ThinkCERCA

What is a claim?

• Statement of your position or opinion on an issue or topic.

• Explanation of why you believe your opinion is true.

A claim must be debateable.

• yes

• no

Which of the following statements does not contain a claim?

• Indiana is the best state in the United States of America.

• Twinkies taste better than other snack foods.

• The study of reptiles is called "herpetology."

• The temperature in this room is not comfortable.

Which of the following is NOT a claim?

• California is the best state in the USA.
• Twinkies taste better than other snack cakes because of their texture, their creamy filling, and their golden appearance.
• The school year began on August 18 and will end on June 4
• Christmas is the best holiday of the year.

What is a reason?

• Explanation of why you believe your opinion or position is true.

• Statement of your position or opinion on an issue or topic.

What is textual evidence?

• Your claim.

• Proof from the text to support your answer.

• What the author thinks about a topic.

• An explanation in your own words about your claim.

Which of the following statements are not evidence?

• Over 95% of Americans celebrate Thanksgiving each year.

• Middle-School students should have daily recess time.

• When surveyed, 98% of snack-food eaters responded that Twinkies were their favorite snack.

• The population of Evansville, Indiana has fallen by 15% in the past five years.

Why is it important to provide textual evidence?

• It makes your paragraph longer.
• It allows your reader to get the important facts from the article without reading the whole thing.
• It shows that you know what you are talking about.
• It makes your claim stronger and helps prove your point.

Which piece of evidence could be used to BEST support this claim: High school students should be required to wear uniforms.

• When adding everything up, a school uniform could end up costing more than $200.

• A student reported, "Allowing us to wear our own clothes gives us a chance to show our unique style and independence."

• Studies have shown that schools that require students to wear uniforms have higher attendance rates and less misbehavior.

• School uniforms can be ordered online.

What is reasoning?

• Explanation of how your evidence supports or opinion or position

• What the other or opposing side thinks about an issue