Claim
Our school should install water bottle refill stations.
Grade 6 · English Language Arts · Unit 7 of 11
Make Your Case
Claims, evidence and counterarguments
What your child practises
Building an argument: stating a claim, choosing the strongest evidence, recognizing counterarguments and rebuttals, spotting persuasive techniques and ordering a persuasive paragraph.
Alberta Curriculum learning outcome: Offer relevant information and logical reasoning to enhance collaborative dialogue.; Refine and adjust writing through creative and critical thinking to reflect individuality and skills. · building a claim with reasons and answering the other side in persuasive writing
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Which evidence best supports this claim?
- One refill station can keep thousands of plastic bottles out of the garbage each year.
- Some students prefer juice.
- Plastic bottles come in many sizes.
- Water is made of hydrogen and oxygen.
Show answer
One refill station can keep thousands of plastic bottles out of the garbage each year.
Hint: Which fact shows a real benefit of having refill stations?
Question 2
Which sentence is the writer's rebuttal (the answer to the other side)?
Let's Compost!
Our school should start a composting program. Every day, our cafeteria throws away bags of fruit peels and vegetable scraps. Compost would turn that waste into rich soil for the school garden. Some people worry that compost bins will smell. However, a covered bin that is turned regularly has very little odour. Starting a program now would help our school waste less and grow more.
- Every day, our cafeteria throws away bags of fruit peels and vegetable scraps.
- However, a covered bin that is turned regularly has very little odour.
- Our school should start a composting program.
- Some people worry that compost bins will smell.
Show answer
However, a covered bin that is turned regularly has very little odour.
Hint: A rebuttal answers the counterargument. Look for a signal word like “However.”
Question 3
Which sentence is the writer's rebuttal (the answer to the other side)?
A Safer Street
Our town should add a bike lane on Maple Street. Right now, students who bike to school must ride beside fast-moving cars. A painted lane would give riders their own safe space. Some neighbours worry that a bike lane will take away parking spots. However, most homes on the street have driveways, and the lane would remove only six spots. A bike lane would make the street safer for everyone.
- Some neighbours worry that a bike lane will take away parking spots.
- Right now, students who bike to school must ride beside fast-moving cars.
- However, most homes on the street have driveways, and the lane would remove only six spots.
- Our town should add a bike lane on Maple Street.
Show answer
However, most homes on the street have driveways, and the lane would remove only six spots.
Hint: A rebuttal answers the worry. Look for a signal word like “However.”
Question 4
Put this persuasive paragraph in a logical order.
- In conclusion, a walking club would keep us healthy and connected.
- Another reason is that a club helps students make new friends.
- One reason is that walking is an easy way to stay active.
- For example, a brisk twenty-minute walk gets your heart pumping without any special equipment.
- Our school should start a walking club at lunch.
Show answer
Our school should start a walking club at lunch. → One reason is that walking is an easy way to stay active. → For example, a brisk twenty-minute walk gets your heart pumping without any special equipment. → Another reason is that a club helps students make new friends. → In conclusion, a walking club would keep us healthy and connected.
Hint: Start with the claim, give each reason followed by its example, and finish with the conclusion. Signal words like “First,” “For example” and “In conclusion” help.
Question 5
Which persuasive technique does this use?
Isn't it time we made our playground safe for every child?
- Rhetorical question
- Emotional appeal
- Facts and statistics
- Expert opinion
Show answer
Rhetorical question
Hint: It's a question that isn't meant to be answered. The answer is supposed to seem obvious.
Question 6
Which sentence is a counterargument to this claim?
Claim
Our school should have a longer lunch break.
- A longer lunch would give students time to eat and play.
- In conclusion, our school needs a longer lunch break.
- Some people say a longer lunch would make the school day end later.
- Students who eat slowly often can't finish their food.
Show answer
Some people say a longer lunch would make the school day end later.
Hint: A counterargument is a reason someone might disagree with the claim.