Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning

A claim is a statement that describes your position or point of view on a topic or issue.

• True

• False

Evidence is any combination of facts, data, or examples, or quotations that support your claim.

• True

• False

Evidence is not debatable; which means we cannot agree or disagree with.

Hint; Evidence is usually a supporting fact.

• True

• False

You use evidence to prove that a claim is true.

• True

• False

Without evidence to support it, a claim is nothing but just an opinion.

• True

• False

Evidence should justify why a claim is valid.

• True

• False

Find evidence that best supports the claim:

Dogs make good pets

• Cats are obnoxious

• The chihuahua is the smallest dog breed in the world

• When people pet dogs, their brains release a chemical called oxytocin which reduces anxiety

• My dog's name is Wilbur

Answer explanation

This answer shows that having dogs as pets would reduce stress

Find evidence that best supports the claim:

People should eat apples

• My mom really likes apples

• Apples have a lot of Vitamin C

• An apple a day keeps the doctor away

• Apple was created by Steve Jobs in 1976

Answer explanation

This answer explains the health benefits of eating apples

Find evidence that best supports the claim:

Look twice before crossing the street

• Over 6000 pedestrians are killed in car accidents each year

• One time I crossed the street without looking

• Wait for the "walk" sign to come on when at a crosswalk

• There aren't any crosswalks in my neighborhood, because I live in the country

Answer explanation

This fact shows that being careful when around cars is important.

Find evidence that supports the claim:

Success takes dedication

• You have to work hard to get what you want

• Almost 15,000 people experience homelessness in Oregon

• Don't drop out of school

• Thomas Edison said, "Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration."

Answer explanation

This quote supports the claim, and is valuable evidence because it comes from a reputable (trustworthy) source - an inventor.