read Corduroy. I like it because Corduroy is brave. He looks all over the big store at night for his lost button. He thinks the escalator is a mountain and rides it up! That is why Corduroy is my favorite bear book.The first sentence names the book and gives the opinion. The reason comes with because, the next two sentences prove it with things that happen in the book, and the last line closes the piece by coming back to the opinion.
Moves to Use
Write the title in your first sentence.Say your opinion with I like, I think or You should.Give your reason with because.End with That is why or So you should.

Common Mistakes with W.1.1

A reason that repeats the opinion

“I like Corduroy because it is good.”

Try this: Ask “What happened in the book that made you like it?” and have the child write that answer after because.

Retelling the whole story

Five sentences of what happens to Corduroy, with “I like it” tacked on at the end

Try this: Limit the plan to three boxes, opinion, reason and ending, so story events only appear when they prove the reason.

No ending at all

The piece stops right after the reason: “...because he is brave.”

Try this: Post two closing frames, That is why and So you should, and have children read the last sentence to hear if it sounds finished.

Where W.1.1 Fits

Comes BeforeW.K.1Name a book or topic and tell how you feel about it, with drawing, dictating and writing.
AlongsideRL.1.3Describe characters, settings and big events with key details, the details a good reason points to.L.1.1Use common conjunctions like because and so, the words that hook a reason onto an opinion.
Comes NextW.2.1Give several reasons, connect them with linking words like because and also, and end with a concluding statement.

Practice W.1.1

Writing Prompt GeneratorFree ToolA fresh opinion prompt for the K-2 band, on screen for a class discussion first, then printed for each writer.OpinionK-2
Make a Prompt

Quick Check

  1. In the strong response, which word introduces the reason?
  2. Which sentence gives the strong response its sense of closure?
  3. A child writes “Corduroy is my favorite book. It has a bear.” Does that meet W.1.1?

W.1.1: Other Names

W.1.1CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.1

Common Core State Standards © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved. Official wording from the Common Core State Standards PDFs at corestandards.org, last checked October 14, 2026. The explanation, I can statements, example, mistakes and practice on this page are EMStudio’s own, written beside the official wording. They are not part of the standard.