What is Author's Argument?
When authors write to persuade, they make a claim (what they believe) and support it with evidence (facts, examples, or data). Fifth graders learn to identify claims, evaluate whether evidence is strong and relevant, and distinguish between facts (can be proven) and opinions (personal beliefs).
On Florida's FAST assessment, students must identify an author's claim and explain how evidence supports it. This is also a crucial life skill for media literacy!
Key Vocabulary
Claim: What the author believes or wants you to believe (their main argument)
Evidence: Facts, statistics, examples, or quotes that support the claim
Fact: A statement that can be proven true or false
Opinion: A personal belief or feeling that others might disagree with
FACT (Can be proven)
"Water freezes at 32 degrees F."
"The school day starts at 8:00 AM."
OPINION (Personal belief)
"Winter is the best season."
"School should start later."
Activities to Try at Home
📺 Commercial Detective
Watch TV commercials together and analyze the argument:
- What is the CLAIM? (What does the ad want you to believe or do?)
- What EVIDENCE do they give? (Statistics? Testimonials? Demonstrations?)
- Is it FACT or OPINION? ("9 out of 10 dentists recommend" vs. "The best toothpaste ever")
- Is the evidence CONVINCING? Why or why not?
This builds critical thinking about the media they encounter daily!
📱 Review Reader
Look at online reviews together (for restaurants, movies, products):
- What is the reviewer's claim? (Is this product good or bad?)
- What evidence do they provide?
- Is the review mostly facts ("The battery lasted 8 hours") or opinions ("It's really cool")?
- Would this review convince YOU? Why or why not?
🗞️ News Analysis
Read news articles or opinion pieces together:
- Is this article reporting facts or sharing opinions?
- If it's persuasive, what is the author's claim?
- What evidence does the author use?
- Are the sources credible? (Expert quotes? Research studies?)
This helps kids navigate information critically - an essential skill!
🎭 Fact or Opinion Game
Take turns making statements and identifying if they're facts or opinions:
- "Pizza has cheese on it." (FACT - can be proven)
- "Pizza is delicious." (OPINION - a personal preference)
- "There are 50 states in the USA." (FACT)
- "California is the best state." (OPINION)
The Test: "Can this be proven true or false?" If YES = fact. If NO = opinion.
💬 Family Debate Night
Pick a family-friendly topic and practice making arguments:
- Topics: "Should kids have chores?" "Best vacation spot?" "Cats vs. dogs?"
- Each person states a claim
- Support it with evidence (reasons, examples, facts)
- Others evaluate: Is the evidence convincing? Is it relevant?
Questions to Ask While Reading or Watching
- "What does the author want you to believe?"
- "What proof or evidence do they give?"
- "Is that a fact or just their opinion?"
- "Is the evidence strong enough to convince you?"
- "Does the evidence actually connect to the claim?"
- "What's missing from this argument?"
Parent Tip: Model Critical Thinking!
When you see ads, read articles, or hear claims, think aloud: "Hmm, they're saying this cereal is healthy, but what's their evidence? Let me check the nutrition label." This shows your child how to question claims and evaluate evidence in real life.
Evaluating Evidence: Quality Matters!
Help your child understand that not all evidence is equal. Good evidence is:
- Relevant: Does it actually connect to the claim?
- Credible: Does it come from a trustworthy source?
- Sufficient: Is there enough evidence to be convincing?
Weak Evidence: "This is the best product because my friend likes it." (Just one person's opinion)
Strong Evidence: "A study of 1,000 users found that 85% reported improvement." (Large sample, measurable results)
Informacion para Padres (Spanish Summary)
Que es el argumento del autor? Cuando los autores escriben para persuadir, hacen una afirmacion (lo que creen) y la apoyan con evidencia (hechos, ejemplos, datos). Los estudiantes aprenden a distinguir entre hechos y opiniones.
- Hecho: Algo que se puede probar verdadero o falso
- Opinion: Una creencia personal que otros pueden no compartir
Actividades en casa:
- Analicen comerciales juntos: "Que quieren que creas?"
- Lean resenas de productos: "Es un hecho o una opinion?"
- Jueguen "Hecho u Opinion" con afirmaciones cotidianas
- Pregunten: "Es la evidencia suficiente para convencerte?"