Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Middle School

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Learning Objectives

• Define and identify the claim, evidence, and reasoning in a text.

• Differentiate between a simple fact, an opinion, and a debatable claim.

• Evaluate the strength of evidence based on its relevance and credibility.

• Construct a basic argument using the Claim, Evidence, Reasoning framework.

Key Vocabulary

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Argument

A reason or set of reasons given to persuade others to agree with an idea or action.

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Claim

A debatable statement that shares the writer's viewpoint and can be supported with credible evidence.

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Evidence

Factual information presented to support a claim, such as data, examples, or expert opinions.

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Reasoning

The justification that explains how and why the provided evidence logically connects to and proves the claim.

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Rebuttal

An opposing point of view that is acknowledged to show the writer's argument is superior.

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What Is a Claim?

• A claim is a writer's main argument that can be debated.

• ​It is a specific viewpoint, not a fact or personal opinion.

• An example of a weak claim is: "My dad is an alien."

• A strong claim example is: “Cats make better pets than dogs.”

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the best example of a debatable claim?

• Cheese is made from milk.

• Cheese is the most versatile food in modern cuisine.

• I don't like cheese.

• My favorite type of cheese is cheddar.

Part 2: The Evidence

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Facts and Data

• ​Evidence is factual information that proves your claim is actually valid.

• ​​Facts are verifiable information, often presented as numbers or data points.

• ​This evidence must come from a credible and trustworthy data source.

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Expert Opinions

• ​This is judgment from an expert on a particular subject matter.

• ​​An expert's opinion adds credibility because of their specialized knowledge.

• ​Their statements can help explain what the collected data means.

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Stories and Examples

• ​This evidence uses personal experiences or anecdotes to illustrate a point.

• ​​These stories make complex ideas much easier for people to understand.

• ​They must be relevant to the claim that you are supporting.

Multiple Choice

Is the following sentence an example of a claim or evidence: 'According to the American Health Association, peanut butter is a great source of protein.'?

• Claim

• Evidence

• Option C

• Option D

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Part 3: The Reasoning

• Reasoning is the link that connects your evidence to your claim.

• It explains how and why your evidence proves that your claim is true.

• It is the logical explanation of what your evidence means and why it matters.

• For example, cats are low-maintenance as they can care for themselves without supervision.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary purpose of reasoning in an argument?

• To introduce an opposing argument.

• To explain how the evidence proves the claim.

• To state a debatable opinion.

• To provide factual proof or data.

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Rebuttal: Acknowledging the Other Side

• A rebuttal outlines an opposing viewpoint to make your own argument stronger.

• ​Claim: "Cats are better than dogs because they are sweeter and smarter."

• Evidence shows cats prefer human interaction, which proves they are loving pets.

• Rebuttal: Some argue cats only want food, but data proves this is false.

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Multiple Choice

Which part of the C-E-R framework is demonstrated in the following sentence: 'Some may say that the sky is green, but it is clear the color of the sky is blue.'?

• Claim

• Evidence

• Reasoning

• Rebuttal

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Clearing Up Common Misconceptions

Misconception	Correction
Any statement is a claim.	A claim must be debatable, not just a fact or personal taste.
Evidence is just someone's opinion.	Evidence is based on verifiable facts, data, or expert testimony.
Strong evidence is enough to win an argument.	You also need reasoning to explain how evidence supports your claim.
A good argument ignores the opposing view.	Acknowledging the other side with a rebuttal makes your argument stronger.

Multiple Choice

What is the claim in the following argument? 'In our experiment, the blocks had different masses: 20g, 30g, 44g, 123g, and 142g, but the time for all five blocks to fall was about the same. It took between 1.5 and 1.8 seconds for them to fall. Therefore, mass does not affect how quickly an object falls.'

• Mass does not affect how quickly an object falls.

• It took between 1.5 and 1.8 seconds for them to fall.

• An experiment was conducted with five blocks.

• The blocks had different masses, from 20g to 142g.

Multiple Choice

What is the main claim of this paragraph? 'Social media is ruining many friendships today. Over 75% of teens have a social media account and are more comfortable interacting online. As a result, many teens post things online that they wouldn't say in person, which can negatively affect friendships.'

• Social media is ruining many friendships today.

• Teens post things online they wouldn't say in person.

• Social media interactions can have negative effects.

• Over 75% of teens have a social media account.

Multiple Choice

Analyze the following statements. Does the evidence support the claim? Claim: 'Snapchat is a dangerous app for young people.' Evidence: 'Snapchat is an app that allows users to add filters to photos.'

• Yes, the evidence directly proves the claim.

• No, the evidence is irrelevant to the claim being made.

• The evidence is a claim, not evidence.

• The claim is a fact, not a claim.

Multiple Choice

Analyze the following sentence and identify its function within an argument: 'Dance music has become popular for reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of the music; rather, the clear, fast beats respond to the need of people to move, and to move quickly.'

• Rebuttal, because it argues against another point.

• Reasoning, because it explains the 'why' behind a phenomenon.

• Evidence, because it includes statistical data.

• Claim, because it is a debatable statement.

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Summary

• A strong argument has a Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER).

• Your claim is a debatable statement supported by factual, relevant evidence.

• Reasoning explains how your evidence supports and proves your claim.

• Including a rebuttal helps build a more persuasive and stronger argument.

Poll

On a scale of 1-4, how confident are you about your ability to write arguments using the Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning framework?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4