Language Arts: Evaluating Claims and Evidence
Judging whether reasons and facts support an argument
Language Arts: Evaluating Claims and Evidence
Judging whether reasons and facts support an argument
Language Arts - Grade 6-8
- 1
Read the argument: Students should be allowed to bring reusable water bottles to class because staying hydrated can help people concentrate. Identify the claim.
The claim is that students should be allowed to bring reusable water bottles to class. - 2
Read the claim: Our school should start a homework club after school. Which piece of evidence best supports the claim? A. Many students like sports. B. A survey found that 58 percent of students sometimes need help finishing homework. C. The cafeteria serves lunch at noon. D. The school colors are blue and white.
Look for evidence that directly connects to homework help.
Choice B best supports the claim because it gives survey data showing that many students may benefit from a homework club. - 3
Read the evidence: My cousin said the new history textbook is boring. Does this evidence strongly support the claim that the textbook should be replaced for all students? Explain.
This evidence does not strongly support the claim because it is only one person's opinion and does not show that the textbook is inaccurate, unhelpful, or disliked by many students. - 4
Read the claim: The city should add more bike lanes. Read the evidence: In a city transportation report, 42 percent of residents said they would bike more often if streets felt safer. Is the evidence relevant? Explain.
Relevant evidence is connected to the claim.
The evidence is relevant because it connects directly to the claim. It shows that safer streets, such as streets with bike lanes, could encourage more people to bike. - 5
Read the claim: Middle school students should get more time for lunch. Write one piece of evidence that would support this claim.
One strong piece of evidence would be data showing that many students do not have enough time to eat a full meal during the current lunch period. - 6
Read the argument: Reading fiction improves empathy because a university study found that people who regularly read stories often score higher on tests that measure understanding others' feelings. Is this evidence credible? Explain.
Credible evidence usually comes from a trustworthy source and can be checked.
The evidence is likely credible because it comes from a university study and includes a measurable result related to empathy. - 7
Read the claim: The school should ban all homework. Read the evidence: Homework can be stressful for some students. Is the evidence sufficient to prove the claim? Explain.
The evidence is not sufficient because it gives only one reason and does not prove that all homework should be banned. More evidence about learning, stress, time, and student needs would be needed. - 8
Read the evidence: According to the school librarian, books checked out during lunch increased by 30 percent after the library added new graphic novels. What claim does this evidence best support?
Think about what the numbers show happened after the change.
This evidence best supports the claim that adding new graphic novels can increase student interest in checking out library books. - 9
Read the claim: All students learn better when listening to music. Read the evidence: Three students in my class said music helps them focus. Identify one weakness in the claim or evidence.
One weakness is that the evidence is based on only three students, so it does not prove that all students learn better with music. - 10
Read the claim: Schools should use more digital textbooks. Which evidence is stronger? A. Digital textbooks are cool and modern. B. Digital textbooks can be updated quickly, and a district report showed they reduced replacement costs by 20 percent. Explain your choice.
Strong evidence often includes facts, data, or expert information.
Choice B is stronger because it gives specific reasons and includes data from a district report. Choice A is only an opinion. - 11
Read the argument: Our town should plant more trees because trees can provide shade, improve air quality, and help reduce heat in neighborhoods. What type of evidence would make this argument stronger?
The argument would be stronger with data from a reliable source showing that areas with more trees are cooler or have better air quality than areas with fewer trees. - 12
Read the claim: The school should start classes one hour later. Read the evidence: A sleep research organization reports that many teenagers need 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night, and later start times can help students get more sleep. Evaluate how well the evidence supports the claim.
Evaluate both the source and the connection to the claim.
The evidence supports the claim well because it comes from a relevant research organization and explains how later start times could help students meet their sleep needs.