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Author's Claim & Supporting Evidence - Printable English Worksheets grade 6 - Wayground

Author's Claim & Supporting Evidence

10 questions

6th - 6th Grade

English

Author's Claim & Supporting Evidence is a Grade 6 English worksheet with 10 multiple-choice questions focused on identifying and evaluating an author's claims. Students define claim, evidence, fact, and opinion; distinguish a claim from a factual statement; identify an author's supported argument in a passage; and select evidence that best supports a stated claim. The worksheet also asks students to analyze how authors use details, such as past earthquake patterns, to persuade readers and recognize an argument in a short text about yearbook censorship. These varied items move students from learning key terms to applying claim-and-evidence skills in context. This free printable worksheet is designed for Grade 6 reading and argument-writing practice, independent review, small-group instruction, or an English language arts assessment. It includes a complete answer key for efficient checking and feedback.

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Worksheets

Author's Claim & Supporting Evidence

Total questions: 10

Name
Class
Date
1.
What is a claim?
a)
To state or assert that something is the case.
b)
Proof that something the author is saying is true
c)
A fact about a topic
d)
The available body of facts.
2.
What is evidence?
a)
Facts that prove whether a belief or proposition is true.
b)
Opinions that prove whether a belief or proposition is true.
3.
A fact is...
a)
A statement that is true and can be proven.
b)
A statement that is a belief, but isn't alway true and can't be proven.
4.
An opinion is...
a)
A statement that is true and can be proven true.
b)
A statement that is a belief, but isn't always true and can't be proven true.
5.

proof, usually found directly in the text

a)

evidence

b)

opinion

c)

reasoning

d)

claim

6.
Which of the following is a claim the author supports in paragraph 1?
“The best things in life are free,” they say, which is true for things like libraries. However, it is not true for many museums. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, for example, costs $20 to get in.
Traveling exhibits, such as the work of a certain artist that is touring the country, almost
always cost even more. People must pay to get into the museum and also pay for the special
showing. That means people who don’t have much money cannot enjoy the art.

a)
 Poor people cannot enjoy museums.
b)
Museums should not charge extra fees.
c)
Traveling exhibits should always be free.
d)
Museums need more traveling shows.
7.
“The best things in life are free,” they say, which is true for things like libraries. However, it is not true for many museums. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, for example, costs $20 to get in.
Traveling exhibits, such as the work of a certain artist that is touring the country, almost always cost even more. People must pay to get into the museum and also pay for the special showing. That means people who don’t have much money cannot enjoy the art.
Most museums have “free days,” but these are usually only one or two days a month. If you’ve ever attended one of these, you know they are jam packed with people. It is hard to even see the exhibits when crammed into a room like sardines in a can!
The thing is, people already pay enough for the privilege of living in a city. In addition, museums are supported by arts organizations and individual donors. They do not need to charge the public a hefty sum as well. They should be free for everyone, all the time.
Which of the following evidence would support the author’s claim that“ people already pay enough for the privilege of living in a city”?
a)
A comparison showing which cities are the most expensive
b)
Examples of the fees people who live in cities must pay
c)
Testimony from someone who cannot afford museum admission
d)
An interview with someone who thinks museums should be free
8.
Which line below is the author's claim or argument? 
a)
A yearbook is a special collection of memories that will be treasured by students for decades.
b)
However some schools authorities insist on dictating what students can include in yearbooks. 
c)
Teachers often remove articles & images they feel are inappropriate. 
d)
Authorities should not ruin this treasure by censoring yearbooks....
9.
Other than a few earthquakes in California, the West Coast has been fairly quiet in terms of geological events. That could all change any day now, as the West Coast is overdue for a “Big
One.”
The 750-mile long area from Northern California to British Columbia is called the Cascadia “subduction zone.” That means it’s an area where one plate in the Earth’s crust slips underneath another. The “stress” or pressure on such places makes it likely that big
earthquakes will occur.
Scientists have figured out that the northern part of this zone “ruptures” about every 480 years. The southern part, in Oregon and California, does so about every 230 years. In 1700,
both parts of the zone had major earthquakes. That means a portion of the West Coast is overdue for a major quake.
There is no question that such an event is coming; the question is when and where. Scientists warn that people should always have emergency supplies on hand, to be prepared when the
“Big One” hits.
The author tries to convince readers that a big West Coast earthquake is due by
a)
showing the pattern of past earthquakes.
b)
explaining that California has had a few quakes.
c)
predicting what area will have an earthquake.
d)
urging readers to plan for a possible quake.
10.
Which of the following is NOT a claim?
a)
California is the best state in the USA.
b)
Twinkies taste better than other snack cakes because of their texture, their creamy filling, and their golden appearance.
c)
The school year began on August 18 and will end on June 4
d)
Christmas is the best holiday of the year.
Answer Key

Author's Claim & Supporting Evidence

Total questions: 10

1.
a) To state or assert that something is the case.
2.
a) Facts that prove whether a belief or proposition is true.
3.
a) A statement that is true and can be proven.
4.
b) A statement that is a belief, but isn't always true and can't be proven true.
5.
a)

evidence

6.
a)  Poor people cannot enjoy museums.
7.
b) Examples of the fees people who live in cities must pay
8.
d) Authorities should not ruin this treasure by censoring yearbooks....
9.
a) showing the pattern of past earthquakes.
10.
c) The school year began on August 18 and will end on June 4

FAQs

What does the Author's Claim & Supporting Evidence worksheet cover?

This Grade 6 English worksheet uses 10 multiple-choice questions to teach students how to define claims, evidence, facts, and opinions, then apply those terms to short reading passages. Students identify an author’s supported claim, choose evidence that supports an argument, and determine how details such as earthquake patterns help persuade readers.

How can I use this worksheet to teach claims and supporting evidence?

Begin by reviewing the definition questions for claim, evidence, fact, and opinion, then model how to separate an author’s argument from the details used to support it. Next, have students explain why a selected detail—such as examples of city fees—supports the author’s claim, and use the passage questions for guided or independent practice.

What mistakes should I watch for when students complete this worksheet?

Students may confuse a claim with evidence, selecting proof or a supporting detail when the question asks for the author’s argument. They may also treat an opinion as a fact, overlook the distinction between a claim and a verifiable statement, or choose a related detail instead of the evidence that directly supports the claim in a passage.

How do I assign and grade this worksheet?

The worksheet is available as a printable PDF and as a digital quiz on Wayground, so you can use the 10 multiple-choice items for paper-based or online practice. It includes a complete answer key, and printable submissions can be graded by scanning student work with the Wayground for Teachers app.

How does this worksheet move students from defining claims to evaluating evidence?

The first questions establish the meaning of claim, evidence, fact, and opinion, while later multiple-choice items require students to identify an author’s argument in passages about museum admission, yearbook censorship, and earthquake risk. Students then connect a claim to the type of factual detail that would best support it, building from vocabulary recognition to text-based reasoning.

Where can I find more worksheets like this on Wayground?

Wayground offers a broad collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across subjects, with downloadable PDFs and answer keys to support essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.