Spotting Strong Arguments

Some passages present an argument—a claim the author wants you to believe. Good arguments are backed up by evidence: facts, statistics, or examples that support the claim.

Steps to Analyze an Argument

• Identify the main claim.
• Find the evidence that supports it.
• Decide if the evidence is strong, weak, or missing.

Real-World Application

This skill is useful when reading articles, watching debates, or deciding who to trust online.

Test Yourself

• Ask, “What is the author trying to prove?”
• “What proof do they offer?”
• “Is the argument convincing? Why or why not?”