YourHomeschool YourHomeschool Curriculum By state Workbooks Games Open the Tutor
Curriculum › Grade 6 › English Language Arts

Weighing a Speaker's Claims

  • Grade 6
  • English Language Arts
  • SL.6.3
  • Speaking & Listening
  • Free lesson

Aligned to SL.6.3 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

What this lesson teaches

When you listen to an argument, separate the speaker's claims from their support and decide which claims are backed by reasons and evidence and which are just asserted.

Worked examples

Example 1

A speaker says, 'Our team should get new uniforms — the old ones are torn (shows photos) and unsafe (cites a coach).' 'Torn' and 'unsafe' are supported. 'We're the best team in the state,' with no proof, is an unsupported claim.

Example 2

'We need new uniforms because these are torn' can be photographed. 'We deserve them because we work hard' cannot be checked at all.

Example 3

Notice when a speaker repeats a claim louder instead of supporting it. Volume is not evidence.

Practice questions

  1. Listen to a short argument and write down its main claim.
  2. Note one claim that is backed by evidence and one that isn't.
  3. Explain what evidence would make the weak claim stronger.

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

Evaluar las Afirmaciones de un Orador

Cuando escuchas un argumento, separa las afirmaciones del orador de su sustento y decide cuáles están respaldadas con razones y evidencia y cuáles solo se afirman.

Ejemplo 1: Un orador dice: 'Nuestro equipo debería tener uniformes nuevos — los viejos están rotos (muestra fotos) e inseguros (cita a un entrenador).' 'Rotos' e 'inseguros' están sustentados. 'Somos el mejor equipo del estado', sin pruebas, es una afirmación sin sustento.

Ejemplo 2: 'Necesitamos uniformes nuevos porque estos están rotos' se puede fotografiar. 'Los merecemos porque trabajamos duro' no se puede verificar.

Ejemplo 3: Fíjate cuando alguien repite una afirmación más fuerte en vez de sustentarla. El volumen no es evidencia.

More Speaking & Listening lessons

Collaborative Discussion & PresentingSL.6.1Making Sense of MediaSL.6.2Presenting ClearlySL.6.4Adding Visuals to a TalkSL.6.5Formal or Casual SpeechSL.6.6

Teach this lesson today

An AI tutor that guides with questions instead of just giving answers — all K–12 core subjects, every child in the family.

Start free — no card required