Trace and Evaluate
Arguments

Learn to identify claims, trace the reasons and evidence that support them, and evaluate which claims hold up under scrutiny.

6th Grade Reading

What Is an Argument in Writing?

In everyday life, an "argument" might mean a heated disagreement. But in reading and writing, an argument is something different: it is a writer's attempt to convince you that a particular idea is true or that a specific action should be taken.

Three Key Terms You Need

Claim

The author's main point or position: what they want you to believe or do.

Reason

A logical explanation of why the claim is true. Answers: "Why should I believe this?"

Evidence

Specific facts, data, examples, or expert quotes that back up the reason.

Why Does Evaluating Arguments Matter?

Every day you encounter arguments: in news articles, advertisements, social media posts, and even conversations. If you cannot tell which claims are well-supported and which are not, you risk being misled.

1

Critical thinking: You learn to question what you read instead of accepting it blindly.

2

Stronger writing: Understanding good arguments helps you build your own.

3

Informed decisions: You can separate fact from opinion in the real world.

The Structure of an Argument

Supported vs. Unsupported Claims

Supported Claim

Backed by reasons that are explained with specific evidence such as facts, data, or expert opinions.

Unsupported Claim

Stated without reasons or evidence: the author gives only opinions, feelings, or vague statements.

Types of Evidence Authors Use

Facts and Statistics

Verifiable data or numbers: "78% of students reported improvement."

Expert Opinions

Quotes or references from people with credentials in the subject area.

Examples

Specific real-world cases or scenarios that illustrate the point.

Personal Anecdotes

Individual stories: can be compelling but are weaker than data or experts.

How to Trace an Argument

1

Find the claim. Ask: "What is the author trying to convince me of?" Look in the introduction and conclusion.

2

Identify the reasons. Ask: "Why does the author say this is true?" Look for topic sentences in body paragraphs.

3

Locate the evidence. Ask: "What proof does the author give?" Look for facts, statistics, quotes, and examples.

4

Evaluate the connection. Ask: "Does the evidence actually support the reason, and does the reason support the claim?"

5

Judge the strength. Decide if the argument is well-supported or if gaps remain.

Example 1: School Lunches

Claim

Schools should offer more vegetable options at lunch.

Reason

Students who eat more vegetables perform better academically.

Evidence

A 2022 study showed a 15% test score improvement.

Example 2: Longer Recess

Claim

Recess should be extended to 45 minutes.

Reason

Kids need more time to play.

Evidence?

"Everyone knows" is an opinion, not data, expert testimony, or a real example.

Example 3: Mixed Evidence

Signal Words to Watch For

Claim Signals

"I believe," "should," "must," "it is important that," "the best solution is"

Reason Signals

"because," "since," "the reason is," "this is due to," "as a result of"

Evidence Signals

"according to," "research shows," "for example," "a study found," "data indicates"

Is the Evidence Strong Enough?

1

Relevance: Does the evidence directly connect to the reason and claim?

2

Sufficiency: Is there enough evidence, or is the author relying on just one example?

3

Credibility: Does the evidence come from a trustworthy, knowledgeable source?

4

Accuracy: Can the facts and data be verified? Are the numbers realistic?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✕ Confusing Claim and Reason

The claim is the main point; the reason explains why. Mixing them up makes you lose track of the argument.

✕ Accepting Opinion as Evidence

Phrases like "everyone knows" or "obviously" are opinions, not real evidence. Always look for data or expert sources.

✕ Ignoring Unsupported Claims

An author may make several claims. Do not assume all are supported just because one is. Evaluate each separately.

Strong vs. Weak Arguments

	Strong Argument	Weak Argument
Claim	Clear and specific	Vague or overly broad
Reasons	Logical and connected to claim	Missing or unrelated
Evidence	Facts, data, expert quotes	Opinions, feelings, "everyone knows"
Sources	Credible and named	Unnamed or unreliable
Logic	Evidence supports reasons; reasons support claim	Gaps between evidence and claim

Question 1 of 5

"Students should wear uniforms to school. Uniforms reduce bullying based on clothing. A 2021 survey of 500 middle school students found that schools with uniform policies reported 40% fewer bullying incidents related to appearance."

▼ Tap to read passage

Which sentence in the passage is the claim?

The claim is the author's main position: "Students should wear uniforms to school." The word "should" signals an opinion the author wants you to accept. The other sentences are reasons and evidence supporting that claim.

Question 2 of 5

"Homework should be limited to 30 minutes per night. Too much homework causes stress. My friend says she is always tired because of homework."

▼ Tap to read passage

What is the biggest weakness in this argument?

The claim is clear ("limit homework to 30 minutes") and the reason connects ("too much homework causes stress"). But the evidence: "My friend says she is always tired": is just a personal anecdote, which is the weakest type of evidence. A strong argument would include research data or expert opinion.

Question 3 of 5

Which of the following is an example of strong evidence?

Strong evidence is specific, credible, and verifiable. The Harvard study names a source, provides data (25% improvement), and comes from a respected institution. The other options are opinions ("I think," "obviously") or vague generalizations ("everyone agrees").

Question 4 of 5

"The school cafeteria should serve breakfast. Eating breakfast improves focus and energy. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children who eat breakfast are more alert in morning classes and score higher on tests. Also, breakfast foods taste really good."

▼ Tap to read passage

Which claim in this passage is not supported by evidence?

"Breakfast foods taste really good" is a personal opinion with no evidence provided. The other claims are supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics reference. In strong reading, you must evaluate each claim on its own, even when some claims in the same text are well-supported.

Question 5 of 5

When you trace an argument, what are you doing?

Tracing an argument means following its logical structure: identifying the claim, finding the reasons that support it, and checking whether the evidence truly backs up those reasons. It is an active, analytical process, not copying or drawing.

Trace and EvaluateArguments

What Is an Argument in Writing?

Three Key Terms You Need

Why Does Evaluating Arguments Matter?

The Structure of an Argument

Supported vs. Unsupported Claims

Types of Evidence Authors Use

How to Trace an Argument

Example 1: School Lunches

Example 2: Longer Recess

Example 3: Mixed Evidence

Signal Words to Watch For

Is the Evidence Strong Enough?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Strong vs. Weak Arguments

Question 1 of 5

Question 2 of 5

Question 3 of 5

Question 4 of 5

Question 5 of 5

Trace and Evaluate
Arguments