Claims, Reasons, Evidence

Find the opinion, the reasons, and the evidence; tell a strong reason from a weak one and a fact from an opinion.

Warm-up, learn, try it together, practice, then a quick check. About 15 minutes.

What children learn in Level 65

Opinion writing tries to convince you. It has three parts: a claim, reasons, and evidence.
The claim is the writer's opinion: our town should build a skate park.
Reasons tell why: skaters need a safe place to ride. Evidence proves it with facts or numbers: last year, the town counted 15 skating injuries on busy streets.
Strong reasons connect to the claim and could convince others. Skateboarding is my favorite thing is only a feeling. That's a weak reason.
Evidence is made of facts, which can be proven. Opinions tell what someone thinks: Mondays are the worst day!

Georgia's K-12 English Language Arts Standards:

4.T.T.3.a — Discuss and evaluate techniques used to present and design opinion and argumentative texts, including author’s opinion or claim, supporting reasons, and evidence. (I)
4.P.AC.1.a — Identify, apply, and analyze the literary, expository, and opinion (grades K-5) or rhetorical (grades 6-12) elements in texts, explaining or evaluating how specific elements affect the target audience and support the text’s purpose. (I/C)