Crafting Your Argument: Grade 6 Essay Writing
This worksheet guides Grade 6 students through the process of writing an argument essay, focusing on identifying claims, evidence, and counterarguments.
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Crafting Your Argument: Grade 6 Essay Writing
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Read each question carefully and provide thoughtful answers. This worksheet will help you practice identifying claims, evidence, and counterarguments in preparation for writing your own argument essay.
What is a Claim?
In an argument essay, a claim is your main point or opinion that you want to convince your audience is true. It's the central idea you will support with reasons and evidence.
1. Read the following statements. Circle the letter next to the statement that is the best example of a strong claim for an argument essay.
Dogs are animals.
All students should be required to wear school uniforms.
The sky is blue.
I like pizza.
2. Write your own strong claim about a topic you feel strongly about. Remember, it should be something debatable!
Evidence and Reasoning
To make your claim convincing, you need to provide evidence. Evidence is facts, statistics, examples, or expert opinions that support your claim. Reasoning explains how your evidence proves your claim.
Complete the following sentences about evidence and reasoning:
1. Facts, statistics, and examples are all types of .
2. explains how your evidence supports your claim.
3. Without strong , your claim will not be convincing.
Identifying Counterarguments
A counterargument is an argument that goes against your main claim. Acknowledging and responding to counterarguments makes your own argument stronger because it shows you have considered different perspectives.
Imagine your claim is: 'Students should have less homework.'
1. What is one counterargument someone might make against this claim?
2. How would you respond to that counterargument to strengthen your original claim?
Argument Essay Vocabulary
Use the words below to complete the sentences.
1. Your main point or opinion in an essay is called your .
2. includes facts and examples that support your main point.
3. An argument that goes against your main point is a .
4. The explanation of how your evidence supports your claim is your .
Writing Prompt: Should students be allowed to use their phones during lunch at school?
Write a short argument paragraph (5-7 sentences) stating your claim about whether students should be allowed to use their phones during lunch at school. Include at least two pieces of evidence to support your claim and acknowledge one counterargument. You do not need to fully refute the counterargument, just show that you've considered it.