Credibility Clues

This worksheet supports students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 as they build research literacy, credibility evaluation, claim analysis, evidence assessment, and critical thinking skills through close reading of a short passage. Students examine what an author claims, how those claims are supported, and whether the evidence presented is strong, weak, or unreliable.

Learning Goals

• Source Credibility Analysis (Grades 5-7): Evaluate the trustworthiness of a passage by examining claims, evidence, and support.
• Claims & Evidence Identification: Distinguish between what an author asserts and the proof provided to support those ideas.
• Reliability & Accuracy: Recognize credibility red flags such as personal anecdotes, missing sources, or lack of scientific support.
• Revision for Credibility: Practice rewriting a claim to strengthen accuracy using clearer evidence or sourcing.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Designed Resource: Created by educators to align with ELA research and informational text standards.
• Critical Thinking Focus: Encourages students to question confident-sounding statements that lack verification.
• Flexible Implementation: Suitable for research units, literacy centers, homework, or independent practice.
• Skill-Building Structure: Step-by-step questions guide students through analyzing and improving credibility.

This printable worksheet helps students strengthen foundational skills in research literacy, evidence evaluation, and critical reasoning. By identifying weak support and revising claims for accuracy, learners develop habits of careful reading and responsible writing. Ideal for classroom or homeschool use, this resource prepares students to assess real-world information with confidence and discernment.

This worksheet is part of our Critical Comprehension Worksheets collection.