CurriculumGrade 4English Language Arts

Reasons and Evidence

Aligned to RI.4.8 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

What this lesson teaches

When an author makes a point, they should back it up with reasons and evidence — facts, examples, or numbers that prove it. Your job is to find the point the author is making and then spot the support they give for it.

Worked example

An author writes, 'Kids should walk to school.' Their reasons: it gives exercise, and it makes less traffic. That evidence is what turns their opinion into a supported point.

Practice questions

  1. Find a point an author makes and name one reason they give for it.
  2. Explain the difference between an author's opinion and the evidence that supports it.
  3. Read a short argument and decide if the evidence really backs up the point.

Watch the lesson

Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

▶ Watch this lesson

En español

Razones y Evidencia

Cuando un autor hace una afirmación, debe apoyarla con razones y evidencia — hechos, ejemplos o números que la prueben. Tu tarea es encontrar la afirmación que hace el autor y luego identificar el apoyo que da.

Ejemplo: Un autor escribe: 'Los niños deberían caminar a la escuela.' Sus razones: da ejercicio y hace menos tráfico. Esa evidencia es lo que convierte su opinión en una afirmación apoyada.

More Reading: Textos Informativos lessons

Facts and InferencesRI.4.1What Happened and WhyRI.4.3Nonfiction VocabularyRI.4.4How Nonfiction Is BuiltRI.4.5Firsthand vs. SecondhandRI.4.6Reading Charts and PicturesRI.4.7

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