4th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 19 of 20
Arguments, Evidence and Responses
Claims, reasons and evidence, using text evidence, and creative responses.
What your child practices
Your child picks strong claims, reasons and evidence, sees how authors support claims, answers questions with evidence from a text, and chooses creative responses such as a poem, play or artwork.
New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 4R8; 4W1; 4W4; 4W5 · how claims are supported, writing arguments with reasons and evidence, creative responses and drawing evidence from texts
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- A claim is your opinion. Reasons say why. Evidence proves the reasons.
- Answer reading questions with evidence from the text: “According to the article…”
- You can respond to a text creatively, like turning a story into a play.
Example: Claim: “Our library should stay open on Saturdays.” Which reason is strongest? A strong reason connects to the claim. It shows why Saturday matters to people. Answer: Many families can only visit on weekends.
Arguments, Evidence and Responses in New York
In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 19 of 20 in 4th grade English Language Arts, after Poems and Plays and before Genres and Connections.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
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 sentence uses evidence from a text the right way?
- I think owls are cool.
- The author says that “owls can turn their heads very far,” which shows they can watch all around.
- Owls live somewhere.
- Owls are my favorite bird.
The author says that “owls can turn their heads very far,” which shows they can watch all around.
Hint: Quote or name a detail from the text, then explain it.
Question 2
Which question could you answer by drawing evidence from an article about wolves?
- What do wolves eat in winter, according to the article?
- How many friends do you have?
- What is your favorite animal?
- What will you eat for dinner?
What do wolves eat in winter, according to the article?
Hint: Evidence questions point back to the text.
Question 3
Which is the best conclusion for an argument that the town needs a dog park?
- My dog's name is Rex.
- Dogs have four legs.
- There are many parks in the world.
- A dog park would keep dogs safe, help neighbors meet and make our town a happier place.
A dog park would keep dogs safe, help neighbors meet and make our town a happier place.
Hint: A conclusion sums up the claim and the reasons.
Question 4
Claim: “Our library should stay open on Saturdays.” Which reason is strongest?
- Saturdays come after Fridays.
- The library has a red door.
- Many families can only visit on weekends.
- Some books are funny.
Many families can only visit on weekends.
Hint: The strongest reason explains why the claim matters.
Question 5
An article says, “Bike helmets save lives. Studies show helmets lower the risk of serious head injury.” How is the claim supported?
- with a story about a dragon
- with evidence from studies
- with a joke
- with no support
with evidence from studies
Hint: Look at what comes after the claim.
Question 6
An author claims, “Homework should be banned,” but gives no reasons. What is the problem?
- The author used a title.
- The claim is too short.
- The claim is not supported.
- There are too many reasons.
The claim is not supported.
Hint: Claims need reasons and evidence.