claims and evidence informational text worksheets grade 8

📚 Topic Summary

Claims and evidence are the backbone of informational texts. A claim is a statement or assertion that the author is trying to prove. Evidence is the information used to support that claim, such as facts, statistics, examples, and expert opinions. Understanding how claims are supported by evidence is crucial for critical reading and evaluating the credibility of information. This worksheet will help you practice identifying claims and the evidence used to support them.

🧠 Part A: Vocabulary

Match the terms with their definitions:

📝 Part B: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks using the words from the word bank: claim, evidence, support, analyze, credible.

An author makes a ______ and then provides ______ to ______ it. To understand the text, we must ______ the evidence to see if the author is ______.

🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking

Think about a time you had to convince someone of something. What claim did you make, and what evidence did you use to support it?

📚 Topic Summary

In informational texts, a claim is the main argument or point the author is trying to make. It's what they want you to believe or understand. Evidence is the information used to support the claim, like facts, statistics, examples, and expert opinions. Strong evidence makes a claim more believable and persuasive. Understanding how claims and evidence work together is key to analyzing and evaluating what you read. Good evidence is relevant, sufficient, and credible.

Think of it like this: the claim is what you're trying to prove, and the evidence is how you prove it. Without evidence, a claim is just an opinion. When you read, ask yourself: What is the author trying to convince me of? What information do they provide to support their point?

🔤 Part A: Vocabulary

Match the terms with their definitions:

1. Claim
2. Evidence
3. Inference
4. Credible
5. Relevant

Definitions:

1. A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning.
2. Facts, statistics, or examples that support a claim.
3. Believable and trustworthy.
4. A statement that asserts something to be true.
5. Closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand.

✍️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the word bank: evidence, claim, credible, relevant, inference.

An author makes a ______ in their writing, which is their main point. To support this, they provide ______. The evidence must be ______ and ______, meaning it should be trustworthy and directly related to the claim. Readers can also make an ______ based on the information presented.

🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking

Explain why it is important to evaluate the evidence presented in an informational text. How does strong evidence affect the believability of a claim?

📚 Topic Summary

In informational texts, authors often make claims, which are statements they believe to be true. To support these claims, authors provide evidence, which can include facts, statistics, examples, and expert opinions. Identifying the claim and evaluating the evidence are crucial skills for understanding and analyzing informational texts. This helps you determine if the author's argument is convincing and well-supported.

🧠 Part A: Vocabulary

Match the term with its definition:

1. Claim
2. Evidence
3. Inference
4. Fact
5. Opinion

Definitions:

1. A statement that can be proven true or false.
2. A belief or judgment that cannot be proven.
3. A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning.
4. Information used to support a claim.
5. A statement that asserts something to be true.

(Match the numbers to the terms. Example: 1-E)

📝 Part B: Fill in the Blanks

Read the paragraph below and fill in the missing words. Choose from the following: claim, evidence, support, reasoning, information.

An author makes a ______ and then provides ______ to ______ that claim. Strong ______ connects the evidence to the claim, showing why the ______ provided is relevant. Analyzing ______ is essential to understanding the text.

💡 Part C: Critical Thinking

Imagine you are reading an article about the benefits of recycling. The author claims that recycling significantly reduces landfill waste. What types of evidence would you expect the author to provide to support this claim? Explain why this evidence would be convincing.