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Grade 8 Claims, Evidence & Counterclaims Worksheet with Answers

Grade 8 (US) · Year 9 (UK) · Class 8 (India) · English

Unit 5: Reading Informational TextArguments & ClaimsCCSS RI.8.8

Telling claims, evidence, reasoning and counterclaims apart in an argument. This free middle school worksheet has 12 questions and a full answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF — every answer is checked by code, not guessed.

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Claims, Evidence & Counterclaims

Grade 8 · English

Score___ / 12

Name

Class

Date

Learning goal: Arguments & Claims · CCSS RI.8.8

Directions: This worksheet has 2 parts. Read the instructions at the start of each part.

RememberBuilding an argument

Claimwhat you argueReasonswhyEvidencefacts & dataCounterclaimother sideRebuttalanswer it
Part A

Claim or Evidence or Counterclaim? Tick one box for each.

ClaimEvidenceCounterclaim
1Critics argue bike lanes slow down buses.
2In Copenhagen, bike lanes cut car traffic by 20%.
3A 2019 study found students focus better after recess.
4Cities should build more bike lanes.
5Schools should have longer recess.
6Some people say longer recess means less learning time.
Part B

Answer each question. Use full sentences where you can.

  1. 7

    What is a rebuttal?

  2. 8

    Why should a writer address counterclaims?

  3. 9

    What makes evidence relevant?

  4. 10

    What is reasoning in an argument?

  5. 11

    Which is stronger evidence: a survey of 5,000 students, or one student's opinion?

  6. 12

    Is this evidence relevant to 'Students need more sleep'? 'My cousin likes to nap.'

    YesNo

★ Challenge corner for fast finishers

What is full of holes but still holds water?

How did I do?

Teacher's comments

Free printable worksheets with answer keys · aethelsystems.com/worksheets/english/8/argument_claims

Answer key (click to show)
  1. 1.counterclaim
  2. 2.evidence
  3. 3.evidence
  4. 4.claim
  5. 5.claim
  6. 6.counterclaim
  7. 7.the writer's answer that shows why a counterclaim is wrong or weaker
  8. 8.it shows the writer considered other views and makes the argument stronger
  9. 9.it directly supports the claim
  10. 10.the explanation of how the evidence supports the claim
  11. 11.a survey of 5,000 students
  12. 12.no (it is a single anecdote, not real support)
  13. ★a sponge (challenge corner)

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