Claims and Counterclaims Practice

What is a claim?

• The opposite of what an author believes

• Facts or statistics from a text

• Support for what a writer believes

• The writer’s stance or overall argument

Which of the following is an example of a claim?

• Polar bears can eat as many as 86 penguins in one sitting.

• Products should not be tested on live animals

• A baby octopus is about the size of a flea when it is born

• Recycling one glass jar saves enough energy to watch t.v. for 3 hours.

Tags

CCSS.W.8.1A

What is a reason?

• Main points that use logic or reasoning to justify a writer's claim

• A writer's opinion or overall stance on a topic

• Facts or statistics that support a claim

• A claim that disagrees with the writer’s claim

Tags

CCSS.W.8.1A

CCSS.W.8.1B

What is a counterclaim?

• The writer’s stance or overall argument

• Main points that use logic or reasoning to justify the writer’s claim

• A claim that disagrees with the writer’s claim

• Explains why the evidence supports the claim

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.SL.8.3

CCSS.W.8.1A

CCSS.W.8.1C

CCSS.W.8.9B

What is the counterclaim? Claim: Middle school students should not have cell phones during class.

• All students need a cell phone

• Phones should not be used in classrooms

• Because cell phones can be a distraction

• Middle school students should have cell phones during class.

Tags

CCSS.SL.8.3

CCSS.W.8.1A

CCSS.W.8.1C

Which of the following is a reason for the following claim? Claim: School start times should be pushed back past 8:00 for middle school students.

• Middle school students are not getting enough rest during the week which negatively impacts grades.

• School start times should not be pushed back past 8:00 for middle school students.

• Pushing school start times back past 8:00 would not leave enough time for school activities after school.

• Students should not have to go to school.

Tags

CCSS.W.8.1A

CCSS.W.8.1B

CCSS.W.8.2B

What is a claim for the following counterclaim? Counterclaim: American football is too dangerous for teenagers.

• American football is the best sport.

• American football is only dangerous when players have dirty hits.

• American football is safe for teenagers.

• Concussions are a major concern of American football.

Tags

CCSS.W.8.1A

CCSS.W.8.1B

CCSS.W.8.1C

Why is it important to acknowledge a counterclaim?

• A strong argument considers that others feel may feel differently.

• Counterclaims are better than claims.

• Claims are much better when a counterclaim supports it.

• Because it's required, plain and simple

Tags

CCSS.W.8.1A

CCSS.W.8.1C

Parents should not be fined when their
children bully because it is difficult to
enforce. No matter how well a parent
communicates an anti-bullying
sentiment at home, they are not with
their children at school and can not
control their actions. People think the
fine will stop the thirteen million
bullying cases a year. However, a
majority of bullying never gets
reported so nothing would actually
happen to those children and their
parents.
Which sentence is the counterclaim?

• However, a
  majority of bullying never gets
  reported so nothing would actually
  happen to those children and their
  parents.
• Parents should not be fined when their
  children bully because it is difficult to
  enforce.
• No matter how well a parent
  communicates an anti-bullying
  sentiment at home, they are not with
  their children at school and can not
  control their actions.
• People think the
  fine will stop the thirteen million
  bullying cases a year.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.SL.8.3

CCSS.W.8.1A

CCSS.W.8.1C

Boys and girls should not be educated in
single-sex classrooms because it does not lead to a better education. Supporters of single-sex education believe that this will lead to fewer distractions in the classroom. Single-sex education reinforces stereotypes about boys and girls. Single sex female classes tend to be less hands-on, which is something that some girls need. Students will encounter both genders outside of the classroom so it is important they are exposed to this at an early age.
Which sentence is the counterclaim?

• Supporters of single-sex education believe that this will lead to fewer distractions in the classroom.
• Single-sex education reinforces stereotypes about boys and girls
• Single sex female classes tend to be less hands-on, which is something that some girls need.
• Students will encounter both genders outside of the classroom so it is important they are exposed to this at an early age.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.6

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.SL.8.3

CCSS.W.8.1A