What is Your Child Learning?
Seventh graders are developing critical thinking skills for analyzing persuasive texts. They're learning to identify claims (main arguments), evaluate evidence (is it credible and relevant?), spot logical fallacies (flawed reasoning), and detect bias (one-sided perspectives). These skills are essential for navigating advertisements, news, social media, and everyday persuasion.
This is one of the most practical skills students learn - they'll use it every day when deciding what to believe and who to trust!
Key Vocabulary
Claim: The main point or position the author is arguing
Evidence: Facts, statistics, or expert opinions that support the claim
Logical Fallacy: An error in reasoning that weakens an argument (like "everyone's doing it!")
Bias: When an author favors one perspective without fairly considering others
Loaded Language: Words chosen to trigger emotions rather than logic (like "disastrous" vs. "challenging")
Activities to Try at Home
📺 Commercial Detective
While watching TV or videos together, analyze the commercials:
- What claim is being made? (This product will make you happy/popular/healthy)
- What evidence do they provide? (Usually very little!)
- What tricks do they use? (Celebrities, emotional music, bandwagon appeals)
- What's NOT being shown? (Side effects, cost, alternatives)
Why it helps: Ads are designed to persuade, making them perfect practice for spotting manipulation tactics.
📰 Two Sides Challenge
Pick a current debate (appropriate for your child) and find two articles with different perspectives:
- Which article provides stronger evidence?
- What does each article leave out?
- What loaded language does each use?
- Who wrote each article, and do they have a reason to be biased?
Topics to try: School uniforms, later school start times, screen time limits, video games
🔍 Fallacy Finder
Learn to spot these common tricks in ads, social media, and everyday arguments:
- Bandwagon: "Everyone's doing it!" (So what? Doesn't mean it's right)
- Celebrity Appeal: "This actor uses our product!" (Are they an expert?)
- False Cause: "I ate this cereal and aced my test!" (Did the cereal really cause that?)
- Either/Or: "You're either with us or against us!" (Are there really only two options?)
Make it a game: Who can spot the most fallacies in a week?
💬 Family Debate Night
Practice building and analyzing arguments together:
- Pick a fun topic (pizza vs. tacos, cats vs. dogs, beach vs. mountains)
- Each person makes a claim and provides 2-3 pieces of evidence
- Others get to ask questions: "Is that evidence really relevant?" "What about...?"
- Focus on the argument, not the person making it
Key rule: No personal attacks - critique the argument, not the arguer!
Questions to Ask About Any Persuasive Text
- The Claim: "What is this trying to convince you of?"
- The Evidence: "What proof do they give? Is it from a reliable source?"
- The Reasoning: "Does the evidence actually support the claim?"
- The Fallacies: "Are they using any tricks instead of real logic?"
- The Bias: "Who wrote this? Do they benefit from convincing you?"
- What's Missing: "What would the other side say about this?"
Parent Tip: Model Critical Thinking Out Loud
When you encounter persuasive content (a political ad, a product claim, a social media post), think out loud: "Hmm, that's an interesting claim. I wonder what evidence they have for that..." or "They're using a lot of emotional language - that makes me want to look more carefully at the actual facts." This models the thinking process you want your child to develop!
Common Logical Fallacies Cheat Sheet
Bandwagon
"Everyone's buying this!"
Popularity doesn't equal quality or truth.
Ad Hominem
"Don't listen to her - she's just a kid!"
Attacking the person, not their argument.
False Cause
"I wore lucky socks and won!"
Two things happening together doesn't mean one caused the other.
Either/Or
"You're either for us or against us!"
Pretending there are only two options when more exist.
Real-World Connection
Your child will use these skills constantly: evaluating product reviews, understanding news coverage, recognizing social media manipulation, making informed decisions about health claims, and eventually voting and civic participation. Learning to analyze arguments is learning to think independently!
Informacion para Padres (Spanish Summary)
Que esta aprendiendo su hijo? Los estudiantes de septimo grado aprenden a analizar argumentos:
- Afirmacion: El punto principal que el autor intenta demostrar
- Evidencia: Hechos, estadisticas u opiniones de expertos que apoyan la afirmacion
- Falacias logicas: Errores en el razonamiento (como "todos lo hacen")
- Sesgo: Cuando un autor favorece una perspectiva sin considerar otras
Actividades en casa:
- Analicen comerciales juntos: Que afirman? Que trucos usan?
- Comparen dos articulos sobre el mismo tema con diferentes opiniones
- Busquen falacias logicas en la publicidad y las redes sociales
- Practiquen debates familiares sobre temas divertidos
Preguntas para hacer:
- "Cual es la afirmacion principal?"
- "Que evidencia dan? Es de una fuente confiable?"
- "Quien escribio esto? Tienen motivos para ser parciales?"
- "Que diria el otro lado sobre esto?"
Por que importa: Estas habilidades ayudan a los estudiantes a evaluar publicidad, noticias, redes sociales, y tomar decisiones informadas durante toda su vida.