Argument & Evidence
📋 What it is
A strong argument backs a claim with relevant evidence; weak ones rely on opinion alone.
🗣️ Coach says
When a text argues a point, be a fair judge. Separate the CLAIM (what they want you to believe) from the EVIDENCE (facts backing it up). No evidence, or off-topic evidence, means a weak argument.
🧠 Memory hook
Claim = what they want you to believe. Evidence = the facts behind it. No facts = weak.
😂 Giggle
Why did the reading comprehension question feel misunderstood?
Because nobody ever gave it the right answer!
😲 Whoa!
Learning to spot claim-vs-evidence is one of the top skills for the modern world — it’s how you tell real news from misinformation online.
✅ Quick check: A writer claims “our town needs a park” but gives only “parks are nice.” Strong or weak argument?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Weak — “parks are nice” is opinion, not evidence; a strong case would give facts (space, health, cost).
An argument is strong only when relevant evidence supports the claim.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Read an opinion piece and underline the CLAIM once and each piece of EVIDENCE twice. Is there enough?