Claim or Counterclaim

This worksheet helps students in Grades 5 and 6 strengthen critical reading, reasoning, and argumentative writing skills by distinguishing between claims and counterclaims. Learners analyze individual statements to determine whether each one supports a position or challenges it, focusing on how arguments and opposing viewpoints interact within persuasive texts.

Learning Goals

• Differentiating Claims & Counterclaims (Grades 5-6)
  Students identify whether a statement presents an argument or an opposing perspective.
• Understanding Argument Structure
  Learners examine how claims and counterclaims function together to create balanced arguments.
• Evaluating Direction of Reasoning
  Students analyze whether a statement supports or pushes back against a position.
• Preparing for Argument Writing
  The activity builds foundational skills needed for persuasive essays and debates.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with upper elementary ELA argument standards.
• Clear, Sentence-Level Practice
  Individual statements keep the focus on accurate classification and reasoning.
• Writing Extension Included
  Students apply skills by writing a claim and a counterclaim about dress codes.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for writing units, literacy centers, homework, assessment, or test prep.

This printable worksheet helps students develop a strong understanding of how arguments work by clearly separating claims from counterclaims. By labeling statements and creating their own opposing viewpoints, learners strengthen critical thinking, argument awareness, and confidence in persuasive writing. It’s a practical, no-prep resource that works well in both classroom instruction and homeschool learning.

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