Claims in Texts

This worksheet helps students in Grades 5 and 6 strengthen reading comprehension, critical thinking, and argument analysis skills by identifying an author’s main claim in short informational paragraphs. Learners read concise passages on familiar real-world topics such as transportation, homework, and social media responsibility, then determine the central claim by distinguishing it from supporting details or evidence.

Learning Goals

• Identifying Author’s Claims (Grades 5-6)
  Students recognize the main argument or position an author is making within a paragraph.
• Distinguishing Claims from Evidence
  Learners differentiate between the author’s central idea and the reasons, facts, or examples that support it.
• Close Reading of Informational Text
  Students practice careful analysis of language and structure to locate key ideas.
• Opinion & Argument Writing
  An extension activity reinforces understanding by asking students to write their own paragraph with a clear claim.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with upper elementary ELA standards for argument and informational text analysis.
• Clear, Focused Practice
  Short paragraphs keep the task manageable while emphasizing accuracy and reasoning.
• Writing Extension Included
  Students apply learning by composing an original claim-based paragraph.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for ELA lessons, literacy centers, homework, assessment, or test prep.

This printable worksheet helps students become more skilled readers and writers by focusing on how claims function within informational texts. By identifying main claims and separating them from supporting details-and then practicing claim writing themselves-learners strengthen critical reading, argument awareness, and written expression. 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.