Claim
Our community should build a skate park.
6th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 3 of 17
Make Your Case
Claims, evidence and counterarguments
What your child practices
Building an argument: stating a claim, choosing the strongest evidence, recognizing counterarguments and rebuttals, spotting persuasive techniques and ordering a persuasive paragraph.
New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 6W1; 6R8 · claims, evidence and counterarguments
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- A claim is the position you argue for. Back it with strong, specific evidence.
- A counterargument is the other side. A rebuttal answers it.
- Persuasive techniques include rhetorical questions (asked for effect, not an answer) and strong emotional words.
Example: “Don’t we all want a safer playground?” Which persuasive technique is this? The writer doesn’t expect a real answer. A question asked for effect is a rhetorical question. Answer: Rhetorical question
Make Your Case in New York
In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 3 of 17 in 6th grade English Language Arts, after Connotation & Tone and before Agreement.
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 is the STRONGEST evidence for this claim?
- A survey of 300 local youth found that 180 would use a skate park every week.
- Everyone wants a skate park.
- Some people already skateboard on sidewalks.
- Skate parks look nice.
A survey of 300 local youth found that 180 would use a skate park every week.
Hint: Specific numbers from a real survey are stronger than personal opinions or “everyone” claims.
Question 2
Which evidence best supports this claim?
Claim
Our school should plant a vegetable garden.
- Tomatoes are red.
- Shovels are made of metal.
- Some students like to play inside.
- Gardening teaches students where food comes from, and the harvest can be shared with the cafeteria.
Gardening teaches students where food comes from, and the harvest can be shared with the cafeteria.
Hint: Choose the reason that explains why a garden would help the school.
Question 3
Which sentence uses data from the writer's own research?
More Time Outside
Students should get more outdoor time during the school day. Time outside gives students a chance to move, which can help them focus afterward. In our class survey, 22 of 27 students said they felt calmer after recess. Some teachers argue that more outdoor time means less time for learning. However, students who come back focused may learn more in less time. A little more time outside is an investment in learning.
- In our class survey, 22 of 27 students said they felt calmer after recess.
- A little more time outside is an investment in learning.
- Students should get more outdoor time during the school day.
- Some teachers argue that more outdoor time means less time for learning.
In our class survey, 22 of 27 students said they felt calmer after recess.
Hint: Data means numbers collected by counting or surveying.
Question 4
Who is the best audience for a letter asking for a crosswalk near the school?
- people living in another country
- local council members, who can approve it
- a cookbook author
- kindergarten students
local council members, who can approve it
Hint: Write to the people who have the power to make the change.
Question 5
Put this persuasive paragraph in a logical order.
- To begin with, more racks mean more students can bike to school.
- In addition, bikes locked to a fence can block the walkway.
- In conclusion, new bike racks would help students and keep our walkways clear.
- For example, right now 30 bikes are locked to the fence because the racks are full.
- Our school should add more bike racks.
Our school should add more bike racks. → To begin with, more racks mean more students can bike to school. → For example, right now 30 bikes are locked to the fence because the racks are full. → In addition, bikes locked to a fence can block the walkway. → In conclusion, new bike racks would help students and keep our walkways clear.
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 6
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 odor. Starting a program now would help our school waste less and grow more.
- However, a covered bin that is turned regularly has very little odor.
- Our school should start a composting program.
- Every day, our cafeteria throws away bags of fruit peels and vegetable scraps.
- Some people worry that compost bins will smell.
However, a covered bin that is turned regularly has very little odor.
Hint: A rebuttal answers the counterargument. Look for a signal word like “However.”