Claims and Evidence | Student Worksheet

What Are Claims and Evidence?

When authors write arguments, they make claims - statements they want you to believe. To convince you, they provide evidence - the proof that supports their claims. Learning to identify claims and evaluate evidence helps you think critically about what you read and decide whether arguments are convincing!

Fact vs. Opinion vs. Claim: What's the Difference?

FACT

Can be proven true or false

Objective - the same for everyone

"Water freezes at 32°F."

OPINION

A personal belief or preference

Cannot be proven - varies by person

"Pizza is the best food."

CLAIM

An arguable statement that needs evidence

Can be supported or challenged

"Schools should start later because students need more sleep."

Key Difference: A claim is like an opinion PLUS evidence. Claims make arguments that can be debated and supported with proof!

Types of Evidence Authors Use

Statistics & Data Numbers, percentages, research results
"Studies show 85% of teens are sleep-deprived."

Expert Testimony Quotes from authorities on the subject
"According to Dr. Smith, a sleep researcher..."

Examples Specific cases that illustrate the point
"For instance, California schools that started later saw..."

Anecdotes Personal stories or experiences
"When I was in middle school, I struggled to..."

The R.S.C. Test: How to Evaluate Evidence

R - RELEVANT

Does the evidence actually connect to the claim?

"Does this proof relate to what the author is arguing?"

S - SUFFICIENT

Is there enough evidence to support the claim?

"Is there more than just one weak example?"

C - CREDIBLE

Is the evidence from a trustworthy source?

"Can we trust where this information comes from?"

Strong evidence passes ALL three tests. Weak evidence fails one or more.

Let's Practice: Identify the Claim and Evidence

Passage: "Middle schools should eliminate homework because it causes unnecessary stress without improving learning. A Stanford University study found that students who spent more than two hours on homework experienced higher stress levels and physical health problems. Additionally, research from the University of Virginia showed no correlation between homework and academic achievement in middle school. Dr. Harris Cooper, a leading homework researcher, states that 'homework has no academic benefit for younger students.' Schools that have reduced or eliminated homework, such as those in Finland, consistently rank among the top educational systems worldwide."

CLAIM: Middle schools should eliminate homework because it causes stress without improving learning.

EVIDENCE:

Statistic: Stanford study on stress and health problems
Research: University of Virginia study on achievement
Expert: Dr. Harris Cooper quote
Example: Finland's school system

R.S.C. Evaluation:

Relevant? Yes - all evidence relates to homework's effects
Sufficient? Yes - multiple types of evidence provided
Credible? Yes - universities and experts cited by name

Your Turn!

1. Which of these is a CLAIM (not just a fact or opinion)?

A. "I love summer vacation." B. "Summer vacation is three months long." C. "Schools should shorten summer vacation to prevent learning loss." D. "Many students go to camp during summer."

2. Read this evidence: "My friend got better grades after she stopped doing homework."

What TYPE of evidence is this?

Is this evidence strong or weak? Explain why using R.S.C.:

3. An author claims "Video games improve problem-solving skills." Which evidence would BEST support this claim?

A. "I play video games every day and I'm good at puzzles." B. "Video games are very popular with teenagers." C. "A 2023 study in the Journal of Cognitive Science found that puzzle-based games improved participants' problem-solving test scores by 20%." D. "Many parents believe video games are a waste of time."

4. What's wrong with this evidence? "Cell phones should be banned in schools. My teacher says they're distracting."

Tips for Identifying Claims and Evidence

Find the claim first: Ask "What is the author trying to convince me to believe?"
Look for signal words: "Studies show," "According to," "Research indicates," "For example"
Check evidence quality: Apply the R.S.C. test to every piece of evidence
Watch for weak evidence: Personal stories alone aren't enough; vague sources are suspicious
Count the evidence: Strong arguments have MULTIPLE pieces of quality evidence

Remember: Just because something is written doesn't mean it's true or well-supported. Be a critical reader and evaluate the evidence!