Tracing & Evaluating an Argument
Aligned to RI.7.8 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.
What this lesson teaches
Map the author's reasoning step by step and decide whether the evidence is sound and sufficient. Identify any claims that aren't backed up.
Worked example
An op-ed argues for later school start times: cites sleep research (sound), test-score data (relevant), but one claim ('kids will be happier') lacks evidence.
Practice questions
- Outline the steps of reasoning in an argument.
- Which claim is best supported? Which is weakest?
- 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 lessonEn español
Seguir y evaluar un argumento
Traza el razonamiento del autor paso a paso y decide si la evidencia es sólida y suficiente. Identifica cualquier argumento que no esté respaldado.
Ejemplo: Un artículo de opinión defiende que las escuelas empiecen más tarde: cita investigaciones sobre el sueño (sólida), datos de calificaciones (relevante), pero un argumento ('los niños serán más felices') carece de evidencia.
More Reading: Informational lessons
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