Evaluating Arguments

This worksheet helps students in Grades 5 and 6 develop critical thinking, argument analysis, and persuasive reading skills by evaluating the strength of short arguments. Learners read brief passages that include a clear claim and a supporting reason, then decide whether each argument is strong or weak based on the quality, relevance, and logic of the support provided.

Learning Goals

• Evaluating Argument Strength (Grades 5-6)
  Students determine whether an argument is convincing by examining how well the reason supports the claim.
• Assessing Claims and Supporting Reasons
  Learners analyze the connection between a claim and its justification, distinguishing logical support from weak or opinion-based reasoning.
• Critical Thinking & Justification
  Students explain why an argument is strong or weak, reinforcing analytical reasoning.
• Foundations of Persuasive Writing
  The activity builds understanding of what makes arguments effective and credible.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with upper elementary ELA standards for argument analysis.
• Clear, Manageable Argument Examples
  Short arguments allow students to focus on reasoning quality without unnecessary complexity.
• Explanation-Focused Practice
  Students justify their evaluations, strengthening clarity and depth of thinking.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for writing units, literacy centers, discussion starters, homework, or assessment.

This printable worksheet helps students move beyond identifying claims to evaluating how well those claims are supported. By analyzing the strength of reasons and explaining their judgments, learners strengthen critical thinking, argument awareness, and readiness for persuasive writing. It’s a meaningful, no-prep resource that works well in both classroom instruction and homeschool learning.

This worksheet is part of our Arguments and Claims Worksheets collection.