Evaluating Evidence
Grade 5 · English Language Arts · Reading Informational Text · Vermont, USA
Lesson Summary
Judge whether the evidence an author uses is strong enough to support their claims.
Explanation
When an author makes a claim, they should back it up with evidence like facts, statistics, examples, or expert opinions. Strong evidence comes from reliable sources and clearly connects to the claim. Weak evidence might be based on just one person's opinion or may not really prove the point. When you read nonfiction, ask yourself whether the evidence actually supports what the author is saying.
Practice Questions
Q1: An author claims that exercise is good for kids and cites a study from a medical journal. Is this strong or weak evidence?
Answer: Strong evidence, because a medical journal is a reliable source with research to back it up.
Q2: What makes evidence weak?
Answer: Evidence is weak when it comes from an unreliable source, is just one person's opinion, or does not clearly support the author's point.
Q3: Why should you evaluate the evidence in a text?
Answer: So you can decide whether the author's argument is believable and well-supported, instead of just accepting everything you read.
People Also Ask
What is Evaluating Evidence in Grade 5 English Language Arts?+
Evaluating Evidence is a lesson in the Reading Informational Text chapter of Grade 5 English Language Arts. It is part of the Vermont, USA school curriculum and covers key concepts that students need to understand at this level.
What grade level covers Evaluating Evidence?+
Evaluating Evidence is taught in Grade 5 as part of the English Language Arts curriculum in Vermont, USA.
How can I help my child with Reading Informational Text in English Language Arts?+
Start with the lesson summary and explanation on this page. Practice the questions provided, then use TutorTom for personalized, step-by-step help with Reading Informational Text topics.